Dunbar

📌 Town in East Lothian
★★★

Dunbar is an attractive and important settlement on the east coast road and rail routes. Its location halfway between Edinburgh and the English border has made it a target over the centuries for marauding armies, alternating between English and Scottish depending on who held the local castle at the time. The castle’s now a stumpy ruin, further demolished by the picturesque harbour complex adjacent to the castle walls. The town has fared better in the long term, with a handsome main street, a couple of museums and a lovely local coastline – including superb beaches.

🌍 Location

📌 East Lothian

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 679791

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.003561,-2.516973

🚶 The centre of town is small enough to explore easily; Belhaven Bay is 1 mi away via the coast path.

🚆🚌 Dunbar has a station on the main East Coast railway line, with trains from Edinburgh and many English towns and cities. There are a few bus routes, including from Edinburgh, North Berwick and Haddington.

<1 mi away

>> Dunbar Castle and Battery ★★

>> Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery ★

>> John Muir’s Birthplace Museum ★★★

>> Walk: Dunbar’s coastal playground ★★★

<3 mi away

>> Belhaven Bay ★★★ (1 mi ←)

>> Doon Hill (Dunbar) ★ (2 mi ↓)

>> Walk: Brock Wood birdspotting ★★★ (3 mi ↓)