20 Attractions to Explore Near Scottish Ornithologists Club

Gosford Sands is a rural sand and shingle beach in the west facing Gosford Bay. High tide covers just about all of the beach. It's a great beach for kite flying and coastal walking, as you can take the John Muir Way from Cockenzie to Aberlady passing Gosford Sands en route. Also good for sandcastle building and exploring. There is no lifeguard cover so be careful swimming and paddling.

Seton Sands beach is a large sand and rocky beach. The beach has some rock pools to explore as the tide goes out. The beach sits on a stretch of coast between Port Seton in the west to Longniddry in the East and just 30 minutes from Edinburgh. South of the beach there is Seton Sands Holiday Park, a popular holiday destination in the summer months for many visitors, mostly families from the west coast of Scotland and the north of England.

Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve was the first site to be designated a Nature Reserve, in 1952. It comprises a complete set of habitats from low water right through to salt marsh and sand dune, unchanged by the influence of people. The area within the Reserve is extensive, and, in consequence, the paths across it take time to cover. Dogs are not welcome on the Reserve due to the potential for disturbing nesting and / or roosting birds.

Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve was the first site to be designated a Nature Reserve, in 1952. It comprises a complete set of habitats from low water right through to salt marsh and sand dune, unchanged by the influence of people. The total area of the reserve is 582 hectares or 1,439 acres, though two thirds of this is sand, mudflats and salt marsh falling below the high tide mark.

Luffness is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland. The oldest stonework probably dates from the late eleventh or early twelfth century. It is now a T-plan building, with a stair-tower and turret, and the house was altered and extended in the 17th century, then again in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including work by William Burn and then by David Bryce.

Situated in the heart of the renowned golfing country on the East Lothian coastline. Founded in 1894 and designed by Old Tom Morris, Luffness New Golf Club offers challenging and enjoyable golf in a historic setting. The course is the first you see on the right-hand side of the road heading into Gullane from Edinburgh. The first 5 holes lie on the east side or clubhouse side of the A198. The remaining 13 are on the west side of the road mixed in with Gullane No. 3.

Myreton Motor Museum is one of the oldest motor transport museums in the UK. It is a museum located near the village of Aberlady, East Lothian, Scotland, which has a motoring history collection which covers most of the twentieth century. It has a collection commercial vehicles, cars, motor cycles, bicycles, motoring memorabilia and toy cars dating back to the turn of the twentieth century.

Longniddry Bents is known best for its plant life. The base-rich soils have allowed a number of plants to flourish here that are only seen occasionally elsewhere in the county. The shallow bay is a popular watersports location for windsurfers, kitesurfers and sea kayaks.Many sea and wading birds frequent the area making it a regular haven for bird-watchers. A small community of rare water voles are known to reside around the several burns running out of the bents. Grey seals are often spotted t

Saltcoats Castle is one of East Lothian's 'forgotten' castles, situated in farmland half a mile south of Gullane. Its story starts with the Livingstone family, who probably built the castle late in the 16th century. The buildings were abandoned around 1800 and gradually dismantled for reuse as construction material in the decades after. It is now roofless. The partly buttressed walls are built of rubble, with dressings and one setback course. It has crow-stepped gables. In the south gable there

Gullane Golf Club is one of Scotland's most prestigious member clubs, mixing the finest tradition with some of the most admired natural links land in the world. Gullane offers a unique range of golfing experiences for members and visitors alike, combining a major role in the history of golf in Scotland, great golfing conditions, and a truly spectacular environment.

Gullane is a Sandy beach located near North Berwick in Lothian.Dogs allowed on the beach all year round. It attracts legions of sandcastle makers or windsurfers, depending on the weather. Nearby attractions include the very well kept Dirleton, with its double village green and ruined castle; Myreton Motor Museum and the Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

Chesters Hill Fort was probably built in the first millennium BC, and was occupied into the Roman occupation of Britain in the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It remains an impressive and imposing monument despite the intervening 2,000 years. This fortified village with its system of ramparts and ditches around a settlement of about twenty roundhouses is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, who describe it as "one of the best-preserved examples in Scotland of an Iron age for

The Hopetoun Monument is in the Garleton Hills, near Camptoun. It is 95ft (29m) tall and is situated on the summit of Byres Hill 560ft . The monument was erected in memory of John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun (1765-1823). The monument is often referred to as the Garleton Monument or the "Galla Monument" by locals, after Garleton Farm on Byres Hill.

This is one of the best places to stay in Scotland with Edinburgh and it's castle only 30 min's away by car. With views across the Firth of Forth and close to the beach this makes a great park. You will find plenty to do for all the family on this small but well equipped park.

Garleton Castle is an interesting example of a courtyard castle, and originally consisted of three accommodation blocks within a curtain wall. Built in the 16th century, the present castle almost certainly replaced an earlier tower built by the Lindsay family, which was possibly the place of birth of the poet Sir David Lindsay of the Mount in 1486. The Lindsays also owned Byres Castle nearby.

Seton Collegiate Church is one of the finest surviving medieval collegiate churches in Scotland. The term "Collegiate Church" covered a variety of sins, often literally. Collegiate Churches were generally endowed by the the local laird, who paid for the maintenance of community of priests. The primary role of the college was to pray for the souls of their benefactor, his wife, and his family. The church is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and a 4-Star Historic Tourist Attraction

Seton Castle was built in the late 1700s on the site of Seton Palace, which was demolished in 1789. The palace, near Longniddry, on the Firth of Forth, formerly belonged to the Earls of Winton and was a popular retreat for Mary, Queen of Scots. She spent time at the palace after the murder of her second husband, Lord Darnley; they had also spent their honeymoon there. The date when the original palace was built is uncertain but it was located on the lands of Seton and Winton.

A decidious and attractive mixed woodland of confers ash birch and mixed broadleaves. There is a car park and two way-marked trails with a number of wild-life themed sculptures. The terrain is generally flat. The wood lies between Tranent and Haddington and is popular with local walkers.

Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 2 miles west of North Berwick, and around 19 miles east of Edinburgh. The oldest parts of the castle date to the 13th century, and it was abandoned by the end of the 17th century.

Barnes Castle is an unfinished castle, with a number of defensive banks, located 5 kilometres north-east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to Athelstaneford on the slopes of the Garleton Hills. The remains, also known as Barney Vaults or The Vaults, are protected as a scheduled monument.