North Berwick Law – The Jawbone, the View and Lunch in Town
About 3.2 miles on foot.
North Berwick Law is the old volcanic cone that rises behind the town, 187 metres high, with a whale's jawbone arch on top and the whole coast laid out below.
It's a 20-minute walk from the station to the foot of the hill, then a short, steep climb, and lunch afterwards is down in the town at the Herringbone on Westgate. It's a good morning for anyone who wants a wide view without a long day on the hill.
- Time
- About an hour from the car park at the foot of the hill, up and down; allow an hour and a quarter with time on top.
- The path
- A steep path of about 145 metres of climb, rough in places.
- Where to start
- A car park at the foot of the hill, off Haddington Road (the B1347).
- Set off
- The waymarked path starts at the car park, about 20 minutes' walk from the station. It is about 0.8 km (half a mile) to the top, a climb of some 145 metres.
- When to go
- The Law can be climbed at any time in daylight and dry weather; the Herringbone opens from noon on weekdays and from 9am at weekends.
- Dogs
- Exmoor ponies graze the hill: keep dogs on a lead near them.
- Children
- A steep climb, and the top is open to the wind.
- Toilets
- None on the hill or at the car park; the nearest are in the town, on Quality Street and at the harbour.
- Before you set out
- The path is steep and slippery when wet, and the top is open to the wind with no shelter. In low cloud or rain, leave the summit out. Exmoor ponies graze the hill: give them room.
The walk
It's about 20 minutes' walk from the station to the Law car park off Haddington Road, where boards mark the start of the waymarked path. From there it's about half a mile to the top and some 145 metres of climbing, steep in places, and the round trip takes about an hour.
On the summit stands a whale's jawbone arch, a fibreglass copy, there since 2008, of the real bones that stood here for over 250 years, and the view takes in the town, Craigleith and the Bass Rock. Exmoor ponies graze the hill, so keep dogs on a lead near them.
The path is slippery when wet and the top has no shelter: go in daylight, in dry and fairly still weather, and leave the summit out in low cloud. There are no toilets on the hill.
If it rains
The Law is no climb for a wet or misty day: the path is steep and slippery and the view is the whole point. Leave the summit out, walk into the town and go straight to the Herringbone.
Afterwards
18 min on foot
The Herringbone
Lunch
Lunch is 18 minutes' walk from the Law car park, back down in the town at the Herringbone, on Westgate at the west end of the High Street. Its menu leans on local, seasonal food, with fish chowder, fish and chips and burgers, and locals rate its cocktails too. It opens from noon on weekdays and from 9am at weekends, and welcomes dogs. Ring 01620 890501 to book and to check when the kitchen is serving. If it's full, the Ship Inn on Quality Street opens every day from noon. The station is about 10 minutes' walk away.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book the Herringbone
Book lunch at the Herringbone on 01620 890501 for after the climb, and check when the kitchen is serving: it opens from noon on weekdays and from 9am at weekends.
Where to eat
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For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by theherringbone