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Days Out in East Lothian
Here are our favourite spots we recommend you try…
Outdoor Activities
Rock Hunting
If you’re staying at Carfrae Farm this Spring / Summer, keep your eyes peeled for some beautifully painted stones hidden as a Treasure Hunt in the gardens and woodland around your cottage, as well as around East Lothian. Our creative member of the team, Mary, has painted some quirky stones for you to find! There are also some stones painted by local school children as well. Why not pick a stone and paint your own? Leave one here or take it home!
Rock Hunting
If you’re staying at Carfrae Farm this Spring / Summer, keep your eyes peeled for some beautifully painted stones hidden as a Treasure Hunt in the gardens and woodland around your cottage, as well as around East Lothian. Our creative member of the team, Mary, has painted some quirky stones for you to find! There are also some stones painted by local school children as well. Why not pick a stone and paint your own? Leave one here or take it home!
John Muir Country Park
Travel time: 20 minutes
Location: Dunbar EH42 1TY
Let the kids cross the bridge to nowhere and see where their imagination takes them! The country park is a must for nature lovers – birds that can be seen in the summer include skylark, meadow pipit and lapwing and there are an abundance of butterflies throughout July & August as well as many different plant and insect species. Pack your binoculars and have fun exploring! The park also has an excellent playground and picnic area. Parking costs £2.50. There are public toilets on-site.
John Muir Alpacas
Travel time: 15 minutesWebsite: www.johnmuiralpacas.co.uk Take an alpaca on a trek through the picturesque woodlands, feed them some carrots and stop off in the giant tipi for lunch. A brilliant experience for kids and adults. Hint: just watch those thumbs!!
Location: Dunbar EH42 1TY
Let the kids cross the bridge to nowhere and see where their imagination takes them! The country park is a must for nature lovers – birds that can be seen in the summer include skylark, meadow pipit and lapwing and there are an abundance of butterflies throughout July & August as well as many different plant and insect species. Pack your binoculars and have fun exploring! The park also has an excellent playground and picnic area. Parking costs £2.50. There are public toilets on-site.
John Muir Alpacas
Travel time: 15 minutesWebsite: www.johnmuiralpacas.co.uk Take an alpaca on a trek through the picturesque woodlands, feed them some carrots and stop off in the giant tipi for lunch. A brilliant experience for kids and adults. Hint: just watch those thumbs!!
Gifford Community Woodland
Travel time: 10 minutes
Location: Gifford EH41 4QQ
Go on a bear hunt, explore the woods, collect leaves, skim stones along the river, have fun in the small play park and then enjoy a well earned coffee and cake at the amazing Lewis & Clarke cafe on the main street. Parking is free in the village and there are public toilets near the play park.
Archerfield Walled Garden and Fairy Trail
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: Archerfield, EH39 5HQ
Website: www.archerfieldwalledgarden.com
An 18th Century walled garden, a unique fairy trail with willow structures, sculptures and a pond, a garden cafe, an amazing food market, a garden shop with a potting station, and an enclosed play park. A wonderful day out for all of the family!
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: Archerfield, EH39 5HQ
Website: www.archerfieldwalledgarden.com
An 18th Century walled garden, a unique fairy trail with willow structures, sculptures and a pond, a garden cafe, an amazing food market, a garden shop with a potting station, and an enclosed play park. A wonderful day out for all of the family!
Beach upon beach…
North Berwick, Gullane, Longniddry Bents, Seacliff, Yellowcraigs, Barns Ness, Whitesands… There are beaches aplenty to visit in East Lothian. Most have public toilets and a parking fee of £2.50. Our favourite is Yellowcraigs just outside of Dirleton – with a brilliant play park, a BBQ area, rock pools, sand dunes, stunning views, as well loos, showers and changing facitilies for getting rid of all the sand, and an ice cream van – what more could you want!
SUP Yoga with Ocean Vertical
Let your paddle board become your floating yoga mat and enjoy a unique experience of paddle boarding and SUP yoga on the Danskine Loch at Carfrae Farm. Test your balance skills and make a splash! Suitable for ages 14 plus. All kit supplied. Website: www.oceanvertical.com
Book direct with Ocean Vertical: hello@oceanvertical.com or 07395 831811
Book direct with Ocean Vertical: hello@oceanvertical.com or 07395 831811
Indoor Activities
East Links Family Park (Indoor and outdoor fun)
Travel time: 15 – 20 minutes
Location: Belhaven, EH42 1XF
Website: www.eastlinks.co.uk
Diggers, go karts, trampolines, a musical wood, animals, 1km train safari, soft play, a multi-storey fortress, crazy golf… You can easily spend a day here come rain or shine! Lots of parking is available, we recommend arriving early as it can get busy. Online booking is required at present.
Fingers and Thumbs Arts & Crafts Centre
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: North Berwick, EH39 4AG
Website: www.fingersandthumbsnb.co.uk
A little independent craft centre where you can keep the little ones busy painting pottery as a keepsake of your holiday. They also have holiday workshops and an excellent craft shop.
Scottish Seabird Centre
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: North Berwick, EH39 4SS
Website: www.seabird.org
Control interactive live cameras on the local islands and zoom in on the amazing wildlife in its natural habitat. Don’t miss the gannets on the Bass Rock, the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets and the puffins on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, the biggest puffin colony on the east coast of Britain. Fantastic cafe and shop as well!
National Museum of Flight
Travel time: 20 minutes
Location: Athelstaneford, EH39 5LF
Website: https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-flight/
Get on board Scotland’s concorde to discover what a transatlantic flight was like for passengers and crew, view historic hangars and air fields, and let the kids explore the interactive galleries. Great fun for a rainy day. Pop along to Merryhatton Garden Centre 5 minutes down the road for a bite to eat and browse their unique shop.
Enjoy Leisure Swimming Pools
Website: www.enjoyleisure.com
Dunbar, Haddington and North Berwick all have fantastic swimming pools to enjoy. Dunbar Leisure Pool has a flume, wave machine and stunning views. The Aubigny Sports Centre in Haddington has a heated baby pool for the younger ones. Remember to pack your swim gear!
The Strawberry Barn
Travel time: 15 minutes
Location: Thistly Cross, Dunbar, EH42 1ST
Website: www.thestrawberrybarn.co.uk
A fantastic Pick Your Own fruit farm, with over 25,000 strawberry plants to pick from inside poly-tunnels so you can pick them rain or shine. They also have a delicious menu in the cafe and a unique little farm shop.
East Links Family Park (Indoor and outdoor fun)
Travel time: 15 – 20 minutes
Location: Belhaven, EH42 1XF
Website: www.eastlinks.co.uk
Diggers, go karts, trampolines, a musical wood, animals, 1km train safari, soft play, a multi-storey fortress, crazy golf… You can easily spend a day here come rain or shine! Lots of parking is available, we recommend arriving early as it can get busy. Online booking is required at present.
Fingers and Thumbs Arts & Crafts Centre
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: North Berwick, EH39 4AG
Website: www.fingersandthumbsnb.co.uk
A little independent craft centre where you can keep the little ones busy painting pottery as a keepsake of your holiday. They also have holiday workshops and an excellent craft shop.
Scottish Seabird Centre
Travel time: 30 minutes
Location: North Berwick, EH39 4SS
Website: www.seabird.org
Control interactive live cameras on the local islands and zoom in on the amazing wildlife in its natural habitat. Don’t miss the gannets on the Bass Rock, the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets and the puffins on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, the biggest puffin colony on the east coast of Britain. Fantastic cafe and shop as well!
National Museum of Flight
Travel time: 20 minutes
Location: Athelstaneford, EH39 5LF
Website: https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-flight/
Get on board Scotland’s concorde to discover what a transatlantic flight was like for passengers and crew, view historic hangars and air fields, and let the kids explore the interactive galleries. Great fun for a rainy day. Pop along to Merryhatton Garden Centre 5 minutes down the road for a bite to eat and browse their unique shop.
Enjoy Leisure Swimming Pools
Website: www.enjoyleisure.com
Dunbar, Haddington and North Berwick all have fantastic swimming pools to enjoy. Dunbar Leisure Pool has a flume, wave machine and stunning views. The Aubigny Sports Centre in Haddington has a heated baby pool for the younger ones. Remember to pack your swim gear!
The Strawberry Barn
Travel time: 15 minutes
Location: Thistly Cross, Dunbar, EH42 1ST
Website: www.thestrawberrybarn.co.uk
A fantastic Pick Your Own fruit farm, with over 25,000 strawberry plants to pick from inside poly-tunnels so you can pick them rain or shine. They also have a delicious menu in the cafe and a unique little farm shop.
