Discover North Berwick

guide in this leaﬂ et to discover which species it is. it species which discover to et leaﬂ this in guide cracks in the rocks. rocks. the in cracks

See if you can fi nd the buttercup and use the wild fl ower ower fl wild the use and buttercup the nd fi can you if See buildings. See if you can spot the common polypody fern in in fern polypody common the spot can you if See buildings. www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland other IPAs to visit, go to to go visit, to IPAs other

summer months look for meadow saxifrage ﬂ owering nearby. nearby. owering ﬂ saxifrage meadow for look months summer west side there is a quarry which provided materials for local local for materials provided which quarry a is there side west (IPAs) in Scotland. For more information and to discover discover to and information more For Scotland. in (IPAs)

war. It is now covered in beautiful lichen called sea ivory. In In ivory. sea called lichen beautiful in covered now is It war. the path around the base of North Berwick law. On the south- the On law. Berwick North of base the around path the threatened wild plants and is one of 52 Important Plant Areas Areas Plant Important 52 of one is and plants wild threatened

9 12 This stone ruin is a watch house used during the Napoleonic Napoleonic the during used house watch a is ruin stone This Before you return to the car park, explore the habitats along along habitats the explore park, car the to return you Before North Berwick Law is internationally signiﬁ cant for its its for cant signiﬁ internationally is Law Berwick North

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) Areas Plant Important

Second World War as an observation post. post. observation an as War World Second care on the steep slippery surfaces. surfaces. slippery steep the on care

8 11

This brick and concrete building was used in the First and and First the in used was building concrete and brick This To descend the hill, please use the same main path and take take and path main same the use please hill, the descend To are food for the caterpillars. caterpillars. the for food are

provide nectar for the adults, while the developing seeds seeds developing the while adults, the for nectar provide

were spotted. spotted. were whaling boats passing to and from Leith in Edinburgh. in Leith from and to passing boats whaling an important plant for the orange-tip butterfl y; the fl owers owers fl the y; butterfl orange-tip the for plant important an

this hill as a look out, often lighting warning fi res if enemies enemies if res fi warning lighting often out, look a as hill this summit since 1709, thought to have been a good omen for for omen good a been have to thought 1709, since summit which likes moist conditions is the cuckoo fl ower. This is is This ower. fl cuckoo the is conditions moist likes which

the Firth of Forth. Throughout history many people have used used have people many history Throughout Forth. of Firth the jaw. There has been a whalebone on North Berwick Law Law Berwick North on whalebone a been has There jaw.

brush or as the name suggests, horse tails. Another plant plant Another tails. horse suggests, name the as or brush

7 10

As you reach the hill summit, there are stunning views across across views stunning are there summit, hill the reach you As The arch you can see is a ﬁ breglass replica of a whalebone whalebone a of replica breglass ﬁ a is see can you arch The This has green, whorled branches that look like a scouring scouring a like look that branches whorled green, has This

area of marsh, where you can ﬁ nd common horsetail. horsetail. common nd ﬁ can you where marsh, of area

on the rocks. the on 13 On the north-east side of the base of the Law there is an an is there Law the of base the of side north-east the On

cushioned grimmia which forms round, furry tufts tufts furry round, forms which grimmia cushioned

Law; an attractive common moss to look for is the grey grey the is for look to moss common attractive an Law;

6 There are many rare species of moss on North Berwick Berwick North on moss of species rare many are There

rooting in the cracks between the rocks. rocks. the between cracks the in rooting

here for the aromatic wood sage and wild thyme thyme wild and sage wood aromatic the for here

5 12 By the sides of the paths are rocky outcrops; look look outcrops; rocky are paths the of sides the By

butterﬂ y, which lays its eggs on this plant. plant. this on eggs its lays which y, butterﬂ C

If you are lucky you may see the common blue blue common the see may you lucky are you If

a splash of yellow to the grassland in summer? summer? in grassland the to yellow of splash a 3

5 4 Can you spot common bird’s-foot trefoil which adds adds which trefoil bird’s-foot common spot you Can B

erosion of the hill and damage to plants. plants. to damage and hill the of erosion

often less steep and well used. This helps to limit limit to helps This used. well and steep less often

the side. Please stick to the main path which is wider, wider, is which path main the to stick Please side. the

3 As you climb you’ll see informal paths branching off to to off branching paths informal see you’ll climb you As

ﬂ owers which can bloom all year round. round. year all bloom can which owers ﬂ

common gorse with its spiky branches and bright yellow yellow bright and branches spiky its with gorse common

the path is steep in places and can be slippy and muddy. See See muddy. and slippy be can and places in steep is path the

follow this which is the main route up the hill. Take care as as care Take hill. the up route main the is which this follow

2 Continue until you see the sign which says “path to summit”; summit”; to “path says which sign the see you until Continue

which curves to the right. the to curves which

1 Enter the site from the car park and follow the main path path main the follow and park car the from site the Enter 7 9

Directions

Law

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO © Crown copyright. copyright. Crown © HMSO of behalf on Survey Ordnance of permission by Reproduced

North Berwick North

Important Plant Area Plant Important

Walk route Walk

Law Berwick North

Wild ﬂ owers. Descriptions overleaf Descriptions owers. ﬂ Wild

Discover

Key

J 13

Discover We are Plantlife Plantlife is the charity that speaks up for Scotland’s North Berwick Law wild fl owers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of Holyrood, we’re Wild fl ower walks Important Plant Area here to raise their profi le, to celebrate their beauty, A botanical walk up and to protect their future. Wild fl owers and plants play a fundamental role for East Lothian’s iconic hill wildlife, and their colour and character light up our North Berwick Law is the result of volcanic activity landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural over 300 million years ago and rises to 187m above heritage is in danger of being lost. sea level. With rocky outcrops, ancient grassland and Join us in enjoying the very best that nature panoramic views there is much to see on this walk. has to offer. The mix of alkaline volcanic and acidic rock is scarce in Scotland, and creates conditions for unusual wild Scotland’s countryside. fl owers, lichens and mosses to grow. Save it with fl owers. Where to start Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales Start at the car park at the base of North Berwick Law. This is just off the B1347 south of North Berwick. Grid reference NT553842. Speaking up for the nation’s wild plants Distance Plantlife Scotland Balallan House, Allan Park, 1 mile return. Stirling, FK8 2QG Walk grade Tel: 01786 478509/479382 Email: [email protected] A short, but steep and strenuous walk. The route www.plantlife.org.uk includes some rocky, slippery and uneven sections. Plantlife is a charitable company limited by guarantee, Company No. 3166339. Registered in England and Wales, Charity No. 1059559. Refreshments Registered in Scotland, Charity no. SCO38951. Plantlife, 14 Rollestone Street, There are many options for food and Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1DX, UK drink in North Berwick at its many Tel: 01722 342730 cafés and restaurants. ISBN: 978-1-907141-83-6 May 2013 WC Cover photo: ©Graeme Maclean There are public toilets in Thank you North Berwick. North Berwick Law is managed by East Lothian Council. We would The wild plants of like to thank Sam Ranscombe, Countryside Ranger, for her support North Berwick Law and advice in the production of this A 1 mile walk up guide. Funding was provided by East Lothian’s iconic hill Scottish Natural Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Heritage Lottery Fund. Fund. Lottery Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage and the the and Heritage Natural Scottish

hill iconic Lothian’s East

guide. Funding was provided by by provided was Funding guide.

A 1 mile walk up up walk mile 1 A and advice in the production of this this of production the in advice and

Countryside Ranger, for her support support her for Ranger, Countryside North Berwick Law Law Berwick North

like to thank Sam Ranscombe, Ranscombe, Sam thank to like

The wild plants of of plants wild The East Lothian Council. We would would We Council. Lothian East

North Berwick. North

North Berwick Law is managed by by managed is Law Berwick North

There are public toilets in in toilets public are There Thank you Thank

Cover photo: ©Graeme Maclean ©Graeme photo: Cover

May 2013 May

cafés and restaurants. and cafés 978-1-907141-83-6 ISBN: ISBN:

drink in North Berwick at its many its at Berwick North in drink Tel: 01722 342730 01722 Tel:

Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1DX, UK 1DX, SP1 Wiltshire, Salisbury,

There are many options for food and food for options many are There

Plantlife, 14 Rollestone Street, Street, Rollestone 14 Plantlife,

Refreshments

Registered in Scotland, Charity no. SCO38951. no. Charity Scotland, in Registered

Company No. 3166339. Registered in England and Wales, Charity No. 1059559. 1059559. No. Charity Wales, and England in Registered 3166339. No. Company

e is a charitable company limited by guarantee, guarantee, by limited company charitable a is e Plantlif sections. uneven and slippery rocky, some includes

life.org.uk www.plant

A short, but steep and strenuous walk. The route route The walk. strenuous and steep but short, A

Email: [email protected] Email:

Walk grade Walk

Tel: 01786 478509/479382 01786 Tel:

Stirling, FK8 2QG FK8 Stirling,

1 mile return. mile 1

Balallan House, Allan Park, Allan House, Balallan

Distance Plantlife Scotland Plantlife

Speaking up for the nation’s wild plants wild nation’s the for up Speaking

reference NT553842. NT553842. reference

This is just off the B1347 south of North Berwick. Grid Grid Berwick. North of south B1347 the off just is This

Start at the car park at the base of North Berwick Law. Law. Berwick North of base the at park car the at Start

Where to start to Where Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales of Prince The HRH Patron:

Save it with fl owers. fl with it Save fl owers, lichens and mosses to grow. to mosses and lichens owers, fl

in Scotland, and creates conditions for unusual wild wild unusual for conditions creates and Scotland, in Scotland’s countryside. Scotland’s

The mix of alkaline volcanic and acidic rock is scarce scarce is rock acidic and volcanic alkaline of mix The

panoramic views there is much to see on this walk. walk. this on see to much is there views panoramic has to offer. to has

sea level. With rocky outcrops, ancient grassland and and grassland ancient outcrops, rocky With level. sea Join us in enjoying the very best that nature nature that best very the enjoying in us Join

over 300 million years ago and rises to 187m above above 187m to rises and ago years million 300 over heritage is in danger of being lost. being of danger in is heritage

North Berwick Law is the result of volcanic activity activity volcanic of result the is Law Berwick North landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural natural priceless this help, our without But landscapes.

wildlife, and their colour and character light up our our up light character and colour their and wildlife,

East Lothian’s iconic hill iconic Lothian’s East

Wild ﬂ owers and plants play a fundamental role for for role fundamental a play plants and owers ﬂ Wild

A botanical walk up up walk botanical A

and to protect their future. their protect to and

here to raise their proﬁ le, to celebrate their beauty, beauty, their celebrate to le, proﬁ their raise to here

Important Plant Area Plant Important walks ower ﬂ Wild our nature reserves to the corridors of Holyrood, we’re we’re Holyrood, of corridors the to reserves nature our

Law Berwick North wild ﬂ owers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of of spaces open the From fungi. and plants owers, ﬂ wild

Plantlife is the charity that speaks up for Scotland’s Scotland’s for up speaks that charity the is Plantlife

Discover We are Plantlife are We

13 J Discover Key North Berwick Law Wild fl owers. Descriptions overleaf Walk route Important Plant Area North Berwick Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO © Crown copyright. Law H All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey licence number 100032779 Directions F G 1 Enter the site from the car park and follow the main path 7 9 which curves to the right. 11 8 10 2 Continue until you see the sign which says “path to summit”; 1 follow this which is the main route up the hill. Take care as the path is steep in places and can be slippy and muddy. See A common gorse with its spiky branches and bright yellow fl owers which can bloom all year round. E 3 As you climb you’ll see informal paths branching off to the side. Please stick to the main path which is wider, often less steep and well used. This helps to limit erosion of the hill and damage to plants. 6 4 Can you spot common bird’s-foot trefoil which adds B 5 3 4 a splash of yellow to the grassland in summer? 2 If you are lucky you may see the common blue D butterfl y, which lays its eggs on this plant. C

By the sides of the paths are rocky outcrops; look 5 12 I here for the aromatic wood sage and wild thyme rooting in the cracks between the rocks.

6 There are many rare species of moss on North Berwick Law; an attractive common moss to look for is the grey cushioned grimmia which forms round, furry tufts on the rocks. 13 On the north-east side of the base of the Law there is an area of marsh, where you can fi nd common horsetail. 7 As you reach the hill summit, there are stunning views across 10 The arch you can see is a fi breglass replica of a whalebone This has green, whorled branches that look like a scouring the Firth of Forth. Throughout history many people have used jaw. There has been a whalebone on North Berwick Law brush or as the name suggests, horse tails. Another plant this hill as a look out, often lighting warning fi res if enemies summit since 1709, thought to have been a good omen for which likes moist conditions is the cuckoo fl ower. This is were spotted. whaling boats passing to and from Leith in Edinburgh. an important plant for the orange-tip butterfl y; the fl owers provide nectar for the adults, while the developing seeds 8 This brick and concrete building was used in the First and 11 To descend the hill, please use the same main path and take are food for the caterpillars. Second World War as an observation post. care on the steep slippery surfaces. Important Plant Areas (IPAs) 9 This stone ruin is a watch house used during the Napoleonic 12 Before you return to the car park, explore the habitats along North Berwick Law is internationally signifi cant for its war. It is now covered in beautiful lichen called sea ivory. In the path around the base of North Berwick law. On the south- threatened wild plants and is one of 52 Important Plant Areas summer months look for meadow saxifrage fl owering nearby. west side there is a quarry which provided materials for local (IPAs) in Scotland. For more information and to discover See if you can fi nd the buttercup and use the wild fl ower buildings. See if you can spot the common polypody fern in other IPAs to visit, go to www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland guide in this leafl et to discover which species it is. cracks in the rocks. The plants of E Grey cushioned grimmia I Common polypody Grimmia pulvinata Polypodium vulgare North Berwick Law This moss forms round cushions on This evergreen fern has triangular Unusual conditions mean a unique mix of wild base-rich rocks and is also known leaflets, or pinnae, positioned like flowers, lichens and mosses grow on this hill. as the “hedgehog moss”. The leaf rungs on a ladder. Its sweet root was tips have long, silvery hairs; in dry once considered edible when boiled with They include: conditions this gives the moss an beetroot, but may actually be toxic. almost furry appearance. In moist A Common gorse conditions the cushions appear Ulex europaeus dark green. Bright yellow flowers which smell of coconut can cheer a winter walk and are an important nectar source throughout the year. Gorse F Sea ivory J Cuckoo flower thickets are an important home for birds and Ramalina siliquosa Cardamine pratensis insects. On hot summer days, listen to the This grey-green lichen is found on Also know as lady’s smock, this cracking of its seed pods. rock and stone walls along Scottish elegant plant has four white to rose- coastlines and is very tolerant of salt pink petals arranged in a cross shape. B spray. It has been used to make a Its pale pink flowers bloom from April Common bird’s-foot trefoil dye for wool. to June, around the same time as the Lotus corniculatus cuckoo starts to call. This striking plant is also known as “eggs and bacon” due to its deep yellow flowers often tinged with G Meadow saxifrage red. A member of the pea family, Maiden pink Saxifraga granulata its seed pods are arranged on the Dianthus deltoides stem like birds’ feet. It flowers With snow-white, five-petalled This plant is so rare we’ve not located from June to September. flowers this species is a beauty to it on the map but if you’re very spot on top of North Berwick Law. lucky you might spot it flowering A plant of old grasslands, this once from June to September. Its attractive C Wild thyme common plant is in decline due to Thymus polytrichus flowers have fringed pink petals with a loss of habitat. It flowers from pale spots and are scentless. It is classed This creeping, matt forming plant has April to June. as a Nationally Scarce Plant. pinkish purple flowers in clusters at the top of its stems. It has a subtle aromatic scent and is known for its antiseptic properties. In Scotland people brewed thyme tea for courage Purple milk-vetch and to keep away nightmares. H Bulbous buttercup Astragalus danicus Ranunculus bulbosus D This uncommon plant is worth keeping Wood sage To spot the difference between an eye out for. The rich blue-purple Teucrium scorodonia this and the creeping buttercup flowers occur on dense stalk heads Like all members of the dead-nettle (Ranunculus repens) look at the green in June and July. If you want to get family, wood sage has a square stem. leafy parts (called sepals) underneath involved in monitoring this and other It has wrinkly aromatic leaves and the yellow flowers. If the sepals point rare species, why not become a Flora cream flower spikes which bloom from down towards the ground it is the Guardian with Plantlife Scotland? Details July to September, although you can bulbous buttercup. If the sepals curve at www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland see the plant all year round. Its seeds upwards around the petals, it is the provide food for many birds. more common creeping buttercup. Illustrations reproduced by permission of Philip’s from The Philip’s Guide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe, Bob Gibbons and Peter Brough, 2008 Grey cushioned grimmia, Sea Ivory and Common polypody ilustrations by Andrew Evans.