There’s a lot going on in East Lothian – discover great outdoor activities and events to enjoy this summer
East Lothian is just half an hour from Edinburgh making it easily accessible. A good bus and train service also means you can leave the car at home and remove the stress of driving.
And once there you will find one of Scotland’s top destinations for a day out, short break or holiday.
Get outdoors
East Lothian is a great place to have an adventure, try something new, hone your skills or just take some time for yourself.
There's nothing like the great outdoors and East Lothian has plenty of unspoilt spaces where you can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Whether you are looking for thrills and spills or to slow down and appreciate your surroundings – you'll be sure to find your perfect outdoor activity here.
Walking: East Lothian offers a great variety of landscapes for walking, with the Lammermuir Hills to the south, a coastline of beaches and cliffs and an expanse of arable farmland in between – it’s a great way to explore.
If you want to make it a multi-day adventure, you can walk the John Muir Way, a coast to coast long-distance walking route that’s great for cycling too. Stretching 134miles (215km) from Helensburgh to Dunbar, John Muir’s Birthplace. There are three scenic sections to explore in East Lothian.
Cycling: East Lothian is perfect for cycling, especially if you’re a bit of a novice or want a leisurely family bike ride. It is mainly flat and not too hilly, and the scenery is magnificent. For a challenge, head in to the Lammermuirs with wonderful views across the whole county.
Watersports: You are on the coast so why not take to the sea along the county’s miles of beautiful coastline? Dunbar is a hub for water activities. Belhaven Surf Centre provides surfing and stand up paddleboarding while Ocean Vertical runs guided coasteering adventures, making the most of Dunbar’s dramatic cliffs and rugged shoreline. North Berwick is perfect for sailing and both locations offer excellent diving where you can discover shipwrecks and explore caves.
Conditions along much of the coast, especially at Longniddry, are perfect for kitesurfing, windsurfing and wingfoiling.
And for all the family is the UK's first cable wakeboard park at Foxlake Adventures where you can also try a ropes course challenge and inflatable Aqua park over water.
Golf: Scotland’s Golf Coast boasts the greatest concentration of Championship links courses in the world. Golfers of all abilities are welcomed and enjoy excellent hospitality.
The region claims to be the birthplace of golf with evidence proving that golf was played regularly on Musselburgh Links, The Old Course, as far back as 1672. It’s even been reputed that Mary Queen of Scots played there in the 1560s. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, who now play at the famous East Lothian Open Championship Course, Muirfield, has records going back to 1744, which makes it the earliest known golf club.
There are 18 golf clubs offering 21 courses, with the majority lying along a glorious 30-mile stretch of coastline between Musselburgh to the west and Dunbar in the east.
Many visitors flock to play the superb links at Dunbar, Gullane and North Berwick. Each of them has hosted Final Qualifying for the Open Championship. In recent years new additions to the keen golfer’s must-play lists are Archerfield Links and The Renaissance Club which is the current home of the Scottish Open.
Boat trips: Going out on a boat is a brilliant way to see the wildlife and seascapes of East Lothian, and you don’t have to do anything other than enjoy the view.
Blue Wild, the Scottish Seabird Centre and Sula offer trips from Dunbar and North Berwick to the Bass Rock and the Isle of May as well as around the Forth estuary – to islands of gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, seals, dolphins or even whales amidst stories of shipwrecks and seafaring history.
Summer events
World class events are a feature of summer in East Lothian; you can treat yourself to a truly memorable experience.
Genesis Scottish Open: This leading event on the world’s golf calendar returns to The Renaissance Club from July 9-13.
A highlight on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, this world-class tournament brings together some of the biggest names in golf for four days of thrilling play on one of the most scenic and challenging links courses in the country. Click here to find out more.
Fringe by the Sea: Now a firm fixture in Scotland’s festival scene, there are more than 250 events across 10 days (August 1–10).
The festival spans music, comedy, conversation, film and family entertainment, all set against the backdrop of Conde Nast Traveller’s UK’s Best Seaside Town 2025. This year’s line-up features the Boomtown Rats, Irvine Welsh, Joe Wicks, Sir Chris Hoy, comedian Alan Davies and much more. Visit the website to discover the full line up.
Learn more
Discover a world of fun on your doorstep on the Visit East Lothian website. Click here