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My first venture to Scotland for 2012 was to be a trip to Edinburgh to see some bands at Bannermans & to catch up with some friends i hadn't seen for a while,so this was an ideal opportunity to get in a bit of walking too. Managed to get a bargain on the train (£9 each way!) & after a 0700 departure from Lancaster i was at Waverley for 0920 & then away again on the 0943 to North Berwick. The journey took just over 30 minutes & was very pleasant as i enjoyed fleeting views of the Firth of Forth as we got further away from the city & then more impressively my first view of North Berwick Law itself as the train branched off the main line to what i have to say is a lovely little coastal town. Despite it's small size,The Law really did dominate the view all the way from this point on,standing alone in what otherwise is a very flat area.
From the railway station i turned right & then followed the signs for the sports centre & then arrived at the car park signposted for The Law. The route to the summit has been altered recently to allow for work to be done on the eroded path but the detour is only slight & well signed. The forecast had been for a dry but cloudy day,fortunately this wasn't the case & the sun was out,giving an almost spring like feeling which was added to by the already flowering Gorse.
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- Gorse.
The detour path soon rejoined the usual waymarked route & i made my way to the summit,the views over the Firth of Forth opening up as the path weaved it's way round to the North side of the hill. Once at the summit the wind was blowing & although not particularly cold,it did make for a struggle to stand still to take photo's!
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- View from inside the ruin near the top.
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- Trig point & view indicator at the summit,Bass rock in the background.
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- Replica Whale jawbones.
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- Bass rock from North Berwick Law.
Due to the windy conditions,i didn't hang around on the top too long,just long enough to get some photo's & take in the views. Descended by the same route until i reached the gorse bushes where i turned left to skirt around the eastern flanks on the obvious path & then a 2nd left turn to drop down towards the flatter,marshy area below.
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- Looking back to The Law.
Skirting around the boggy area at the bottom(still managed to get a wet foot!) i followed the path out through the gate & between the houses then up to the main road,crossing this before taking the path down the side of the burn to the shore. Turned right at the Golf clubhouse & followed the road to the top where there is a car park giving a good view over to Bass rock
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- Bass rock.
& then walked back in to town along the lovely sandy beach.
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- North Berwick shoreline
Nipped into The Ship Inn for a refreshing pint of Fyne Ales Avalanche & caught the train back to Edinburgh to meet a mate who was arriving at 1615. This gave me enough time for a quick wander up Calton Hill.
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- Calton Hill.
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- Arthurs Seat from Calton Hill.
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- Calton Hill trigpoint.
Rolled into the hotel around 0300 after a good night out & more than a few ales & this combined with a touch of laziness scuppered my sunday plans of doing Arthurs Seat,but not to worry,it'll be there to do another day! I'd definately recommend North Berwick Law though,i really enjoyed it.
