Top Things to do in East Lothian
Things to do in East Lothian, Scotland: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Discover the best top things to do in East Lothian, United Kingdom including Winton Castle, John Gray Centre, St Andrew Blackadder Church, Gosford House, Catherine Watson Monument, Newhailes House & Gardens, Nungate Bridge, Hailes Castle, The John Muir Way, St Mary's Church.
Restaurants in East Lothian
1. Winton Castle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
Winton lands predate the Magna Carta; and the Setons built the House before Leonardo da Vinci established his reputation. Their architect, the King's Master Mason, didn't work on ordinary castles! His carved, twisted chimneys still herald the palace within and his ornate plaster ceilings are the most elaborate in Scotland. A Castle for Hire with a Warm Welcome Winton House remains a private house, but one which is available for hire for a wide variety of functions. It has architectural grandeur and history, but is not aloof or austere; you are welcomed warmly as a guest into a home (mine!). Corporate Events with a Twist Winton House can be exclusively yours for memorable corporate events, gala dinners, incentive events, private parties and special celebrations. The House's interconnecting reception rooms are ideally laid out for conferences and meetings. A Wedding Venue with Real Romance For a truly Scottish wedding, Winton is one of the most romantic wedding venues in the country and will make your big day a memorable one. Look no further if you're considering country house or castle wedding venues! If you're looking to develop your management team's performance and collaborative skills then we can offer a range of interesting and innovative events, including: 4x4 driving; Archery; Clay Pigeon Shooting; Falconry; Golf (East Lothian has some of the finest courses in Scotland); The Winton Highland Games; Hovercraft driving; Whisky tasting; and Wine and Champagne tasting.
Reviewed By K8reviews - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
My husband and I got married at Winton Castle in February 2020, it was the most special day and weekend we could have imagined! The castle is such a beautiful venue, the room layout flows perfectly and it felt both grand and homely with the fires lit. Every room is beautiful - so there was no need to decorate them much further; we chose to add some table decorations and that’s it. With infinite thanks to the Winton staff, particularly our wedding planner Rae, the event ran smoothly from the day we first contacted Winton! We didn’t have to worry about anything; on our wedding day, I was confident that Rae and the Team had it all organised, they did and it all happened effortlessly! Wedding planning: Rae was absolutely fantastic! She kept us on-track, asking all the right questions and prompting for information in plenty of time - it never felt stressful. There was never any pressure or ‘up-selling’. Rae just seemed to understand exactly the type of wedding day we wanted, and arranged everything in such a calm way. Thank you! Accommodation: My family (9 adults, 2 children) stayed in Winton Cottage for the long weekend and were delighted with the accommodation from arrival to departure. It felt like a home, and there was plenty of space for everyone! I slept at the Cottage the night before the wedding (Friday night) which worked so well. There was plenty of space for some quiet time which was lovely! The Winton Team were very accommodating, providing extra towels for my husband and two Best Men to get showered and ready at the Cottage after I had left. I’d definitely stay there again for a holiday! On the day: I woke up having slept well in the Cottage, I had plenty of time for a relaxed breakfast with everyone and zero worries about transport to the venue! My dad then drove me, my sisters and our things (2mins drive/ ~700m) to the Castle where we got ready in one of the gorgeous bedrooms in the Castle! There was plenty of room for us and to have our make-up artist and hairdresser both working their magic at the same time. Our photographer had worked at Winton Castle many times before so he knew what he was doing. The Winton staff were brilliant! Rae was a calm and friendly face before entering the wedding ceremony! Throughout the day, the Winton staff were friendly and attentive but you also barely knew they were there - delivering excellent service without any fuss! On such a quick day, they made sure there were opportunities for my husband and I to have a few minutes to ourselves, to take it all in which we loved. We stayed overnight in the Castle in the beautiful bedroom and bathroom. Having a leisurely breakfast in the ceremony room the morning after was lovely and allowed us to soak up how special our wedding day was. Thanks again to all of the Winton Team x
2. John Gray Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 40 reviews
The John Gray Centre houses the County's Archives & Local History Department, a Museum covering the entire County's history from the Prehistoric settlements up to the present day and a branch library for Haddington, which also provides access to Internet and wifi for visitors. We also provide Baby and Disabled Adult changing facilities.
Reviewed By Mardrg - Richmond, United States
In my first trip to Scotland, I wanted to learn about my ancestors, who had lived in Haddington until the mid-1800s. Quite late in the afternoon, we learned about the archives and decided to visit. Bill Wilson, archivist, welcomed us warmly and promptly began to search for information about my ancestors, with the bits and pieces I could provide. In a rather short period of time, he unearthed a wealth of information. His kindness, research knowledge, and enthusiastic willingness to help tremendously exceeded our expectations. Unfortunately, we arrived late in the day and were returning to Edinburgh in the evening. We now know that, had we been wiser, we would have scheduled a much longer stay in Haddington and spent the majority of our time in the archives. Demonstrating his willingness to go above and beyond, he followed up our visit with additional research and links via email. I can’t wait to do more independent research, knowing I now have the ability to communicate with the expert archivists in Haddington. I am now looking forward to visiting Scotland, and specifically Haddington, again, and spending much more time learning from the archivists! What an invaluable resource!
3. St Andrew Blackadder Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Bibcay - Gateshead, United Kingdom
This is a absolutely amazing church in the wonderful high street of north berwick. Staff are very welcoming and it has a bell.
4. Gosford House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By brianhN5441HF - Longniddry, United Kingdom
Lovely farm shop , easy disabled access walks , beautiful ponds , some wildlife. Some boggy bits so wear boots if wet weather. Interesting buildings scattered around the estate particularly liked the mausoleum and the quaint little building beside the smaller pond. Unfortunately dogs have to be kept on lead due to the wildlife and some farm animals. But otherwise enjoyed my visit. There is a play area near the farm shop for kids. Would recommend if you enjoy a relaxing walk in woodlands and have a few hours to spare.
5. Catherine Watson Monument
6. Newhailes House & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
17th century country house on the end of Edinburgh with 80 + acres of unique protected landscape. Also home to Weehailes, our new adventure play-park specially designed for younger children and themed around the Newhailes story. We’re currently undertaking an exciting conservation project to restore several areas of the highly significant 18th century designed landscape, including the flower garden, kitchen garden and formal lawns. Please note that as of February 2019 the stables courtyard and main house will be closed as we undergo building and conservation works to improve our facilities and protect our historic buildings. However Weehailes play-park, our outdoor diner and the wider estate are fully open and accessible.
Reviewed By JaneUK - Wales, United Kingdom
This is a modern and exciting wooden playpen for kids. Plenty here for an hour of play snacks and another hour. All the things kids like zip wires tunnels clamber nets. A smaller toddler area. For parents it is fully enclosed, there is a toilet block with running water just adjacent, there is a pop up food van doing hot drinks, burgers (v), hot dogs, nachos, healthy grown up soup and amazing cake. You can eat at tables with umbrellas with excellent views of the playground. There is also an enclosed greenhouse you can eat in but you dont have views of the play area. It is spotless. If you bring your own food you can use tables just outside and come back in with hand stamp. We went by bus and had a lovely walk by the stream. Managed about 4 hours all in which was amazing vfm. Had 4-14 yo. To be fair 14 yo was really just entertaining the little ones but he enjoyed it nonetheless. If you join NTS you get repeat visits for free. Can't recommend enough.
7. Nungate Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By Bibcay - Gateshead, United Kingdom
Fab-u-lous! The stone from ST Mary’s church is the Same stone as it is for the bridge. The views and history are good and watching and feeding the birds are a treat. The river is the river Tyne too.
8. Hailes Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By andrewhdk - Falkirk, United Kingdom
My wife and I wanted to visit Hailes Castle and climb up Traprain Law before trying lunch in East Linton. We were holidaying in Dunbar to attend the Lammermuir Festival and enjoy sea walks, historic sites and local restaurants. What we found particularly attractive about visiting Hailes Castle is its size and neatness. . Though now a well-preserved ruin, because it’s small and well-maintained, and also because there are only a few visitors at any one time, it becomes easy to visualise the whole picture of castle life, and to imagine the bustle and activities around the whole castle in the 1400s. PRACTICALITIES It’s worth saying, as others have done, that the road taking you to Hailes Castle, called Brae Heads Loan, is almost single-track, with very few passing places, so drive cautiously and expect to have to reverse some distance if you meet another car head-on. Brae Heads Loan is accessed by turning off the A199 where ‘Hailes Castle’ is signed, then turning off to the right. On reaching the castle, which is set back from the road and overlooks the (Scottish) River Tyne, there’s a parking area for two or three cars. But since visitors aren’t frequent, that’s probably enough. Entry is free; there is no shop or attendant. The grounds of the little castle are impeccably maintained by Historic Scotland, grass well mown, signage undamaged. We found the small Hall and the vaulted Bakehouse and Brewhouse rather beautiful, and the views from the windows down to the Tyne are impressive. Families can easily get down to the river for a picnic. HISTORY The castle is one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles, dating from the early 1200s when its thick curtain wall was laid. It was begun as a tower house by the de Gourlay family from Northumbria, taken from them by forfeit in the wars of independence, and conferred on the de Hepburn family, who added substantial extensions in the 14th and 15thC. The Hepburns, who were also from Northumbria, built the west and east towers during the 15thC. Mary Queen of Scots’ third husband, James Hepburn, was from this family. Then Oliver Cromwell attacked and incapacitated the castle after the Battle of Dunbar in 1650; it was no longer a viable fortification and was used for storage until coming into public trust in the 20thC. Overall, we found Hailes Castle charming, romantic and – significantly – easy to imagine alive historically. It’s well worth an hour’s visit.
9. The John Muir Way
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By Sunjo
We walked the John Muir Way on 9-20th May. I booked all the accommodation and used the services of Steve Higson, John Muir Way Baggage Service. We had a great walk with mainly hot sunny days, good accommodation and extremely efficient baggage transfer. From my first email to Steve together with all the transfers, the service was first class. Our baggage was always awaiting us each day when we reached our destination. Many thanks for everything Steve. The John Muir Way was the best way marked long distance trail of the 10 we have walked. The walking was very easy with miles of disused railway paths, canal towpaths, tracks and country lanes. The history about the forts and the Antonine Wall was well presented and interesting. I found reading the Rucksack Readers John Muir Way helped us learn more about the surrounding area along the walk. Besides the forts, we also enjoyed a cruise on Loch Lomond, a visit to Linlithgow Palace, Falkirk with the ride on the Wheel and a visit to the Kelpies plus our 2 days of sight seeing in Edinburgh. Dunbar provided a grand finale with the John Muir Country Park and the friendly staff in the visitor centre.
10. St Mary's Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By andrewhdk - Falkirk, United Kingdom
My wife and I were holidaying in Dunbar to attend the Lammermuir Festival and enjoy sea walks, historic sites and local restaurants. The final two concerts we attended were both at St Mary’s, in the evening and then the late evening. It is the longest church in Scotland (63 metres/206 feet from east to west), just longer than St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Its size is less surprising once you learn that in the High Middle Ages Haddington was the fourth largest town in Scotland, and of strategic importance. ACOUSTICS AND AMBIENCE The building originally dates from 1380, when it was founded as a collegiate church (with students and choristers). Completed in 1386, the church was extensively damaged during Henry VIII’s ‘Rough Wooing’, and has received much building and rebuilding up to the present day. The predominant architectural style is early Gothic. All the more surprising, then, that it has one of the finest acoustics of any building in Scotland, concert hall or otherwise. Both concerts were absolutely astounding. Clarinettist/composer Mark Simpson led the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Winds in a marvellous performance of Mozart’s great Bb serenade (‘Gran Partita’), in which the note-perfect, richly textured and thrilling playing was made to sound almost as tangible as the great columns of the church’s nave. The later concert, a performance of Stockhausen’s ‘Freude’ (‘Joy’) for two harpists, was complex and ethereal, yet every note and musical gesture, as well as the harpists’ chanting, was perfectly crisp and clear. We also noticed, in the late evening, how warm the building remained, and how comfortable the chairs are. HISTORY During the intervals we could take in more of the building itself. Much of St Mary's was only restored to its present state between 1971 and 1973. For most of St Mary's life the parish worshipped in the nave of the church, all that could be used after Henry’s occupying English army left in 1548. In 1561 John Knox urged the town council to repair and roof the nave of the previously catholic church, and a wall was built to close off its east end. The tower, transepts and choir were left roofless and exposed to the elements for over 400 years. Remarkably, the vaulted ceiling of the choir, apparently constructed in the same way as that of the nave, was actually constructed with fibreglass using 1970s boat-building technology. The new hand-made clear windows also appear ‘old’, and the choir space has a wonderful atmosphere. The organ was only added in 1990, and a recently added and very beautiful set of glass doors beneath the organ pipes leads to toilets (including a disabled one) and offices. The whole building has wheelchair access. VISITING St Mary's is open to visitors at Easter weekend and on Sundays to Fridays from 1.30pm to 4pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm from 1st May through the summer. There is a committed team of volunteer welcomers; we were told that some of them were also helping the Lammermuir Festival staff at the concerts. In 2017 St Mary's was awarded 3 stars by Visit Scotland. Leaflets about the church are available in a variety of languages. Even if you’re not ‘into’ churches, the scale, beauty, acoustics, story of renovation and warmth of welcome will probably strike you, as they did us. 5 stars.
