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East Lothian Without a Car

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With a sunny and mild climate, over 40 miles of gorgeous Scottish coastline, more than 20 golf courses (including Musselburgh Links, the oldest surviving golf course in the world) and award-winning East Lothian beaches, Drummohr Holiday Park is the perfect location for camping in It is no wonder that East Lothian is known as Scotland’s Golf Coast, Scotland’s Sunshine Coast and Scotland’s Food and Drink County.

 East Lothian stretches from Dunbar in the West to Musselburgh in the East and there are stunning views across the Firth of Forth to Fife. The Pentland and Lammermuir Hills form the rural backdrop to the county. Scotland and East Lothian glamping.  

Located on the east coast of Scotland, close to Edinburgh city, East Lothian’s prime location is easily accessed by road and rail from both England and from the rest of Scotland. There are a variety of bus and rail links across the county and this blog will cover exploring East Lothian by public transport as well as East Lothian without a car. Located just outside Musselburgh, Drummohr Holiday Park is perfect for camping near Edinburgh and camping East Lothian.  

There is a bus stop just a 5-minute walk from this East Lothian campsite and Wallyford train station, with regular trains into Edinburgh Waverley, is a 15-minute walk or short drive. There is a large car park at Wallyford train station. Lothian Buses 44/44A/N44 serve Wallyford Park & Ride and depart for Musselburgh & Edinburgh City Centre every 10 minutes at peak times and during the day on Monday to Saturdays, with a half hourly service on Sunday. 

Pin Pointed At Edinburgh On A Map

East Lothian by Bus 

East Lothian is easily explored by bus. There are a fabulous network of East Lothian buses and the Lothian Buses website is full of useful information on timetables. The majority of East Lothian bus stops are also linked to the buses so you can see in real time how far away the next bus is. The prices are very reasonable with the “TapTapCap” system ensuring that adults never pay more than £4.40 a day no matter how many times you ride. Day and family tickets are also available for convenience. All buses are contactless but if you wish to pay cash you must have the exact change. There are also night buses if you are camping near Edinburgh and want to enjoy the city nightlife. East Lothian buses are dog-friendly and welcome well-behaved dogs. 

If you are staying at Drummohr for a few days we recommend downloading the Lothian Buses App which gives you alerts for when you should set off. East Lothian Bus number 26 from Princes Street Edinburgh (direction Seton Sands or Tranent) stops at the Mining Museum Prestonpans bus stop, less than 5-minutes’ walk from the entrance to Drummohr Camping and Glamping site.  

If you are visiting Edinburgh by bus you may want to take advantage of an open top bus journey as a convenient way to see the highlights of the city. Most tours operate on a “hop-on, hop-basis” allowing you to explore the attractions as you go. Popular operators include Edinburgh Bus Tours who have a sightseeing tour as well as a trip to see the three magnificent bridges on the Firth of Forth. 

If you want to explore the East Lothian beaches then Bus Number 124 between Edinburgh and North Berwick is operated by East Coast Buses and stops at places like Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick where there are wonderful East Lothian beaches. Drummohr Holiday Park  is an ideal location if you are looking for a campsite near beaches. Buses run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week. 

Traveling on a Blue Bus Through East Lothian

East Lothian by Train 

When camping near Edinburgh you should be aware that Edinburgh has 2 train stations – Edinburgh Waverley and Edinburgh Haymarket, a 20-minute walk. Edinburgh Waverley is close to the main Princes St thoroughfare and there are excellent onward bus connections. Please be aware which station your train is going into when making onward travel arrangements. The Edinburgh train from Wallyford which is close to Drummohr Holiday Park is just a 10-minute journey into Edinburgh Waverley and trains depart approximately once an hour. Wallyford is a 15-minute walk from Drummohr or there is a large car park at the station.  


For those camping East Lothian or glamping East Lothian there is a scenic rail journey between Edinburgh Waverley and the seaside town of North Berwick, passing through Wallyford, Prestonspans, Longniddry and Dems. North Berwick has wonderful golf courses, two glorious sandy beaches, numerous seafood cafes and restaurants and the Scottish Seabird Centre from where you can take a boat to Bass Rock or the Isle of May to see the seabirds and marine wildlife of the Firth of Forth. North Berwick trains are operated by Scot Rail and ticket prices start from just £2.60 one-way. The train journey between Wallyford and North Berwick takes about 20 minutes. CLICK HERE for a copy of the latest timetable. 

East Lothian by Foot 

The coastal town of Dunbar was the birthplace of the famous John Muir, a Scottish-American naturalist and conservationalist, known as the Father of the National Parks in the US, widely known in being key in saving Yosemite National Park. He was passionate about the preservation of the Wilderness. In his honour a long-distance footpath, the John Muir Way, runs from his birthplace in the East, Dunbar to Helensburgh in the West and passes close to Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site. The walk can be tackled in three sections - Edinburgh to Prestonpans, Prestonpans to North Berwick and North Berwick to Dunbar. 


Even for those not walking the full 134 miles of ever-changing landscapes, the John Muir Way provides a network of footpaths and tracks for exploring the East Lothian coastline. A popular walk from Drummohr is along the coastal path into the town of Musselburgh. There are so many footpaths in East Lothian and the Visit East Lothian website contains a recommendation of their Top 10 East Lothian walks and a selection of Circular routes from the John Muir Way. 

The John Muir Way can be explored either on foot or by bike. Walkers or cyclists of the John Muir Way may wish to consider glamping East Lothian as a comfortable alternative to camping and Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site offer a variety of glamping pods and bothies.  

Walks Through Dunbar

East Lothian by Bike 

There are numerous opportunities to explore East Lothian without a car and we would recommend bringing your bike when staying at our campsite near beaches. As well as the John Muir Way there are a variety of both on and off-road routes, including the Pencaitland Railway Path. East Lothian is not too hilly, with quiet roads, making it a perfect destination for family-friendly cycling in Scotland. The Visit East Lothian website has some recommendation on circular cycling routes near the John Muir Way and gravel riding on the Ormiston Gravel Tour. There are a number of national cycle routes in East Lothian including National Route 1 through the heart of Edinburgh along traffic-free paths and quiet roads. National Route 76 connects Edinburgh to Musselburgh and Haddington. National Route 196 is a beautiful East Lothian cycle ride and is mostly traffic-free along leafy railway paths and quiet roads between Haddington in East Lothian and Penicuik in Midlothian, with a wonderful diversion to the famous Roslyn Chapel.  

Scot Rail welcomes bikes on its trains for free, but you may need to make a reservation on some services. Folding bicycles are allowed on Lothian Buses but only in their bag. Otherwise bikes are not allowed on the buses. 

Cycling Routes John Muir Way

East Lothian is the perfect destination for those looking for campsite near beaches, camping near Edinburgh or East Lothian glamping. If your looking for a holiday parks in Edinburgh, look no further than Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site.