North Berwick is a town 25 miles east of Edinburgh, in the region of East Lothian. Only 30 minutes by train from Edinburgh, it is an easy day trip. This coastal town really is a delightful spot to visit; from the wild and beautiful beach, to the seabird centre and shops. Take yourself on a day trip to North Berwick from Edinburgh and relax in the sea air and welcoming arms of East Lothian.
Things to do on a day trip to North Berwick
The Town
The main street in North Berwick is lined with little independent shops, cafés and lovely little gift shops and restaurants. There is also an old fashioned candy store, a pet shop, and various general stores. There is a real village feel to this main street. At the end of the main street is an award winning public toilet; an absolute essential facility in a beach town!
The Beach
North Berwick beach is a sweeping soft white sandy curve, stretching from the Scottish Seabird Centre at the east end to the Glen Golf Course at the west end. There is a tidal swimming pool, and there is often an ice-cream van sitting nearby, waiting to feed the hardy Scottish beach-goers!
The Coast
Bass Rock is an uninhabited island 2km off the coast of North Berwick. Home to a huge gannet colony, this rock is white, not due to the rock colour, but due to bird guano! You can take boat tours in the summer months out to the islands for some bird-watching.
Food
Like any good coastal town in Scotland, there is a fish & chip shop; so you can grab yourself a fish supper and sit on the sea wall with your dinner (if the Scottish weather will allow it)! We enjoy the dog-friendly pub, The Ship Inn, where you can get hearty fare and a great selection of beer and gin. #Moosethetravellingdog also enjoyed the ‘Dog of the Month’ competition run at this lovely pub.
A Day Trip to North Berwick from Edinburgh
North Berwick is such an easy day trip from Edinburgh, and it couldn’t be a sweeter destination. If you need a trip to the coast to clear the cobwebs, I recommend a day trip to North Berwick, Scotland. With great pubs, amenities, boutique shops and beaches – what more could you ask for? And accessibility from the city, so convenient. If you haven’t been, and have some spare time while in Edinburgh, I really recommend a trip out to this East Lothian gem.
Enjoy more of our Scottish adventures in Oban and the Scottish Borders!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
would love to go scotland one day and reading your blog has made me really want to go soon. dog of the Month competition sounds good. gotta love dogs.
When LIving in Edinburgh going to North Berwich was one of my Favourite places to go in Summer. I can only support your advise to go there, I absolutely love it!
Thanks for sharing! It sounds like a lot of the towns in ireland, especially with the old fashioned candy shops.
It looks like a cheerful place! I’d love to see it!
an award winning toilet? Why is that? Because it’s super clean or has some gimmicks? Anyway, lovely post. Looks like a worthwhile daytrip destination. Can’t believe bass rock is covered in bird poo. 🙂
Haha I know, it’s an odd thing to win an award for. When it was built it was the cleanest public toilet around – with lovely facilities and an attendant. It’s quite old now, but still a lovely public toilet 😉
I love day trips where you get to experience a different city. The Bass Rock had to beautiful site to see. How cool it is go bird watching from there. Oh I love the dog, he is saying “I am ready for my close up”. Based on the picture at the end, hopefully, you warmed up that the fish & chip shop.
Itching to go to scotland!! We are planning to drive a van around the UK so we will definitely have to check out the beach and hunt down that icecream truck that you mentioned. Nothing like icecream after a day at the beach (even if it is cold!) Thanks for the pub recommendation as well.
I LOVE North Berwick!!!! I’m based in Edinburgh myself, and although I’ve only been once, I agree it was a great day trip. I also liked the castle there, and I admit I might have jumped the fence to get some better photos when I went.
LOL shhh I won’t tell anyone 😉
North Berwick sounds lovely and it really is not far from Edinburgh, you’re right.
I stopped at the “old fashioned candy store” to read the paragraph again. 😀 Just like something I’d like, a vintage-like store in a charming village-like main street! So charming!
Fish and chips and gazing at the beach? Yes, please. 🙂
Nice suggestion for a day trip, thanks!
I LOVE THe dog of the month competition. What a great idea. I have been to Edinburgh before but had no idea that North Berwick was quite so close. Next time I will make a point of visiting.
I love coastal towns, they are so charming! I need to know more about this award winning public toilet! I didn’t even know there were awards! Bass Rock looks so unique all in white, but I’d rather not think why it’s so white :p When did you visit North Berwick? It looks quite cold; I wonder how warm it gets?
It was cold – we visited in November 😉 Scotland never really gets very warm!
North Berwick sounds like a great day trip option from Edinburgh; I loved my time in Edinburgh, such a fabulous city, but didn’t have enough time to explore the surrounds. I would love to take a boat out in summer for some bird watching as we’re very big bird nerds. Sounds like a cool scotland mini break!