Walk of the week: Seton Collegiate Church and Sands, East Lothian

WALKING sticks are everywhere, from the medically prescribed ones to the hi-tech poles helping fit, outdoorsy types scale the highest peaks.

I've never been a fan of two-pole rambling, mainly because I have the co-ordination of a newborn calf and less rhythm than my year-old son. Surely I don't need support anyway?

Then, on my way out the other day, I found a stick in the huge pile of coats, hats, gloves, shoes and boots that constitutes our hallway. It was wooden and reassuringly low-tech.

The stick was bought for hooking unreachable brambles, although I had used it once for its intended purpose, when suffering backache.

On this day, though, I was in fine physical shape. What was going on? Perhaps it was just part of the ageing process that will one day see me reminiscing about "when this was all fields" (mind you, I actually caught myself saying these very words to my daughter only the other day). Or perhaps I was merely curious.

I like to think it was the latter, but when I arrived in East Lothian for a walk to the 12th-century Seton Collegiate Church and the beaches beyond, it did seem to make things easier. Next time, I'll try a more arduous route to see if it works as well.

DISTANCE

3 miles.

HEIGHT CLIMBED

100ft.

TIME

1 to 2 hours (not including church visit).

MAP

OS Landranger 66. PARK Heading towards Longniddry on the A198, there is a Historic Scotland car park about 1 miles east of the Tranent junction of the A1.

IN SUMMARY

Go through a gate in the far left corner of the car park and follow a path into trees. The path goes right to swing round Seton Collegiate Church. Beyond the church, the path narrows through trees before coming to a field. Go left along a grass path to reach a gate in the left corner of the field. Go through this and another gate on the right to follow a path on the other side. After about 400 yards, go through another gate, cross a road and go right to Seton Sands.

You can walk along the road but it's nicer on the beach. After about a mile, cross a burn and find a gap in thorn bushes to the right - about 100 yards past the burn - which leads to a car park. Go right along the road and after about 60 yards go left, up a smaller road. A path on the right leads up Longniddry Dean. Walk parallel with the road, then go though a wooden gate. Continue through trees to the A198. Go right to get back to the car park.

REFRESHMENTS

Head east on the A198 to Aberlady's Old Aberlady Inn and Ducks at Kilspindie.

WHILE IN THE AREA

Picturesque Dirleton has a castle worth exploring, or visit the National Museum of Flight to discover the history of aviation and explore a real Concorde.

This article was originally published in Scotland on Sunday on August 7.