Haddington

📌 Town in East Lothian
★★

Haddington is the capital of East Lothian and an affluent market town, many times suffering from the attentions of marauding English armies and later a staging post on the Great North Road between London and Edinburgh. The town celebrated its 700th anniversary of being granted Royal Burgh status in 2018; pride of place is the symbolic mercat cross, topped by a cute little goat. This forms the centrepiece to an attractive High Street full of colourful houses, places to eat and a generous smattering of independent shops… though the proud locals might be reluctant to admit that some of the facades are a little tatty. The museum in the same building as the town library shows off the region’s history; this is farming country, with fishing villages and seaside resorts not far away to the north on Lothian’s “golf coast”. Haddington is also home to both Scotland’s longest parish church (St Mary’s) and one of its earliest (St Martin’s). Walking to the latter involves crossing the 16th century Nungate Bride over the River Tyne: an idyllic spot worth lingering at. Finally, the 15th century mansion of Lennoxlove House is only a mile to the south and offers an interesting tour.

🌍 Location

📌 East Lothian

O.S. Grid Reference: NT 517739

GPS coordinates: 55.955287,-2.775497

🚶 Haddington itself is easily small enough to discover on foot. Lennoxlove House is a 1 mi walk away, partly along roadside verges.

🚌 There are several bus routes, most usefully from Edinburgh, North Berwick and Dunbar.

<1 mi away

>> John Gray Centre Museum ★★

>> St Martin’s Kirk ★

>> St Mary’s Church (Haddington) ★★★

>> Walk: Garleton Hills – a tale of cabbages & kings ★★

>> Walk: Haddington to East Linton – frolick along the Tyne ★★

<3 mi away

>> Lennoxlove House ★★★ (1 mi ↓)

>> Hopetoun Monument ★★★ (2 mi ↑)

>> Flag Heritage Centre ★★ (2 mi ↑)

>> Chesters Hill Fort ★ (3 mi ↑)