LEISURE TIME

Walk on the WILDSIDE ON ’S EAST COAST ENTICES JO VAUGHAN TO DON HER WALKING BOOTS

ITH close remote-controlled cameras to view the large coastal car park in Gullane. These enough for a day trip, despite local birdlife without disturbing it, is a coastline paths aren’t overly easy to W the campsite’s rural location, very short car ride away. There is a good follow, but keep to my instructions and Yellowcraig at Dirleton is a paradise for number of pubs and local shops too, as ensure you end up on Gullane Sands ❖ adults and children alike. Its pitching well as two nearby castles to explore. and you won’t go wrong. Keep an eye areas are separated by sandy dunes, Dirleton Castle is the closest – you won’t out for that lone post on the beach, shrubs and roses, making it an attractive fail to notice it as you approach the site’s otherwise you’ll overshoot the turning place to stay. Even better is that the beach entrance road – but you’ll have to head off the sand, which isn’t clearly is just a few minutes’ walk away, with its north through North Berwick to find the marked. This being a Nature Reserve, acres of golden sand and a myriad of rock wonderful Tantallon Castle, which is dogs are not permitted during the pools for the kids to explore. perched right on the clifftops. birds’ main breeding season of April The town of North Berwick, with its The start of our walk is just a few to July, and at all other times they must Scottish Seabird Centre that uses miles drive from the campsite, at the be kept on a lead. >>

JUNE 2007 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE 79 LEISURE TIME NORTH BERWICK

Hummell Rocks START/FINISH

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Gullane Links

Gullane Sands

ABERLADY SANDS

Aberlady Point P

Continue along the wire-fenced footpath Local attractions DIRECTIONS 7and keep ahead where the fence ends, ■ Tantallon Castle, North following the wooden bollards. Where the Berwick EH39 5PN. Tel 01620 At the far end of the car park there is a wire fence starts again, stay to the right of it. 892727. Open: every day 1rusty metal gate with access on either Continue along the edge of the golf course, from 1 April to 30 September, side to a small gravel path – take this path passing ‘Tee 13’. and Saturday to Wednesday which runs parallel with the coast. Just At some fire beaters close to two the rest of the year. A before the path descends into bushes it forks 8footpath signs pointing in three formidable stronghold set – take the left fork that heads between some directions, turn right. The grassy path turns atop cliffs on the . Disabled access: easy gorse bushes. to gravel, eventually passing through scrub. into the shop, but will need As the path ascends a hill you’ll come to Pass a sign marked ‘ L.N.R.’ someone to push to get you 2an unmarked path crossroads. Turn right 9and cross the wooden bridge. At the road to the castle courtyard. The Tantallon Castle here, passing a small green post on your turn left following the sign ‘ Way – grass can get boggy though right-hand side. This path continues along Gullane 2’. Continue past the sign to ■ Dirleton Castle, Dirleton, North Berwick EH39 5ER. the line of the coast. Keep straight ahead ‘Myreton Motor Museum’ and follow the Tel 01620 850330. A ruined castle that dates back to the following the main track, following the white road around to the left. 13th century. Disabled access: restricted inside the castle, arrow on a green post. When the pavement ends, cross the but two gardens and most of the grounds are accessible ■ Preston Mill, Preston Road EH40 3DS. Tel 01620 860426. Open: Veer right down a gravel path, still 10 road, following the ‘John Muir Way’ 1 June to 30 September, Thursday to Monday. Cost: adult £5, 3following the green signs with white sign, and go through a wooden gate on the concession £4, family £14. A picturesque mill that sits on the arrows, across the entrance to ‘Tee No 12’ opposite side of the road. Follow the gravel river Tyne. Disabled access: has provision for disabled visitors on the golf course, but veer right again at the path behind the golf course’s clubhouse. square concrete blocks along a smaller path, When you get to the end of the golf course again following the arrow. continue following the gravel path around General information The path now descends sharply towards to the left. NEAREST CLUB SITE: Yellowcraig, Dirleton EH39 5DS. 4the beach. Descend on to the sand You will see the remains of Saltcoats Tel 01620 850217. Open until 5 November and then veer left to walk around the 11 Castle to the right. Pass through DISTANCE: 5.8 miles/9.3km crescent-shaped beach. Keep on the beach another wooden gate and continue following TERRAIN: Good paths, beach, short stretch of road around the headland and continue on the the ‘John Muir Way’ signs towards Gullane. NUMBER OF STILES: None, although there are some gentle rocks to clamber over sand along the next beach, clambering over Then turn left by ‘Tee No 18’, again ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT: Ordnance Survey Explorer 351 – & the rocky outcrops. following the ‘John Muir Way’ sign, along North Berwick Just before the beach ends in a tumble the gravel road. LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy/moderate 5of rocks, veer left up the small bank When you reach the residential REFRESHMENTS: In Gullane beside a slope of slate-coloured shingle. 12 tarmac road, continue straight TOILETS: In car park where walk commences, just after the wooden Immediately turn right and continue ahead until you get to the main road. bridge half way round, and also in the centre of Gullane following the path that runs immediately Here turn right, and then use the zebra DIRECTIONS: Leave the campsite and return to the A198. Turn right adjacent to the shoreline, still keeping the crossing just beyond Brighton Terrace. along the main road until entering Gullane. Then turn right following a car park sign towards ‘Gullane Beach’. Park at the far end of the car sea to your right. Soon you get to the wide Walk down the road opposite, past the park. There is talk of a charge being levied on the car park, so carry expanse of Gullane Sands. Once again public toilets. When you get to the green, some change in case descend onto the beach and continue ahead, take the right fork (Goose Green Road), keeping the dunes to your left. and follow this around the right-hand side Continue until you see a single tall wooden of the green. Tourist information 6post (around 6ft high) buried in the sand. When you’ve passed the green, North Berwick Tourist Information Centre, Quality Street, Here, turn left up a sandy bank through the 13 continue straight ahead towards the North Berwick EH39 4HJ. Tel 0845 225 5121 dunes, following a public footpath sign that’s sea along Marine Road. Turn left along buried in the top of the dunes. Marine Terrace to return to the car park.

80 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE www.caravanclub.co.uk