The tiny village is dominated, paradoxically, by an impressive Redstone church, St Mary’s parish church. St Mary’s is one of the very few parish churches still in active use in Scotland that can trace their origins back to medieval times and beyond. St Mary’s origins date back to the 1100s when it served as a parish church under the authority of the Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. This original church seems to have been coated with white limewash, which explains the name of the village.
A couple of miles to the north is the iconic Tantallon Castle. Set on the edge of the cliffs, looking out to the Bass Rock, this formidable castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family. It features earthwork defences and a massive 50ft-high 14th century curtain wall with towers. Cromwell's army destroyed it after a 12-day seige in 1651.
