Only 25 miles south of Edinburgh, the seaside town of North Berwick makes a great day trip. It was built in the 12th century to meet the demands of the thriving ferry trade. Today, it’s a popular spot for family days out during the summer months because of its beautiful beaches and all the other fun things to do in North Berwick.
Aside from its picturesque coastline, North Berwick is also known for its abundance of sea life, offshore islands, golf clubs, and castles. It also has connections to the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson as well as a dark history with Witch Trails.
Take a short drive away from the coastal town and you can visit cool museums and other historic buildings too.
Whether you’re visiting Scotland in the summer months or the off-season, these are all the very best things to do in North Berwick and the surrounding area.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN NORTH BERWICK
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE
Day trippers travel from miles around to visit the Scottish Seabird Centre because its reputation amongst nature lovers is just that good. It’s one of Scotland’s best award-winning attractions and one of the top things to do in North Berwick for nature lovers.
It’s a visitors center in North Berwick Harbour that has interactive exhibits all about the local wildlife that lives in and around North Berwick and also on the small islands just offshore. You also can watch the live cameras that the center has set up to watch well-known nesting sites, peruse their gift shop, and check out their cafe too.
Learn more about the Scottish Seabird Centre and tours on their website HERE.
WILDLIFE BOAT TOUR
The Scottish Seabird Centre also runs extremely popular seasonal boat trips to several of the nearby islands in the North Sea. These islands are the Isle of May, Craigleith Island, Lamb Island, and the iconic Bass Rock.
Bass Rock is home to the world’s largest northern gannet colony as well as a ruined castle, chapel, and lighthouse. If you take a boat trip early in the summer season, guaranteed to see (and unfortunately smell!) a lot of gannets. It’s also a great time to visit for puffins, guillemots, and maybe even dolphins if you’re super lucky.
If you look at a map, you’ll notice that the Isle of May is slightly further away from the other group of islands in the Firth of Forth. While you can check out the other three on a leisurely boat tour, visits to the Isle of May Nature Reserve are full-day trips.
NORTH BERWICK LAW
Looming over the entire town is a singular hill called North Berwick Law. This is a popular hiking spot with different ways you can climb it, but most take around an hour. It’s only 198 m/650 ft tall but it offers beautiful views across the town and coastline.
In fact, North Berwick was a designated lookout station during the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. Today, it’s known for its gate made out of a whale jawbone (which has become a symbol of the city) and its outdoor climbing wall.
NORTH BERWICK TOWN CENTRE
Just like the rest of North Berwick, the town center looks exactly as you’d expect an idyllic seaside town to look. It has multi-colored pastel houses, free parking on the High Street (when you can get it!), a train station nearby, and flower boxes absolutely everywhere.
Some of the highlights are Bostock Bakery and Buttercup Cafe which sells ice cream. Don’t miss Robert Louis Stevenson Garden which occupies a small corner in the center of the town. There’s a bronze plaque explaining the Stevenson family’s connection to North Berwick as well as a small red and white striped lighthouse.
OLD ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH
The North Berwick Witch Trials a dark mark on this town’s history. But if you want to visit somewhere related to this event, head to the ruins of Old St. Andrew’s Church on the Auld Kirk Green.
In 1590, over 70 accused witches from North Berwick and the local area were put on trial, tortured, and executed. They supposedly held their covens on the Auld Kirk Green next to the Lodge Grounds. It was the first major witchcraft persecution in Scotland which would continue into the 17th century.
NORTH BERWICK GOLF CLUB
North Berwick is home to some excellent golf courses like the Glen Golf Course and the North Berwick Golf Club. The latter is also known as West Links and stretches along the coast just behind West Bay Beach.
There’s an onsite shop where you can buy all the golfing clothes and hire equipment like golf balls you might need to play a few holes while you’re in town. Visitors are welcome to play at certain times from March – October, just remember to bring proof of your handicap.
DIRLETON CASTLE & GARDENS
Only a seven-minute drive from North Berwick, the Dirleton Castle and Gardens is a magnificent historic ruined castle you can visit in the area. This 13th-century fortress is one of the oldest in Scotland and remained intact for over 400 years.
Unfortunately, it was damaged beyond repair in the 17th century but the walls and most of the towers are still standing. You can cross the raised bridge to the moated castle and there are lots of displays explaining how the castle used to look. And while the castle is in ruins, the beautifully manicured 19th-century gardens are in full bloom.
COASTAL COMMUNITIES MUSEUM
If you visit any museum during your trip to North Berwick, make it the Coastal Communities Museum. It’s a small but well-curated space with exhibitions featuring local heroes, architecture, and, of course, wildlife.
It spans the Victorian era, through the First World War, and right up to the present day. Entrance is free but donations are welcome.
NB DISTILLERY
If you like gin, then you’ll love visiting NB Distillery while you’re in North Berwick. It’s a small, chilled-out business with modern facilities and you can sign up for tours and tastings in their cozy tasting room. In their onsite shop, you can buy bottles of gin to take home with you as well as their handmade soaps and candles.
TANTALLON CASTLE
The ruins of Tantallon Castle are located on the edge of the cliffs near Seacliff Harbor and are a must-visit attraction in North Berwick. This 14th-century medieval fortress used to be the home of the Earls of Angus but it was severely damaged many times in the 17th century.
Thanks to some small modifications for safety, you’re able to walk along the castle walls and up the towers for beautiful views across the Firth of Forth.
Even though it’s a short drive from North Berwick town center, there are lots of amenities. You can stop by the Drift cafe for a coffee made in a converted shipping container and there’s also a car park and gift shop.
Don’t miss Tantallon Castle in the movie Under The Skin (with Scarlett Johansson).
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Only a 20-minute drive from North Berwick at East Fortune Airfield, the National Museum of Flight is one of the top things to do in East Lothian. This 4-hangar outdoor museum has an impressive collection of aircraft from commercial planes to fighter jets. Visitors are welcome to board their Boeing 707 and take a look around, even in the cockpit.
PRESTON MILL
Fans of the Outlander TV show will recognize Preston Mill as Lallybroch’s water mill where the strapping Highlander Jamie Fraser loses his clothes. It’s also a historic 16th-century mill just a 15-minute drive from North Berwick and a nesting site for doves. You can tour the mill and take a look at all the machinery while also enjoying the beautiful surrounding woodland.
THE BONNIE BADGER PUB
Although top chef Tom Kitchin earned his Michelin stars at his restaurant in Edinburgh, his latest venture is only a 10-minute drive from North Berwick. The Bonnie Badger Pub is a five-star restaurant and hotel in the coastal village of Gullane. It serves a fresh twist on Scottish classic dishes at far, far lower prices than his upmarket restaurant in the capital.
JOHN MUIR WAY
This long-distance hiking and biking trail is named after the Scottish conservationist who emigrated to the USA and became the ‘Father of the National Parks’. The John Muir Way is a 134-mile/216 km coast-to-coast path from Helensburgh to Dunbar, where he was born.
Although the trail takes around nine to ten days to complete (four or five by bike), it’s one of the “easiest” 29 Great Trails in Scotland. It passes through the Pentland Hills, Edinburgh, Linlithgow, and North Berwick too so you could just walk a short section along the cliff edge.
BEST BEACHES IN NORTH BERWICK
There’s no better place on the southeast coast of Scotland for a trip to the seaside. North Berwick’s beaches somehow look clean and untouched yet have all the amenities you need.
Here are some of the best beaches in North Berwick for an evening stroll, a day building sandcastles, or an afternoon’s birdwatching.
MILSEY BAY BEACH
Sometimes known as East Bay Beach, Milsey Bay Beach is the most popular beach and tourist attraction in North Berwick. This 1.1 km/half a mile stretch of soft white sand is a good place for families as it has tidal rock pools that kids can paddle in even during low tide. It’s also the closest beach to the town with the best views of Bass Rock.
YELLOWCRAIG BEACH
Yellowcraig Beach is a short drive or a 60-minute walk along the John Muir Way coastal path from North Berwick. This is also an ideal beach for families with lots of cheap parking, soft golden sands, play areas, and lots of walking trails in the green spaces nearby.
This is a great place to get a closer look at Fidra Island and its iconic lighthouse. Author Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by the trips he took to Fidra with his dad (a famous lighthouse engineer) to write Treasure Island.
WEST BAY BEACH
On the opposite side of the harbor to Milsey Bay Beach, West Bay Beach is still close to North Berwick. It’s a little narrower and craggy so it’s ideal for a brisk morning walk rather than a day spent sunbathing (if the weather allows) but it’s still a gorgeous stretch of coastline.
You’ll find the best places for seafood along this beach near North Berwick’s harbor. Check out The Lobster Shack and The Rocketeer for tasty, local fish dishes.
SEACLIFF BEACH
At low tide, you can walk all the way from Milsey Bay Beach to Seacliff Beach. Even if that’s not possible, this pristine white sand beach is still just a 10-minute drive away from the town center near Glen Golf Course. With beautiful views of Tantallon Castle, Bass Rock, and the UK’s smallest harbor, it’s one of the best places to avoid the summer crowds and enjoy a truly unspoiled beach.
ANNUAL EVENTS IN NORTH BERWICK
North Berwick is a small town so it doesn’t have as much going on as Edinburgh or other places in the East Lothian region. However, the festivals and annual events it does have are super fun so here are some of the top things to do in North Berwick every year if you happen to be in town.
- Burns’ Night (January 25th)
- Marine Fest (June)
- Fringe by the Sea (August)
- North Berwick Highland Games (August)
- Kilduff Pumpkin Festival (October)
- Celtic Samhain Festival (October 31st)
- Bonfire Night (November 5th)
- St Andrews Day (November 30th)
- Scottish Hogmanay (December 31st)
Read our complete guide to the best Scotland travel destinations
North Berwick Trip Planning Guide
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Flying to North Berwick?
Looking for the best flights to North Berwick? We love to track flights via Expedia.com. Not only do we find great rates, but we earn points to use on future travel too.
You can also keep an eye on GOING deals, which is how we got to Ireland roundtrip from LAX for under $500 each. The free version is good, but the paid subscription will save you way more than the cost of the actual subscription.
Hotels in North Berwick
Find more North Berwick hotels HERE
Need a Rental Car?
We use DiscoverCars.com to get the best rates and availability on rental cars. Find your car HERE, along with all of the extras you may need (insurance, car seats, ski racks, etc.)
Travel Insurance
Do NOT forget to buy travel insurance for your trip, even if you booked through a travel agent.
Things do and will happen and it’s cheaper to buy travel insurance ahead of time instead of paying out of pocket later.
Check out Travelex for rates on a single trip or an annual plan that could be right for you if you take more than one or two trips a year.
Buy a SIM card?
We all love our smartphones, but we don’t love those international roaming charges. Even if you have a travel pass, you could max out your service, which is why we always grab an eSIM card to pop into our phones. It’s especially great for the kids, as it limits what they can do and how much data they can use, but still allows them to text friends back home.
Check out Airalo, our preferred eSIM card store for the best prices on eSIM cards and international data plans.
Don’t Forget about Your Vacation Photos!
Don’t forget to book your Flytographer session to capture awesome memories from your trip. We do it as often as we can, even though I’m a photographer. Sometimes, this mom just wants to be in a few photos with her kiddos.
How to get to North Berwick Scotland
How to get from Edinburgh to North Berwick by Train
One of the most convenient ways is to take a train from Edinburgh. Trains from Edinburgh Waverley Station to North Berwick run regularly, and the journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes. It’s a scenic ride along the coastline, offering beautiful views.
How to get from Edinburgh to North Berwick by Bus
You can also take a bus from Edinburgh to North Berwick. Various bus services operate this route, and the journey typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
How to drive to North Berwick Scotland
If you prefer driving, you can reach North Berwick by car. From Edinburgh, take the A1 eastbound and follow the signs for North Berwick. The journey by car typically takes about 40 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.
How to Bike to North Berwick
If you’re an avid cyclist, you can enjoy a scenic bike ride to North Berwick. There are cycling routes and paths that can take you there from Edinburgh and nearby towns.
How to get to North Berwick by Boat
If you happen to be in the vicinity of the nearby islands, you can also reach North Berwick by boat. There are boat tours and services that operate in the area, offering unique coastal views and experiences.
How to fly to North Berwick
If you’re coming from farther away or internationally, you can fly into Edinburgh Airport and then take a train, bus, or rent a car to reach North Berwick. The airport is well-connected to various international and domestic destinations.
Once you arrive in North Berwick, you’ll find that the town is compact and easy to explore on foot. It’s a charming coastal destination known for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and outdoor activities.
