How to Spend a Weekend in North Berwick
This town on the Firth of Forth in East Fife boasts an eclectic mix of shops, cafés and bars, but is perhaps best known for its golf courses, sandy beaches and Bass Rock, the world's largest northern gannet colony
Explore
A classic seaside town, there’s a heady mix of traditional fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours amongst the newer trendy cafés and bistros here, and plenty of independent shops to explore too. Golfers should head to Muirfield, Gullane or take a swing at North Berwick, one of the oldest courses in the world (be sure to book your tee time well in advance). Wildlife watchers will love the award-winning Scottish Seabird Centre where cameras show fascinating live feed from Bass Rock, and definitely need to book a boat trip to the rock and around the islands that sit in the Firth of Forth, including Fidra, the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Back on dry land, visitors should climb the walls of the nearby imposing Tantallon Castle for jaw-dropping views across the water, take a stroll up The Law (North Berwick’s answer to Arthur’s Seat), and pop into the volunteer-led Coastal Communities Museum to discover more about the town’s fascinating history.
Stay
Tucked between two sandy bays, rooms at the luxurious Marine North Berwick boast views of the golf course, the estuary and islands. Hit the spa and then head to the chic Bass Rock Bar for drinks and dinner. The grade I-listed Archerfield House is a classic country retreat with just 15 rooms, whilst Tom Kitchin’s The Bonnie Badger is a contemporary restaurant with rooms serving his fabulous food just a few miles away beside Muirfield, and The Leddie is a beautiful, newly-restored boutique hotel in nearby Aberlady.
Eat
The new owners of family-run bistro and wine bar The Puffin specialise in seafood (and limited edition fusion whiskies) but the extensive menu has plenty to tempt everyone. The much-loved La Potinière restaurant, on Gullane’s Main Street, is owned by award-winning chefs Keith Marley and Mary Runciman, who meticulously source ingredients locally as well as utilising the produce grown in La Potinière’s own garden. Back in North Berwick, The Ship Inn is famous for its seafood and well-kept beer and Osteria is where you’ll find fabulous Italian-style dishes with a Scottish twist. Steampunk Coffee is all about artisan coffee but serves up great brunches too.
