North Berwick Harbour – Dusk on the Pier and a Pint in Town
A few hours, from North Berwick station and back.
The route
As the light goes, North Berwick's little harbour is at its loveliest, with the boats settling inside the stone walls and the Bass Rock fading out at sea.
Walk out along the pier, then wander back up into the town for a pint at the Ship Inn on Quality Street, a red sandstone pub that serves food until 8pm.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book a table at the Ship Inn online if you want to eat, and say if you're bringing a dog: it opens every day from noon until late, and the kitchen serves until 8pm.
The day
North Berwick
A stroll down to the harbour as the light fades, out along the pier and back, and the warm bar of an old town pub to finish.
About two and a half hours
North Berwick Harbour
An attraction
It's about 15 minutes' walk downhill from the station to the harbour, where yachts, dinghies and small fishing boats lie close together inside the old stone walls. Walk out along the pier for the view east over Milsey Bay to the Bass Rock, with the island of Craigleith closer in. Sunset is at about 6.10pm in mid-October and before 5pm from late October to early February, so set off half an hour before it. The quays are level, but keep children back from the edge, and keep off the pier when the sea is rough.
4 min on foot
The Ship Inn
A drink
Then it's 4 minutes' walk up into the town to the Ship Inn on Quality Street, a red sandstone pub with its name in gold above the windows. The bar is warm and busy, with ales and a long gantry of spirits, and big screens for the sport. It opens every day from noon until late, and the kitchen serves fish and chips, fish pie and burgers until 8pm. Book a table online, and say if you're bringing a dog: they're very welcome. If it's full, the Herringbone on Westgate is open until 11pm or later.
If it rains
In rain or a rough sea, look at the harbour from the quays, keep off the pier, and go straight up to the Ship Inn, 4 minutes' walk.
