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Belhaven Bay at low tide, wet sands and green salt marsh under a blue sky, red rocks in front.
Lothian

Dunbar Clifftop Path to Belhaven Bay

A short clifftop walk from Dunbar harbour to Belhaven Bay, past the castle, the Baird Promenade and the golf course, on the John Muir Way.

Welcome

One of the loveliest short walks in East Lothian starts at Dunbar harbour and follows the coast west to the sands of Belhaven Bay.

It is only a mile and a half, about three-quarters of an hour at an easy pace, and it follows a stretch of the John Muir Way, the long path named after the naturalist who was born in the town.

Before you set off, look round the two harbours and the Battery, a fort built in 1781 on a rock of columnar basalt to keep privateers away. Above them are the ruins of Dunbar Castle, where Black Agnes held out against a siege for five months in 1338; today it is home to kittiwakes. Along the way are the leisure centre, the Baird Promenade, low cliffs with curious rocks and the edge of Winterfield golf course.

It ends at Belhaven Bay, a great sweep of golden sand with the Bass Rock out to sea and the Bridge to Nowhere at its edge.

A short drive awayJohn Muir's BirthplaceThe naturalist's house in the town.3 min by roadSee itJohn Muir's Birthplace on Dunbar High Street, a white-harled house with flowers by the open door.
Before you go

Open land, there at any time; about 45 minutes one way, with several flights of steps.

Distance
2.5 km, one way.
Time
About 45 minutes.
Path
The John Muir Way.
Where it is

From Dunbar harbour to the Shore Road car park at Belhaven Bay; buses and trains run to Dunbar from Edinburgh.

Close byDunbar.
  1. Belhaven BridgeBelhaven BridgeThe Bridge to Nowhere at the end.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Fishing boats moor beneath Dunbar Castle's red sandstone ruins on the harbourThe Creel Loaders1 mile3 min by road
  3. Dunbar High Street under a blue sky, the white Town House with its tower and spire among the old buildings.Dunbar Town House Museum & GalleryDunbar's 16th-century tolbooth on the High Street, with its witch's hat tower, now a free museum and gallery of the town's history.1 mile4 min by road
  4. Railed path leads from grassy clifftop down to a rocky shorelineDunbar High StreetIt’s worth having a look along the High Street in Dunbar to grab a souvenir in one of the many wee gift shops.1 mile4 min by road
  5. Dunbar CastleDunbar CastleThe castle ruins at the start.1 mile4 min by road
Directions
John Muir's Birthplace on Dunbar High Street, a white-harled house with flowers by the open door.AttractionsJohn Muir's Birthplace1.2 miles
The Creel Restaurant lit up on a wet street corner at nightRestaurantsThe Creel, Dunbar1.3 miles
Aerial view of North Berwick's twin harbours, rooftops and coastline stretching inlandAttractionsDunbar Battery1.4 miles
White clubhouse with red tiled roof beside a links golf courseAttractionsDunbar Golf Course2.1 miles
Grassy dunes overlook a curving sandy beach with Bass Rock offshoreAttractionsTyninghame Links2.2 miles over the water
Stone dovecot with conical tiled roof and outside stair, set in grassAttractionsPreston Mill5.9 miles
Ruined stone castle with wooden staircase leading to an arched doorwayAttractionsHailes Castle6.4 miles
Sunset breaks through clouds over a curving beach and low wavesAttractionsSeacliff9.0 miles
Ruined castle on a grassy hilltop behind a low stone wallAttractionsTantallon Castle9.2 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the walk, and when each is next free.

A landscape view of the Blue Cabin at the foot of the brae, lamps lit by its red door and boats drawn up on the grass.Blue Cabin by the Sea
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Cockburnspath
  • 9 miles from the path to Belhaven Bay
Check datesA stone cottage with red pantiled roofs and a gabled dormer sits behind a gravel courtyard, an apple tree in the foreground.Maybell Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Lothian
  • 16 miles from the path to Belhaven Bay
Check datesAn orange leather sofa draped with a sheepskin faces a stone fireplace beneath a timber ceiling, a staircase rising behind.The Old Stable
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Lothian
  • 16 miles from the path to Belhaven Bay
Free 18–20 OctThe Crow’s Nest, FifeThe Crow’s Nest
  • Sleeps 5
  • In Lothian
  • 16 miles from the path to Belhaven Bay
Free 2–4 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in LothianAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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