Winter Walks in East Lothian

Winter Walks in East Lothian

Winter is one of the best times for walking, with crisp air awaiting anyone with the desire to get outdoors. Our East Lothian campsite is open all year so you can enjoy East Lothian walks at any time of the year.

Benefits of Winter walks

• Great for photography - low winter sun and reflections on the sand make it especially photogenic. Frost-tipped fields and bare trees create a still, almost magical landscape
• Enjoy the history and heritage - quiet season lets you soak in the atmosphere without the bustle
• Cosy cafés and warm pubs - nothing beats finishing a chilly walk with a hot chocolate or local ale beside a fire. Villages like Gullane, East Linton, and North Berwick are full of welcoming spots, ideal for a hearty lunch or afternoon tea
  
• Tranquillity and space - Winter brings a slower pace. The beaches and trails are quieter, giving you that rare sense of solitude and reflection. It’s the perfect time to unwind and connect with nature
  

Why is East Lothian is a great location for Winter walks?

• East Lothian without a car - great bus and train connections  
• Castles, culture and heritage - a choice of atmospheric castles to explore including Direlton Castle and Tantallon Castle
• Choice of walks in East Lothian including:
• Woodland walks
• Rural walks in the East Lothian countryside
• Hilltop walking in the Pentland Hills or Lammermuir Hills
• Coastal and estuary walks in East Lothian - East Lothian’s coastline is breathtaking in winter — dramatic skies, rolling waves, and crisp sea air
• Edinburgh Wildife - great places for bird watching include Aberlady Nature Reserve, especially seabirds on the Firth of Forth as well as marine mammals

Woodland East Lothian Walks   

There are a number of woods operated by the Woodland Trust in which you can enjoy woodland walks in East Lothian

• Butterdean Wood at Gladsmuir, Haddington you may be rewarded by the glimpse of a green woodpecker or a spot of the rare birds nest orchid in the Summer. Keep your eye on the tree roots. It is also a great place to birdwatch and if you are lucky a roe deer or two. There are 5km of waymarked trails to enjoy, with wildlife themed sculptures along the way
• Pressmennan Wood at Stenton, Dunbar, is close to the Lammermuir hills. Pressmennan has a large lake, with Presmennan Lake being only one of four designated lakes in Scotland. There is a 5.5km circular trail around Pressmennan Lake. Pressmennan Woods are one of the quietest woodland walks in East Lothian. As well as boasting lots of wildlife, such as deer, owls, otters and bats, Pressmennan is home as well as some strange, mythical creatures, ‘Glingbobs’ and ‘Tootflits’ which have made their homes in the gnarled tree trunks. Young children in particular will love searching for these on the sculpture trail - a great Winter walk. 

What is the East Lothian Coastal Trail? 

The East Lothian coastal trail is also known as the John Muir Way, one of the best walks in East Lothian and certainly the most famous. A 134-mile long-distance footpath from Dunbar to Helensburgh which hugs the coastline and makes for great day walks in East Lothian even if you don’t want to tackle the whole thing. The most popular sections of the East Lothian Coastal Trail are: 

• Fisherrow Harbour, Musselburgh to Port Seton – this 6-mile one-way route along the East Lothian coastal trail passes by Drummohr and takes in Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum (free to enter), the Prestonpans Murals Trail and Cockenzie House and Gardens. Return by Lothian Bus Route 26. Guests wanting a shorter walk could try the Musselburgh and Fisherrow Circular route 

• Direlton and Yellowcraig Circular – 4-mile circular walk along the spectacular Yellowcraig beach, with its iconic views of Fidra Lighthouse, returning via the village of Direlton with Direlton Castle, now under the ownership of Historic Environment Scotland 

• Dunbar to East Linton – follow this 8-mile stretch of the John Muir Way from the birthplace of John Muir. Enjoy great clifftop views and sea stacks. Pass John Muir Country Park and Belhaven Bay, with its famous “Bridge to Nowhere” and along the River Tyne. Visit East Lothian’s last working watermill at Prestonmill. Refreshments available in East Linton with regular buses returning to Dunbar. 

• North Berwick to Tantallon – North Berwick is one of the prettiest villages on the East Lothian Coastal Trail. On this 6-mile trail, start with an ascent of the iconic Berwick Law and then continue along the coastline to Tantallon Castle, again under the care and protection of Historic Environment Scotland. Berwick Law is a conical extinct volcano and there are great views, albeit it can be windy. Return to North Berwick by bus. Visit the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick or enjoy some refreshments at the Drift Cliff Edge Cafe which has breathtaking views of the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock. 
  

Other great Winter walks in East Lothian 

Here are a selection of other great Winter walk which you can enjoy when glamping in East Lothian at Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site.  

• Longniddry to Haddington – this route follows the old railway line from the beaches at Longniddry through to Haddington, the county town of East Lothian. The line operated between 1846 and 1968.  The Railway Walk is 4 miles one-way, is well-surfaced, wide and level and there are lots of wildlife and wildflower spotting opportunities. It is one of the easiest walks in East Lothian. From the route, you can see Redhouse Castle and the Hopetoun Monument at the top of Byres Hill, which you could also climb for the panoramic views of both the Pentland and the Lammermuir Hills

• Levenhall Links - this nature reserve has been created from the old ash lagoons of the former power station and is a rich haven for wildlife and bird watching as well as having incredible views over the Firth of Forth towards Fife and down towards Leith. Levenhall Links at Musselburgh is a short walk from Drummohr Holiday Park and is perfect for dog walking East Lothian

• Pencaitland Railway Walk – this shared cycling and walking trail starting from Musselburgh and stretching 10km to Dalkeith, is perfect for an easy stroll or walk in East Lothian and you can do as much or as little of it as you like. 
  

• 18 holes of golf – with over 20 golf courses in East Lothian to choose from, many of them links courses, golf is one of the most popular forms of walks in East Lothian!! Indeed, many refer to golf as a “good walk spoiled”!! There are plenty of courses to suit all abilities. Guests at Drummohr receive a discount on all rounds of golf at the Royal Musselburgh golf course.