Dunbar

East Lothian | Town | ★★★

[Dunbar High Street]

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, interesting local coastline and an overabundance of flowers in the public toilets. Considering it's one of the largest towns for miles around, there's a surprisingly small selection of shops and eateries, though if cafes are your thing then it's your lucky day.

[Victoria Harbour]

Location

📌 Dunbar ★★★
East Lothian, G.R.: NT 679791 ///gardens.ocean.licks

🚶 The centre of town is small enough to explore easily; Belhaven Bay is a mile 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.



See & do (<1 mi away)

>> Dunbar Castle ★

📌 John Muir's Birthplace Museum ★★★
Description: Small but smart museum detailing the life of John Muir, born in the town and the founder of the National Parks movement.
High Street, town centre, G.R.: NT 679790 ///shorter.september.backpack
Open daily, April to September; Wednesday to Sunday, October to March | Free

📌 Town House Museum ★
Description: Historic building containing a very small local history exhibition; council chamber and jail cell to view by guided tour upstairs - unavailable on our visit.
High Street, town centre, G.R.: NT 679789 ///info.dispenser.desks
Open every afternoon, April to September; weekend afternoons, October to March | Free

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

Nearby (1-3 mi away)

>> Belhaven Bay ★★★ (1 mi ←)
>> Doon Hill ★ (2 mi ↓)
>> Walk: Brock Wood birdspotting ★★★ (3 mi ↓)

[Town House Museum]

[John Muir's Birthplace Museum]

[Belhaven Bay]

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