This link (see from 1:36 minutes onwards) gives a fabulous aerial view of our town. Also, the earlier part of this video is really worth viewing, as it shows amazing footage of Bass Rock! “One of the 12 wildlife wonders of the world” according to Sir David Attenborough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqvq0FaNyeg
Our town regularly wins accolades, with recent awards being:
- overall best place to live in the UK (2024 Sunday Times awards)
- best place to live in Scotland (2024 & 2025 Sunday Times awards)
- National Geographic Best Seaside Towns
- Scotlands Best Beach awards
- Beautiful Scotland Best Coastal Town; multiple winner
- Visit Scotland award for tourism; multiple winner
- RHS Britain in Bloom gold medal; multiple winner
We live on a quiet residential side street, surrounded by other large detached houses all built in different styles and at different periods of time (some old, some relatively new). Everything is within short walking distance of our home. We only use the car if doing a supermarket shop or travelling outside of North Berwick.
The more detailed information below aims to summarise our high street, the surrounding area, and share other topics that might be of interest during a stay at our home. There’s so much to experience and enjoy
https://www.packthesuitcases.com/things-to-do-in-north-berwick-scotland/
Our High Street
The very centre of the high street (Blackadder Church) is an 11 minute walk from our home. There are 13 pubs / restaurants, and 12 cafes in the bustling high street area. Other amenities include pharmacies, Bank, Post Office, news agents, hardware store, vets, art shops, boutiques, specialist wine merchant, galleries, barbers, beauty parlours, fish & chip shops, specialist ice cream shop, award winning cheese shop, fabulous local butcher, fruit & veg shop, convenience stores and more! I hope this gives you a sense of our vibrant community.
Area around the high street
Within a 10 minute radius of the high street you can walk to the Marine Hotel & spa, harbour, sports & leisure centre, two golf courses, library / museum / tourist information, central park (The Lodge Grounds), two children’s play parks, skateboard park, historic ruins, and three beaches.
Golf
There are over 20 golf courses within a 25 mile (40km) radius of North Berwick. The area is warmly referred to as “the golf coast”! Muirfield Golf Course (host of the Open Championship 16 times) is 4 miles away (6.4km), and is one of many championship courses. The closest course to our home is the West Links course, one of the finest in the world (a 7 minute walk!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYu_lEERUIU
We’re also 65 miles (105km) to St Andrews, which is renowned worldwide as the “home of golf”, and the location of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (golf’s governing body).
Beaches
There are three sandy bays in our town, and many more nearby. Close by is YellowCraig beach and the island of Fidra which inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write his world famous book “Treasure Island”. This is just a 2.9 miles (4.7 km) car drive, or a 30 - 40 minute walk along the beaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mKeiTY0Erg
There’s also Seacliff beach which won the title of Scotlands Best Beach (The Times & Sunday Times Best UK Beaches Guide for 2025). It won due to “it’s cinematic drama, stunning views of Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle, superb water quality, and home to the UK's smallest harbour”. All just an 8 mile (13km) drive away (though we tend to cycle there for a day out and picnic!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzS-cmvKMpk
See what others think!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g315944-d3458871-Reviews-Seacliff_Beach-North_Berwick_East_Lothian_Scotland.html
Harbour
Our picturesque harbour is on a headland between two bays. It’s a hub of activity involving the Yacht Club (cafe open to the public on Saturdays), regular regattas, kayak club, the life boat station, seabird boat trips, the lobster shack, artists beach huts, and farmers market (11:00 - 15:00hrs on the 2nd Saturday each month). We happily spend hours sitting on one of the many public bench seats, just people watching!
Islands
These include Bass Rock, Craigleith, Fidra and The Lamb (owned by Uri Gellor, who considers it a mystical site and linked to the Egyptian pyramids!). The island chain are internationally important for breeding seabirds, and include the worlds largest colony of northern gannets (Bass Rock - Scotland Alcatraz!). There are daily boats trips during the season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T87Uy9wgu7A
Nature
There’s the fabulous Scottish Seabird Centre where you can explore and learn about our seabirds and marine environment.
https://www.seabird.org/
Each year we regularly have dolphins and seals playing around our small boat, with guillemots, cormorants, gannets and the adorable puffins flitting about. This year we saw an Orca pod just off the bay!
Further out in the Firth of Forth we have the Isle of May; a National Nature Reserve
https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/isle-may-national-nature-reserve
History
Places of historic interest are numerous within our town, surrounding area, Edinburgh, and beyond. There’s simply too much to even try and highlight. We have two historic castles within a 10 minute drive alone. One of these is Tantallon Castle 3.5 miles away (5.6 km), which has featured in many movies. Have a look!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXr7QY-VvE
Sports
There’s a children’s 9 hole golf course located right beside the famous West Links. It’s warmly referred to as “The Wee Course”, has 9 holes, and offers a short par-3 layout perfect for leaners and youngsters. There are lots of other sporting options such as: cycling, tennis courts, putting green, pitch and putt course, pétanque pitch, skateboard park, rugby club, bowling club, and a leisure centre all within a 20 minute stroll from our home. The leisure centre is open to the public (pay as you use) and has an indoor swimming, health suite/spa, fitness gym, squash courts, child’s trampoline room, and more.
https://enjoyleisure.com/venues-and-facilities/sports-and-leisure-centres/north-berwick-sports-centre/
Automobilia / Aviation
The National Museum of Flight is just 7 miles (11km) away, where you can see incredible aviation displays including British Airways first production concord.
https://www.museumofflight.org/
And also Myreton Motor Museum is a 6.5 mile drive.
https://www.myretonmotormuseum.co.uk/
Music
Musicians play in three of our local pubs / restaurants at various times of the week. There’s also an emerging singer songwriter scene with mini concerts held at our Scout Hall; you can bring your own bottle and enjoy a tipple while listening to some live music.
https://www.facebook.com/liveatthelaw/?locale=en_GB
Villages
There are numerous villages within our immediate area including Dirleton, Aberlady, Gullane, East Linton, and Dunbar. These (and more!) all offer an interesting mix of history, quaint architecture, walks, nature, superb pubs / eateries, and all within a walk, cycle, or short drive (between 3 to 13 miles / 5 - 20km).
Lots more!!
Explore more things that might capture your interest
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g315944-North_Berwick_East_Lothian_Scotland-Vacations.html
There really is an embarrassment of riches on things to do and see!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g315944-Activities-North_Berwick_East_Lothian_Scotland.html
Supermarkets
There two well-stocked supermarkets, Tesco and Aldi, 1.6 miles away (2.6 km), on the other side of our town. Shopping at these is the only thing we tend to use our car for within the town.
Climate
The weather in the UK and Scotland varies throughout the season, and can also vary during each season. So we cannot guarantee sunshine every day (!), but North Berwick’s coastal position does enjoy a distinct micro-climate compared to the rest of Scotland. This mean it often experiences more sunshine and drier conditions when rain falls nearby.
Edinburgh
(33 minutes by train)
It’s almost impossible to explain the captivating city of Edinburgh. Books have failed to do so! It’s one of Europe’s most visited cities, and has a year round draw with overseas visitors. This link just scratches the surface:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186525-Activities-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
It’s a unique blend of medieval organic growth and a planned Georgian neo-classical architecture (the “new town”!). It has a vibrant arts culture, cobbled streets, breathtaking views, Edinburgh Castle, world-class museums, ghost tours, incredible food/whisky, all packed into a walkable and endlessly fascinating city. It feels like you’re stepping back in time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRNyfBRhq0A
The Edinburgh International Festival cannot go without mention (the worlds largest “Festival of the Arts”). There are also many concurrent festivals (e.g. Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jazz Festival, Film Festival etc). More here - - -
https://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com/
Scotland
OK, I’ll stop typing now!! Scotland has sooooo much more - - -
www.visitscotland.com
We hope you might be interested in home exchanging with us, to visit our own wee version of paradise!
Recommendations
We’ve lived here for over 30 years, and can give you some personal recommendations if you decide to exchange with us, after we know your particular areas of interest (even just the best pubs and places to eat!).
Distance from airports in miles and kilometres
Edinburgh (35 miles / 56 kilometres)
Glasgow (81m / 130km)
Newcastle (104m / 167km)
Manchester (226m / 364km)
London airports (Luton / Stansted / Heathrow / Gatwick) (349m - 404m / 562 - 650km)
We walk or cycle almost everywhere in North Berwick. The only time we tend to use the car is when shopping at one of the supermarkets on the other side of town (1.6 miles / 2.6km away).
When visiting Edinburgh, the best option is to travel the 33 minute train journey (due to car parking restrictions and charges in Edinburgh). From Waverley Station in Edinburgh, there are onward connections throughout Scotland (e.g. 80 minutes to Glasgow, the UK’s third largest city / 4hrs 20m to London)
Car travel is easy for visiting the North or England (45 miles / 73km), the Scottish Borders, the west coast, or north towards the Scottish Highlands - areas popular with international tourists (all 1 - 3 hours). A little further are the Western Isles and the Hebrides, which is one of the most magical places on earth and one of our favourite places to visit.