GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Aberlady Bay to Gullane Walk

5.28 miles (8.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This East Lothian coastal walk takes you from Aberlady to Gullane along the beautiful Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve. The reserve was the first Local Nature Reserve to be founded in Britain in 1952.
The walk follows a section of the John Muir Way for a distance of about 5 miles. On the way you will pass Marl Loch and Gullane Sands before coming into Gullane.
Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birdlife including Reed Bunting and Pink-footed Geese. The area includes Waterston House, the headquarters of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC). There is a huge ornithological library here, thought to be the largest in Scotland.
Habitats in the reserve include salt marsh and sand dune with lots of wildflowers and rare plants to see as well.
You can extend the walk on the Gullane to North Berwick Walk which continues east along the coast with views across the Firth of Forth to a series of islands, including the RSPB's Fidra Island.

Postcode

EH32 0QB - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Aberlady Bay to Gullane Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Aberlady Bay to Gullane Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Aberlady

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To the south west there's the historic Gosford Estate where there's some nice trails to follow around the grounds of grand mansion.

Photos

Aberlady Bay Footbridge

Aberlady Bay Footbridge. In the Middle Ages, Aberlady was an important harbour for fishing, sealing, and whaling.

Marl Loch - geograph.org.uk - 2144695

Marl Loch

Aberlady Bay At Low Tide - geograph.org.uk - 1431485

Aberlady Bay. Looking across the Peffer Burn at low tide. The bay between Aberlady and Gullane, holds the wrecks of eight 19th or early 20th century fishing vessels, which have been designated as maritime scheduled ancient monuments.

Dunes, Gullane Links - geograph.org.uk - 967768

Dunes, Gullane Links. Unusually flooded slacks behind the big dunes. The meanace of buckthorn can be seen approaching from the north. This invasive plant threatens to destroy the dune ecosystem.

Beach, Gullane - geograph.org.uk - 1998651

Beach, Gullane

Hummell Rocks at Gullane - geograph.org.uk - 1979342

Hummell Rocks at Gullane

Beach, Gullane Point - geograph.org.uk - 1998634

Beach, Gullane Point. Gullane is the home of Muirfield which has hosted The Open Championship on numerous occasions

Aberlady Parish Church, with Doocot in Tower - geograph.org.uk - 192799

Aberlady Parish Church, with Doocot in Tower. A 15th century square, 3-stage tower at the west adjoining a nave rebuilt in 1773. The tower has a slated pyramidal spire behind a corbelled parapet. Arrow slit openings to 1st and 2nd stages and the second storey, above the string course was later adapted as a dovecot, with flight holes in the slit window on the south side.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Aberlady to Gullane.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)