If you’re in Edinburgh, a North Berwick day trip is an incredible city escape. With stunning beaches and the most charming streets, North Berwick has plenty of things to do and places to see. Here’s how to have the perfect North Berwick day trip!
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How to get from Edinburgh to North Berwick
One of the best things about a day trip from Edinburgh to North Berwick is that you don’t need a car! Public transport is super easy and efficient – I recommend going to North Berwick by train.
By Train: From Edinburgh Waverley, North Berwick is just a thirty minute train ride away! Trains leave every hour and cost £7.20 for a return trip. You can find more info and book your tickets here.
By Bus: You can catch the 124 bus from the bottom of Calton Hill at St. Andrew’s house. Getting to North Berwick by bus takes an hour and a half and come every thirty minutes. There’s also an X5 Bus that is more direct, but it doesn’t run on Sundays. You can find timetables here.
By Car: Getting to North Berwick by car takes 50 minutes and you’ll follow the A1.
A Perfect North Berwick Day Trip: Our Itinerary & Things to do in North Berwick
We caught a train at around 9:45 from Edinburgh Waverley and arrived in North Berwick at 10:15! Phil and I love going on walks and great views, so North Berwick Law was our first stop!
North Berwick Law
The walk from North Berwick train station to North Berwick Law took around 20 minutes along the road. It’s hard to miss North Berwick Law – the hill is a perfect mound jutting out from otherwise flat land. Once we got to the North Berwick Law car park, it was a 20 minute walk up to the top of the law.
North Berwick Law stands at 187 meters and offers sweeping views of North Berwick, the countryside, and the sea. There’s also a crumbling telegraph tower and various military buildings that were used during the Napoleonic Wars and World War 2. At the very top, there’s a full size replica of a whale’s jawbone (giant!). We also saw a couple donkeys at the top of the hill.
Wander through North Berwick Town
North Berwick is a CUTE seaside town with plenty of shops to visit. I recommend grabbing a coffee from Steampunk Coffee and wandering down the little alleyways and on the main street. The town centre is quite small but so so so sweet! In the Springtime, the North Berwick in Bloom event is in full swing and you’ll be able to spot flower beds all over the centre.
Visit the Scottish Seabird Centre
Right along the water is the Scottish Seabird Centre, which teaches you all about Scottish seabirds, conservation efforts, and marine life in North Berwick and beyond in Scotland. From Easter to Autumn, you can also catch a wildlife boat trip from the Scottish Seabird Centre. A lot of the trips are focused on the nearby Bass Rock, home to the largest colony of Northern gannets.
Grab Some Scran at the Lobster Shack
The Lobster Shack is a North Berwick classic. During the summertime, fresh fish and crustaceans are cooked here daily. The half lobster with chips is the most popular menu item and I highly recommend it! Oooh, that salty herb butter? Yes please.
There’s plenty of seating near the Lobster Shack, so you can eat with a sea view!
Walk along the Coast
This was perhaps my favourite thing to do on our North Berwick day trip! The Scottish coast is absolutely beautiful. We walked towards Tantallon Castle along the coast. When you hit the golf course, you can walk on the path that goes around the golf course on the seaside rather than going inland.
Tantallon Castle
From the heart of North Berwick to Tantallon Castle, its about an hour walk. We actually didn’t make it to Tantallon Castle, as the Lobster Shack had a bit of a delayed opening and I became hangry after about forty minutes of walking (sorry Phil), but this red sandstone castle has (supposedly) amazing views of Bass Rock and beyond. It was also used as a filming location for many different films, including Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson. Definitely on my list of things to do for next time!
North Berwick Day Trip Tips
- Dress in layers – the wind picks up and can get quite chilly!
- On nice days, get to the Lobster Shack around 20 minutes before you actually want to eat. It’s a popular place and there’s likely going to be a queue.
- Wear solid shoes – the coastal path is an easy walk but I would not do it in sandals.
Looking for More Scotland tips?
Here are all of my posts on Scotland!
A LOCAL’S GUIDE TO EDINBURGH – two day itinerary & all my best tips!
CIRCUS LANE – Edinburgh’s most charming street!
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