The Bridge To Nowhere at Belhaven Bay

© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

Edinburgh 7 Day Itinerary

You could easily spend 7 days exploring Edinburgh, but did you know that there's actually lots of things to do in the Lothians too? See the magic of distilling first-hand, take a tour with a former miner, and find out about conservation work to look after seabirds and rescued animals.

Start / Finish
Edinburgh / Whitburn
  • Days
    7
  • Distance
    98.1 Miles

    156.96 km
  • Transport
    Car
  • Main theme
    Activities
Highlights
Outdoors
Food & drink
Wildlife
Areas covered
East

Day 1 Old and New Town

Transport:
Walking

You could easily spend weeks exploring the magic of Edinburgh, but if you're only going for a short break, here are some ideas of what not to miss in the city centre. Spend today wandering, exploring and admiring the contrasts of Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town, which together have World Heritage Site status.

  • Old and New Town Edinburgh

    Old Town Chambers

    © Lateral City Ltd

    If you’re only planning to spend a short while in Edinburgh, spend what time you have by exploring the city’s breathtaking Old and New Town districts on foot which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

    Start at the bottom of the cobbled Royal Mile and take in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, official Scottish residence of The Queen, and the strikingly modern Scottish Parliament building before making your way to Edinburgh Castle, built in the 12th century atop an extinct volcano. After that, cross over to the New Town to admire the Georgian elegance of Princes Street, George Street and Charlotte Square.

    Find out more about Old and New Town
    Time to explore
    2 hours

Day 2 East Lothian

Transport:
Car
Public transport
Walking

Today we're looking at things to do in East Lothian, which sits to the east of the city of Edinburgh and stretches over 40 miles along a spectacular coast. You'll find golden beaches, lots of interesting wildlife, golf courses, tasty food & drink and rolling hills. Look out for towns such as North Berwick, Dunbar and Haddington.

  • Scottish Seabird Centre North Berwick

    The award-winning Scottish Seabird Centre

    First up on our list of attractions for today is the Scottish Seabird Centre. Head inside the Discovery Experience where you'll get to know more about the wonderful marine life who reside on Scotland's East Coast. Take a closer look at what they're up to with the interactive live cameras and zoom in on all the action.

    Looking to take advantage of the nicer weather? The Scottish Seabird Centre run a fantastic offering of wildlife boat tours from spring to autumn. The Three Islands Seabird Seafari and the Isle of May boat trips are a great way to see a variety of seabirds in their natural habitat as well as having time to explore the natural wonders of the islands themselves. See puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes in all their glory.

    Find out more about the Scottish Seabird Centre
    The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 4SS
    Key facilities
    • Parking
    • On Public Transport Route
    • Pets Welcome
    • Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
    • Level Access
    • Accessible toilets
    • WiFi
    • Cafe or Restaurant
  • Tantallon Castle Whitekirk

    Tantallon Castle

    The sea views alone at this part of east Scotland are remarkable. But then you add in Tantallon Castle and it's simply stunning. The semi-ruined fortress sits on a dramatic clifftop, and you can climb the towers of this ruined castle and see right along the coast. Below ground you'll find a scary pit prison, a reminder of Scotland's warring past.

    Find out more about Tantallon Castle
    Whitekirk, EH39 5PN
  • Belhaven Bay Dunbar

    Two sea kayakers paddle underneath the footbridge known as The Bridge To Nowhere as the tide comes in at Belhaven Bay near Dunbar

    © VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins, all rights reserved.

    Belhaven Bay in Dunbar stretches from Belhaven to the north of the River Tyne in East Lothian, offering amazing views across the Forth Estuary. This beach is surrounded by low sand dunes, salt marshes and rich grasslands. It's the perfect spot for walking, enjoying a picnic or soaking up the warm weather.

    Find out more about Belhaven Bay
    Surf's up

    With regular waves, this is the ideal beach for surfing. Learn all the basics from expert instructors, rent equipment or enjoy a tour of the coastline at Coast to Coast Surf School.

    Dunbar

Day 3 East Lothian

Day 4 Midlothian

Day 5 Midlothian

Day 6 West Lothian

Day 7 West Lothian

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