North Berwick

North Berwick is a town in The Lothians region of Scotland.

North Berwick shore

Get in

By train

ScotRail operate an hourly train service to North Berwick from Edinburgh Waverley station, making the journey in 33 minutes - one of the fastest 'commuter' routes in the country, reaching 90 mph in places. If you're planing to visit the Seabird centre there are inclusive packages available including rail fares and entry to the centre - if you're not but are travelling with children, then they can two kids travel free with each adult on off-peak fares.

By car

North Berwick is signposted from the main A1 trunk road, between Edinburgh and Dunbar.

Get around

North Berwick's town center is within walking distance of the railway station.

• 🌍 Law Cycles, 2 Law Road, ☎ [phone]. Bicycle hire. You need to book at least 24 hours in advance. From £10 for a half-day. (updated Apr 2015)

See

• 🌍 Tantallon Castle (Take Eves Coaches 120 from corner High Street/Quality Street, runs every 2 hours, no service on Sundays. Distance to town centre about 5 km), ☎ [phone]. Apr-Sep: daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Oct-Mar: daily 9:30AM-4:30PM. Last admission 30 min before closing time. A 14th-century fortress, spectacularly located on a clifftop promontory 3 miles (4.8 km) to the south of the town. £5.50 adult, £4.40 concession, £3.30 child.  
• 🌍 Coastal Communities Museum, School Road. Sa Su 11AM-4PM. Volunteer-run museum with changing exhibitions. free, donations welcome. 

Do

• 🌍 North Berwick Law, Located next to Law Primary School and North Berwick Sports Centre (From the railway station turn right onto Station Road/Clifford Road and then turn right at Law Road). A steep-sided extinct volcano at 187 m, just at the southern edge of the town. Offers excellent views of the Forth Islands, and across Fife, the Lothians and beyond. You can climb to the summit in about 20 minutes, where you will be able to see all the local landmarks including all four Islands in the Firth of Forth. At the summit, you will find the iconic Whale Bone, a fibreglass replacement donated by an anonymous resident in 2008. 

Bass Rock

• 🌍 Scottish Seabird Centre, ☎ [phone]. Apr-Aug: daily 10AM-6PM. Feb Mar Sep Oct: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5:30PM. Nov-Jan: M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. The Firth of Forth is one of Europe's most important centres for nesting seabirds. The seabird centre has telescopes for viewing the thousands of gannets in their colony on the Bass Rock, as well as webcams in various locations around the Forth islands, for viewing other birds including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittwakes, eider ducks. The interpretive centre is well done, with lots to keep the kids entertained. The cafe here is one of the best places to eat in the town as well, with sea-view terrace in good weather. Best times to visit are May-Jul for nesting birds, or Sep-Oct for the baby seals. £8.95 adult, £4.95 child, £6.95 concession, family tickets (2+2) £25. 
• 🌍 Bass Rock. The world's largest single rock gannet colony on Bass Rock at close quarters. Boat trips are offered by the Scottish Seabird Center from the harbour. There are 1-hour trips that take you round costing £22 adult single, and 5½-hour trips that take you onto the bass rock itself, costing £98. These must booked in advanced and also include a session where they feed the garnets off the boat so you get to look at them diving into the waters up close. 
• 🌍 The Isle Of May, ☎ [phone], [phone]. Small island lying in the entrance to the Firth of Forth, approximately 5 miles off the Fife coast. National Nature Reserve owned and managed by Scottish National Heritage. Seals can be seen all year round, whales can be spotted in late July and August. Notable for its many seabirds, especially puffins, which can be seen in their thousands from April to July and are the island's main attraction. Boat trips are offered by the Scottish Seabird Center during summer in a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) boat with space for 12 passenges. The entire trip takes about 4 hours, pass Bass Rock and give you 2½ hours on the Isle Of May. £45 adult, £39 child (8+). 
• The beaches are lovely to walk along, its nice and peaceful and the view of the Islands are great!
• North Berwick Highland Games are held in mid-August in the Recreation Park. The next event is Sat 10 Aug 2019.

Buy

The High Street area has some good shops, but some are quite pricey!!!

• 🌍 NB Gin, ☎ [phone]. Buy North Berwick's local NB Gin. (updated Apr 2015)
• There are two smaller supermarkets on High Street. Further away from the town center on the road to Tantallon Castle is a large Tesco.
• 🌍 Time & Tide, 11 High Street, EH39 4HH, and also 48 High Street, EH39 4HQ, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 11:30AM-4:30PM. Relaxed homeware and interior accessories in two shops a few doors apart. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Bostock Bakery - Ross Baxter Patissier, 42 High Street, EH39 4HQ, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mon-Sun 09:00-16:00, Sun 09:00-15:00. Long fermented breads, Pastries, Patisserie. (updated Aug 2018)

Eat

Most restaurants and cafés are on High Street and Quality Street, some more in Forth Street.

• The Scottish Seabird Centre (see Do section for listing) has an excellent cafe. Opening hours the same as the centre itself.
• 🌍 Lobster Shack (At the harbour), ☎ [phone]. Seafood (including local lobster) and fish. Only outside seating area. (updated Apr 2015)
• 🌍 The Rocketeer Restaurant (At the harbour close to the Seabird Center). Seafood, fish and burgers. (updated Apr 2015)

Drink

• 🌍 Steampunk Cafe @theWarehouse, 49a Kirk Ports. Drink or buy locally roasted coffee. (updated Apr 2015)

Sleep

• 🌍 The County Hotel, 17 High Street, ☎ [phone]. 10-room hotel. 
• 🌍 Nether Abbey Hotel, 20 Dirleton Avenue, ☎ [phone]. 12-room hotel in a 19th-century house. from £85. 
• 🌍 Marine Hotel, Cromwell Road. 83-room hotel. from £106. 

Connect

• 🌍 North Berwick Library, School Road, ☎ [phone]. Free internet access. (updated Apr 2015)

Go next

The rolling green countryside and sandy beaches of East Lothian are all around. Towns and villages in the area include Dunbar (10 miles south), Gullane and Aberlady (both a few miles to the west, along the Forth coastline towards Edinburgh.