Top 10 Dog Friendly Things to Do In East Lothian

East Lothian is a very dog friendly area, which is one of the reasons we head there most summers with our dogs. We always stay in our camper van at Belhaven Bay caravan park. However, I’ve also been up there with my sister and stayed in a lovely little Airbnb, so there are lots of accommodation options. While lots of beaches have seasonal restrictions from May to September, there are also plenty that are dog friendly all year round. I’ve listed those below – as my number one dog friendly suggestion of course, because I’ve never known a dog that wasn’t happiest on the beach. There are also a few more unusual suggestions like distilleries, historic sites and breweries as well as lovely places to walk.

1. Dog Friendly Beaches in East Lothian

The below are all the beaches that are dog friendly all year round. If you’re visiting from October to April, you’ll have a lot more options because most places lift their restrictions at these times.

• Yellowcraig Beach (near Dirleton): From the A198 (North Berwick road), take the B1347 towards Dirleton. Just before the village, turn right onto the B1345 (signed “Yellowcraig”). Follow to the car park at the end. Postcode: EH39 5DS.
• Seacliff Beach (south-east of North Berwick): From North Berwick, take the A198 east towards Dunbar. After about 2 miles, turn right onto the B1347 (signed “Tantallon Castle”). Follow the road past the castle entrance — the beach car park is at the bottom of the hill. Postcode: EH39 5PN.
• North Berwick West Beach: Follow the A198 into North Berwick. Head towards the harbour / Seabird Centre. The beach runs along the seafront. There’s a large car park at the west end (off Clifford Road). Postcode: EH39 4DX.
• Dunbar East Beach (Belhaven Bay): This one is my personal favourite. It’s a huge, sandy beach that often has a food truck in the car park. There are public toilets and a surf hire shop near the car park too. If you’re visiting with dogs, the “bridge to nowhere” can cause them a bit of a problem because they don’t like the metal, but if the tide is out you can usually just wade through the little channel of water to avoid the bridge. Directions: From Dunbar town centre, take the A1087 east towards the harbour. Follow signs for “Belhaven Bay” / “East Beach”. The main car park is off Belhaven Road. Postcode: EH42 1TU.
• Dunbar West Beach: From Dunbar town centre, head towards the harbour. The beach is accessed from the coastal path west of the harbour car park. Park near the harbour (off Victoria Street). Postcode: EH42 1JX.
• Gullane Beach: From the A198, take the A6137 into Gullane. Follow the main road through the village. The beach car park is at the end of the road (signed “Gullane Bents”). Postcode: EH31 2DH.
• Aberlady Bay: From the A198, take the B1377 into Aberlady. Follow the road past the village green. The car park is at the end of the road, just before the footbridge. Postcode: EH32 0RX.
• Longniddry Bents: From the A198, take the A199 into Longniddry. Follow the signs for “Bents” / “Beach” — the car park is at the end of the road. Postcode: EH32 0NQ.
• Tyninghame Beach (near Dunbar): From Dunbar, take the A198 west towards North Berwick. After about 3 miles, turn left onto the B1347 (signed “Tyninghame”). Follow the road to the car park at the end. Postcode: EH42 1XW.

2. Glenkinchie Distillery

Glenkinchie Distillery is the closest working Scotch distillery to Edinburgh. It’s located about 30 minutes away in the village of Pencaitland, East Lothian. If you’re visiting the area as a whisky lover, this is a chance to explore one of Scotland’s few surviving Lowland distilleries. Founded in 1825 and nicknamed “The Edinburgh Malt,” it’s known for its light, floral, grassy whisky style. On site you can take guided tours that walk you through the distillation process and share the distillery’s history and its place in Scotland’s whisky tradition. Tastings are also available, highlighting the elegant Lowland style and immersive experiences that show how flavour develops from grain to glass. Advance booking is recommended for the tours. The visitor centre is housed in a historic red-brick building, with a golden Johnnie Walker “Striding Man” statue at the end of the path.

Dogs are allowed in both the shop and the bar area, as well as outside in the gardens. However, you can’t take dogs into the distillery, including on the tour. There are a few restrictions in that dogs have to be under control and closely supervised by a responsible adult. The website also states that they may ask you to leave if the dog is disrupting other customers, and that they may limit the number of dogs in the shops and bar at one time. That said, there is a trip advisor review (linked below) saying that the staff are very friendly and they were made to feel very welcome with their dogs.

Website: Glenkinchie

Review: Trip Advisor.

3. Scottish Seabird Centre (North Berwick)

The Scottish Seabird Centre is a marine conservation and education charity with an award-winning visitor centre in North Berwick, East Lothian. Things to do here include:

• The Discovery Experience: An interactive visitor experience with exhibits, games, VR, and films exploring Scotland’s seas. It includes live wildlife webcams, including live panoramic views of Bass Rock, home to one of the world’s largest Northern gannet colonies.
• Wildlife boat trips: Seasonal boat trips that get you out onto the water to see seabirds and marine life around the Firth of Forth islands up close. The catamaran boat trips are dog friendly, subject to pre-booking and with the permission of the skipper. Note: I tried to book one of these trips last week. We weren’t in a position to call in and book prior to our trip, so I emailed to see if it would be ok to go with the dogs, but they didn’t reply, so we didn’t end up going. I’d advise phoning ahead or calling in to book it before you go, just to make sure they’ll accept the dogs.
• Café: Enjoy a drink or snack in a lovely café with coastal views over the harbour and the Bass Rock.
• Gift shop: Predominantly sustainable gifts, raising money for the Seabird Centre.

We love the Scottish Seabird Centre for a dog friendly day out, not least because there are lots of indoor areas where dogs can go. This makes it a really good option for a rainy day. Dogs on leads are allowed in all indoor and outdoor areas including the Discovery Experience, gift shop and café.

Website: Scottish Seabird Centre

4. Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle is a Historic Scotland property near North Berwick in East Lothian. It was built in the mid-1300s by William Douglas, whose descendants owned the castle for the next 300 years. It survived two sieges, but the destruction caused by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1851 led to its abandonment. These days, visitors are welcome to explore the ruins. There’s plenty of space for children to run around as well as learning about the castle’s history.

Dogs on leads are welcome across the site and on the coastal path around it. The views out to Bass Rock are spectacular, and it’s far less crowded than Edinburgh Castle. It’s also a short drive from there to Seacliff Beach, and we’ve previously combined the two destinations to make a full, dog-friendly day out.

Website: Historic Scotland Tantallon Castle

Review: Plutonium Sox review of a day out at Tantallon Castle

5. Foxlake Adventures

If you’re travelling with older children or active adults, Foxlake is a brilliant place to visit. Several water activities are available, as well as a rope course that takes place over water. We have recently spent a fun couple of hours here, where the children were able to enjoy the aqua park, while we sat with the dogs and had a coffee. Activities at Foxlake:

• Aquapark: Inflatable obstacle course on a small lake.
• FoxFall: Low ropes course set over water. There’s no safety harness, just the water below to break your fall. Try to make it to the zip tower without falling in.
• Cable wakeboarding: An overhead cable pulls you across the lake. This is a great way to learn to wakeboard, with coaches on hand to teach you.
• Ringo: A large inflatable that speeds up and down the lake that is also used for wakeboarding.
• Sauna: With a small plunge pool in the lake.
• Open water swimming: At certain times only – a 300 metre swim loop with safety staff on hand.

Foxlake is dog friendly, but they obviously can’t join in with the actual activities. Dogs do need to be kept on leads and under control. There are undercover areas where you can sit with the dog and watch the activities.

Website: Foxlake.

6. John Muir Way (East Lothian Section)

The John Muir way is a coast to coast walk across central Scotland, stretching a total of 134 miles. It goes from Helensburgh in the West to Dunbar in the East. The section of the John Muir way in East Lothian is both beautiful and very dog friendly. You can walk all the way from North Berwick to Dunbar across farmland, salt marshes and stunning coastline. The route finishes at the John Muir museum in Dunbar. The museum itself allows dogs on the ground floor and provides water for them. Other dog friendly attractions on this section of the walk are the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick and beautiful Belhaven Bay beach. When you arrive in Dunbar, we can highly recommend the gorgeous, dog friendly Parkers Café. They serve lovely, healthy lunches and delicious cakes including gluten free and vegan options.

Website: John Muir Trust.

7. Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot

Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot is one of the oldest surviving watermills in Scotland, tucked away in the countryside near East Linton, East Lothian. The mill dates back hundreds of years and is famously one of the most photographed mills in the country, as well as a popular filming location. Notably, it was the setting of the mill at Lallybroch in Outlander. Things to do there include:

• Guided tours of the mill: Learn about the gruelling nature of the miller’s work, which involved heavy lifting and dealing with floods, mice, and dust. See the historic machinery, with the mill’s mechanisms still in working order.
• Working water wheel: The mill is powered by the River Tyne, and much of the milling process remains active, giving you a real sense of how oats were ground here.
• Phantassie Doocot: A historic dovecote that once provided meat and eggs for the estate. It’s a striking, well-preserved example.
• Riverside walk: A 1.5km path that takes you over the River Tyne, past the Phantassie Doocot, and along the river. An easy stroll to do with the dogs before or after your visit to the mill itself.

This compact, characterful place is ideal for a relaxed half-day out, and it sits close to other East Lothian highlights if you want to make a day of it.

Website: Preston Mill.

8. Dirleton Castle & Gardens

Dirleton Castle is a striking medieval ruin set in the pretty village of Dirleton, East Lothian. Around 2 miles west of North Berwick. The site is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, and the grounds, gardens, and selected areas of the ruins are open to visitors. Things to do there include:

• Castle ruins: The main areas open to visitors are in the Haliburton Range, including the Great Hall, kitchen, vaults and chapel. There’s also the De Vaux range to see. The rooms aren’t furnished, but illustrated information panels throughout show how the rooms looked and were used, and how people dressed. Some areas can be closed at times, so it’s worth checking before you go.
• Gardens: The grounds are a big part of Dirleton’s appeal. Highlights include the world’s longest herbaceous border, the formal Victorian Flower Garden, and an Arts and Crafts garden with a herbaceous border. There’s also a rare ginkgo tree.
• Dirleton Village: Dirleton village is right next to the castle. With its bowling green still in use as part of village life, it’s a charming place to look around while you’re there.

Dogs are allowed at Dirleton Castle, but only in the outdoor areas. They’re not allowed anywhere with a roof and need to be kept on a lead and supervised at all times.

Website: Dirleton Castle.

9. Dunbar Harbour

Dunbar Harbour is a working harbour on the East Lothian coast, run by the Dunbar Harbour Trust (a registered charity). It’s a great spot for a relaxed wander, with historic buildings, sea views and cafés. Sometimes you can spot seals and dolphins from the harbour and surrounding coastline. We’ve spent a lot of time exploring Dunbar Harbour, because my husband is particularly fascinated with its historic connections. Attractions include:

• Dunbar Battery: Built in 1781 to defend the town and harbour against sea-borne privateers, though it famously never fired a shot in anger. In 1874 the battery’s structures were converted into a hospital for infectious diseases. The battery has since been imaginatively restored by the Harbour Trust to provide a public space with spectacular views. It’s fascinating to read the Harbour Trust’s information about the Battery’s functions through the years.
• Dunbar Castle: I’ll treat you to a history lesson here, as my husband has drummed it into me. Dunbar Castle was a stronghold of Mary Queen of Scots. Most notably, after her private secretary David Rizzio was murdered in 1566, Mary fled to the castle for her own safety. She gathered support from here before going back to Edinburgh. The following year, Mary was forced to abdicate and the castle was surrendered to supporters of her infant son, James VI. Subsequently it was destroyed to prevent its further use as a stronghold.

The harbour is an outdoor area, so dogs can happily visit with you without restriction. Whilst there’s lots of history to learn about, it’s actually a very small area so it’s not going to take up a vast amount of time. However, the walk from Dunbar to Belhaven Bay along the John Muir Way is beautiful if you want to extend your visit.

Website: Dunbar Harbour Trust.

10. John Muir Country Park

John Muir Country Park is a large coastal park near Dunbar, named after the pioneering conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838. It covers around 1,600 acres (650 hectares) of coastline and countryside, and it’s a fantastic, free, dog-friendly place to explore. Things to do there include:

• Belhaven Bay beach: Listed separately above in the East Lothian dog friendly beaches section. It’s dog-friendly all year round and also forms the main sandy beach of John Muir Country Park. It’s a huge beach with plenty of space for dogs to run around. Tip: One of my dogs is quite scared of other dogs, so we tend to keep her on a lead if other dogs are around. On Belhaven Bay, if you walk along the beach away from the beach car park to the other end of the beach, there’s usually plenty of space away from other people where you can let dogs off the lead even if they prefer their own space.
• Coastal and woodland walks: Miles of waymarked trails through dunes, woodland, and along the shoreline. The John Muir Way passes through the country park, providing well-defined paths. There are also circular routes you can follow, both on the beach and through woodland and saltmarsh.
• Wildlife spotting: Look out for birdlife, particularly on the estuary and wetlands. It attracts waders, geese, swans and other species, especially in winter. This is a lovely spot for nature-watching. We enjoy taking our paddleboard along the estuary from the beach on a calm day to see the birds.
• The Tyne estuary: The River Tyne meets the sea here, and the estuary area is great for walking and wildlife.
• Adventure playground: If you are visiting with kids, it’s worth making time for a trip to the huge adventure playground. Whilst dogs aren’t allowed in, you can wait outside with them right next to the playground.
• Picnicking and relaxing: Plenty of space for a picnic, with the beach and dunes providing natural spots to settle. There are also picnic benches in the adventure playground.
• Surfing and water sports: Belhaven Bay is popular with surfers and paddleboarders, and there’s a surf hire shop near the car park. They hire out wetsuits and body boards as well as surf boards.
• Outlander Filming Location: If you are an outlander fan, you’ll recognise parts of the John Muir Country Park from season 7.

Practical notes:

• There are car parks at Belhaven Bay and Linkfield, with toilets near the main beach car park and more near the adventure playground.
• Free to visit and open all year.
• This place is all outdoors, so it’s very dog-friendly. Dogs are welcome across the park, but you’ll need to keep them on a lead near to the wildlife / birds and on the salt marshes.

John Muir Country Park is one of the best free, dog-friendly days out in East Lothian. We regularly spend full days here, leaving our van at the Belhaven Bay campsite and walking, surfing, paddle boarding, cycling and running around the John Muir Country Park.

Website: Woodland Trust John Muir Country Park.