Tour East Lothian
Aberlady
Neatly
restored 17th to 19th century rubblestone houses line main street.
Parish church has 15th century square tower and pyramidal spire:
on pavement outside is a 'loupin-on-stane' mounting stone used by farmers' wives to get on horses. Main road leads to Aberlady
Bay, expanse of salt marsh, dunes and creeks.
Dirleton
Cottages
and houses from 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and 12th century
church line three sides of wide green. On fourth side are ruins
of 13th century castle built on outcrop of rock with drum towers,
kitchen, chapel and ruins of Great Hall. Gardens with 17th century
bowling green.
Drem
The
Chesters Iron Age fort with multiple ramparts and ditches. Situated
unusually in low-lying land beneath a steep scarp.
Dunbar
Red-sandstone
tower and scattered ruins of 11th-century castle overlook fishing
harbour with cobbled quays, restored warehouses and coastguard
station. Mary, Queen of Scots was brought to the castle in 1567
by Earl Bothwell. Lauderdale House, part-extended by Robert
Adam, at end of High Street, while at No 126 is a museum dedicated
to the conservationist John Muir, who was born there in 1838. Dunbar
Golf Breaks. Old Dunbar.
East
Fortune
Museum
of Flight on airfield houses Vulcan bomber, 1930 Dc Havilland
Puss Moth and Piper Comanche flown by Sheila Scott, holder of
94 world records in 1970s. Photographs of airship which made
first double crossing of Atlantic from here in 1919.
Garvald
Tucked
away in valley beside Papana Water. On church wall are jougs,
iron collars used on miscreants. Above village is Nunraw, 16th
century tower house built into 19th century mansion.
Gifford
Laid
out by the 2nd Marquis of Tweeddale early in 18th century: 1708
church in wide main street. Avenue of limes to Yester House,
built 1745 by Robert Adam.
Gullane
Famous Resort
with three golf links, including Muirfield course. Exhibition
shows game's development since 15th century. Gullane
Golf Breaks.
Haddington
Gracious town of wide streets, dating
from 1100s. Town House of 1748; 15th century church. home of
reformer John Knox. Carlyle's House, named after Thomas Carlyle,
has fine facade. Restored rooms of Jane Welsh, who became his
wife, in house nearby.
Lennoxlove
Mansion set in woodland looking towards the Lammermuir Hills. Named
after Frances Stewart, 17th century Duchess of Lennox, model
for Britannia on coinage. Good rooms, one lined with 17th century
damask. Dutch, Italian and English paintings, porcelain and
furniture. Duchess's work box, inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
was gift from Charles II. Mansion is now family home of Dukes
of Hamilton. Anteroom has death mask of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Longniddry
Mining
village for 500 years until 1920s. Golf links and rocky shore.
Gosford House, seat of Earl of Wemyss. Longniddry
Golf Breaks.
Musselburgh
Musselburgh has a population of 18,000 and is the largest town in East Lothian. This book looks at the town and its people over the last 150 years and includes many unpublished photographs of Musselburgh at work and play. The town's industrial heart centred on paper, wire and cotton mills, fishing, tanning and golf club manufacture. Musselburgh Revisited (Britain in Old Photographs)
. Old Musselburgh.
North
Berwick
Narrow
streets lead down to tiny harbour flanked by fine beaches, with
ruined 12th century Auld Kirk by harbour wall, Safe anchorage
for yachts and fishing boats, bathing often dangerous. Golf
courses surround village below 613ft volcanic pyramid of North
Berwick Law, crowned by watchtower from the Napoleonic Wars
and arch of whale jawbones. Tough climb to top with impressive
views. Boat trips to islands of Fidra and 350ft Bass Rock. North Berwick Golf Breaks. Old North Berwick.
Preston
Mill
Restored
1600s water-driven mill with wheel 13ft across. Nearby 16th
century Phantassie Doocot (dovecote) has circular walls with
sloping, horseshoe-shaped roof.
