Traprain Law, near Haddington

Summary

A familiar landmark from much of East Lothian, Traprain Law is a small but steep-sided and distinctive volcanic hill rising from the farmland. The climb to the summit is short but steep; the top was the site of an extensive hill fort with panoramic views over the local area and beyond. The walk continues by encircling the base of the hill.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Steep grassy path to summit. The return around the hill can be wet in places. The walk would be a higher grade if it were longer.

Getting there

Start

Car park 6km east of Haddington.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NT582749

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 3.2km / 2 miles
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
Ascent: 145m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (7)

Stage 1

Traprain Law is a whaleback lump of volcanic rock rising 221m above relatively flat surrounding countryside. This walk begins from the dedicated car park adjacent to a minor road east of Haddington and south of East Linton. From here take the signed path that heads west along the north side of the Law, parallel to the road at first.

Stage 2

When the path forks take the left branch that climbs slowly uphill. Soon the path turns left to continue climbing more directly towards the summit. As it ascends you pass through the remains of a turf rampart that once surrounded a significant settlement on the summit covering around 12 hectares. Continue along the obvious steep path through the ramparts to reach the summit.

Stage 3

There's a trig point and a modern drystone wind shelter. Bases of stone wall and defensive earthworks are all that remain of one of the most important archaeological sites in Scotland, first occupied in the Bronze Age around 1500BC. In later years the settlement on Traprain Law was the capital of a tribe called the Votadini who controlled a large part of southeast Scotland before the Roman invasion in AD80. Rather than be destroyed by the advancing army, the Votadini appear to have co-existed with the Romans, assisting them during their periods of occupation of southern Scotland. There have been significant archaeological finds unearthed at the summit fort, most notably a 25kg haul of Roman silver discovered in 1919 and now in the custody of the Museum of Scotland.

Stage 4

In the 6th century King Loth - after whom Lothian is named - is said to have had his daughter lashed to a chariot and thrown over a rocky edge on the Law when she became pregnant by her cousin. She somehow survived but was put in a boat and left to drift in the Firth of Forth, eventually landing on the other side where she was rescued by St Serf. She went on to give birth to a son who became St Mungo, the founder of Glasgow, though other sources suggest that St Mungo was actually born on Traprain Law itself. Do not descend on the path east of the summit which is dangerous around the top of the quarry. Instead, take a path that begins along the left edge of a circle of flat stones, aiming southwest at first.

Stage 5

The path curves right as it descends back to the foot of the hill. The quickest return from here would be to turn right and rejoin the outward route, but you can extend the walk by heading round the base of the hill. To do this, turn left, keeping above a ruin and soon passing through a pedestrian gate. The path can be a little rough and muddy but keeps to the left of the drystone wall, with the crags of the hill quite impressive on your left.

Stage 6

Ignore a stile over the wall and continue round the foot of the hill, climbing slightly to follow a narrow path through some gorse. When a metal farm gate is reached take a pedestrian gate to the left. This leads to a path that heads downhill through trees, with the quarry to your left. At the bottom turn left along the road to return to the start.

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