Dunbar campsites

Dunbar is an intriguing coastal town on the east coast of Scotland. When visiting Dunbar you will hear of tales of the great John Muir and get the opportunity to visit the house where he was born and grew up in. Dunbar is home to John Muir Country Park which is a nature reserve and can be enjoyed by both a family enjoying the outdoors and the natural history enthusiast. It supports a wide range of habitats, birds and plants and covers some of the most spectacular East Lothian coastline.

The Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery has been the focus of town life since the 16th century. Take a guided tour where you can visit the Council Chamber and atmospheric jail cell. There’s everchanging historical and art exhibitions as well as a local history display area.

If you want to go off the beaten track and visit amazing places that visitors (and most locals) never see, then the Hidden Castle Adventure tour is for you. You’ll be taken through wooded glens, up heather-clad hills and along sandy beaches to explore the remains ancient castles hidden in the beautiful East Lothian countryside.

Set on the edge of the cliffs, looking out to the Bass Rock, the formidable Tantallon Castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family. Ascend Tantallon’s towers for spectacular views of the Bass Rock and to watch gannets plunge into the North Sea. Then descend into the depths of a particularly grim pit prison.

For anyone interested in hitting the beach in summer Dunbar has the sublime Belhaven Beach to enjoy. This breath-taking beach stretches for over a mile from end to end and is a lovely place for strolls and family fun. On both sides of the beach are clifftop and beach walks that provide memorable views of the surrounding area where you are sure to see some amazing birdlife.

Adventurers should visit the Coast to Coast Surf School where you can spend summer days learning to ride the waves in Scotland with a team of experienced instructors offering a wide range of quality lessons and courses in the sports of surfing, bodyboarding, stand up paddling and coasteering.

Other family fun attractions in Dunbar include East Links Family Park and Foxlake Adventures. East Links Family Park is a farm-based activity park suitable for all ages. A train safari runs through paddocks of friendly farm animals and there are lots of activities including go karts, trampolines, soft play ball blast area and a tree-level multi activity fortress. Foxlake Adventures, Scotland’s first wakeboard cable tow is great fun for beginners and experienced wakeboarders. They have also opened a unique ropes challenge taking place over water.

ReBoot Disc Golf Course is also located at Foxlake Adventures, open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week. If you've played golf before and thrown a Frisbee, you are prepared for Disc Golf. This course is designed to support families as well as the advanced player. 

Dunbar is also home to a leisure pool, with wave machine, beach area, flume and other exciting water features. It also has a health suite with sauna, solarium and steam room, and a fully equipped gym.

A town of three harbours, Dunbar was once a major herring and whaling port. Dunbar Harbour is a busy working harbour with a commercial fleet landing mainly shellfish. There is a thriving Sailing Club and a Coastal Rowing Club and attracts many diving clubs to enjoy the seas around Dunbar. The harbour is also home to one of the largest lifeboat stations in the area and, if you're lucky, you may also see Sammy, the resident friendly seal, who spends his time swimming around the harbour hoping for a fish supper from the fishermen.

Situated just 9 miles south-east of Dunbar, Pease Dean is one of the few areas in this region where native woodland can still be found and as such is a great spot for adventurers to get out in the elements and amongst the trees. There are numerous intriguing looking paths around the reserve to tempt you, including the end of the well-known Southern Upland Way.

Just 5 minutes down the road you’ll find Belhaven Brewery. Belhaven or “Beautiful Harbour” nestles among the rolling barley fields of the beautiful East Lothian coast, for nearly 300 years, they have brewed in this place using only the finest local barley and choicest hops. Pop in for a tour, tale, and best of all, taste one or two of them in the brewery bar.

The town is also only 20 minutes by train or 45 minutes by car away from the centre of Edinburgh where you can explore the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle or get completely engrossed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The town of North Berwick is even closer and a great place to visit too.