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Lothian.
A tarmac path curving through farmland towards a distant village under a heavy sky.

Getting to Lothian and around.

Trains along the coast, roads and buses

The region is one of the best connected in Scotland. Edinburgh is served by rail from all major cities, with local trains extending to North Berwick, Dunbar, Musselburgh, Livingston, Linlithgow, and other key towns. The Lothian Buses network is extensive within the city and connects to outlying areas, while East Coast Buses and Borders Buses cover towns across East and Midlothian.

Driving is straightforward, with the A1, A71, and M8 providing fast links across the region. Traffic in and around Edinburgh can be slow at peak times, but most towns are within an hour’s reach. The Borders Railway connects Edinburgh Waverley to Galashiels, with stops at Eskbank and Newtongrange, opening up parts of Midlothian for car-free travel.

Cycling routes include sections of the National Cycle Network and paths along former railway lines. The coast, in particular, lends itself to bike trips – from Portobello to Gullane and beyond – while the Pentland Hills offer a more rugged alternative for off-road routes.

By train

Trains from Edinburgh Waverley run out along the coast to North Berwick and Dunbar, and west to Linlithgow and Livingston.

The Borders Railway heads south through Midlothian, with stops at Eskbank and Newtongrange.

By road

The A1 runs east towards Dunbar, and the A71 and M8 head west across West Lothian.

Most towns are within an hour of Edinburgh, though traffic round the city can be slow at busy times.

Getting around

East Coast Buses and Borders Buses reach the towns of East Lothian and Midlothian, and Lothian Buses run out from the city.

The coast is good for cycling, from Portobello out to Gullane, and the John Muir Way follows the shore to Dunbar.

North Berwick is the favourite for the coast, with beaches, the harbour and a train to Edinburgh. Dunbar, Haddington and Gullane are quieter, and Roslin and the Pentland villages suit walkers.

It works well as day trips from Edinburgh, but two or three nights on the coast lets you walk the beaches, climb North Berwick Law and take a boat round the Bass Rock.

Boats from North Berwick circle the Bass Rock from spring to autumn, when it's home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. The Scottish Seabird Centre in the town has the details.

East Lothian is one of the driest and sunniest corners of Scotland, which is part of why golfers love it. The coast is breezy, so bring a layer for the beaches.

It's in Roslin, about seven miles south of Edinburgh, and Lothian Buses run there from the city. Book tickets ahead in summer, and leave time for a walk in Roslin Glen below it.

Yes. The beaches at Gullane, Yellowcraig and Seacliff, the Seabird Centre, the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune and the National Mining Museum at Newtongrange all make good days out.

Photographs by bonniebadgergullane; Colin C, JohnnyMcG, Five Sisters Zoo, Andy G, Richard Usher and Tim Moore via Google

More of Lothian.

The ruined walls and towers of Tantallon Castle stand on a grassy clifftop.See and doClifftop castles, Rosslyn Chapel and a watermillFishing boats and sailboats crowd a stone harbour before a row of buildings.Eat, drink and shopLobster by the harbour, bakeries and seaside cafésFarmland and a distant hamlet stretching towards low hills under a heavy sky.Where to stayFarm cottages below the Pentland HillsThe ruined tower and curtain wall of Tantallon Castle stand above the sea.History and storiesHill forts, royal palaces, coal and shale oilMarshy grassland stretches toward a coastal town with a church spire in the distance.ItinerariesDays we have driven, stop by stopA rocky island rising from the sea beyond a coastal path, a marker post standing in the grass.What is on in LothianSomething new from the region every day