Belhaven Bay, near Dunbar

Summary

The superb dune-backed beach at Belhaven Bay is amongst the finest in East Lothian. The Bay is part of the John Muir Country Park; this route heads out across the sands before returning via the salt flats at the mouth of the River Tyne and through the plantations. There may be signed diversions/exclusion zones during tern nesting season, please follow any instructions.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Sandy beach, salt marsh and woodland paths. The walk may not be possible at high tide.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Car park (charge) for Belhaven Bay, John Muir Country Park. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 6km / 3.75 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 5m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NT651787

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

To reach the car park, turn off the A1087 just west of West Barns on the west side of Dunbar - it is signed for the John Muir Country Park and East Links Family Park. Take the right hand fork on the approach to reach the public car park. The walk begins on the path that runs along just behind back of the car park; there are toilets to the left, whilst the walk starts to the right. At the far corner junction turn left (signed for the beach and John Muir Way). The path soon forks. The grassy path which curves right is the John Muir Way and continues to Dunbar, but for our route take the sandy path ahead. This soon follows a small burn and crosses a couple of wooden decks over bog.

Stage 2

Eventually the path emerges onto the sands. Turn left here to head out towards the sea, keeping close to the dunes on your left to round the corner onto the magnificent sandy sweep of Belhaven Bay - a popular location for surfing. Continue along the beach beside the dunes, with grand views ahead towards the massive bulk of the Bass Rock - with the more distant Isle of May visible to its right. The dunes on the left become quite high in places - keep along the beach until they relent where a sandy path cuts left across the spit.

Stage 3

Keep right at a fork in the path to emerge onto sand once more, this time at the estuary of the River Tyne. Turn left along the sands, keeping by the dunes. The sand gives way to gravel and then salt flats, and at one point the flats penetrate eastwards barring the direct route - it is necessary to detour here to the left until a safe point is reached to cross dryshod to the plantation on the far side of the salt flats - the length of the detour depends on the tides. On the far side turn right along the path, soon crossing the dunes and keeping between the tall pines of the plantation and the estuary.

Stage 4

The path heads through the edge of the trees - ignore a track heading left through a clearing and instead continue close by the flats. Continue until a bridge can be seen ahead and here stay on the larger path as it bears left through the trees.

Stage 5

Continue, now on the John Muir Way, along the track just ouside the edge of the wood. This runs near the animal enclosures of the East Links Family Park. At the next junction bear right to return to the toilets near the car park at the start.

Route Profile

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