Discover Aberlady

If you are considering Aberlady as a destination for a stay, you can organise your interests around nature, outdoor activities and local history. These include Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve, walks, a section of the John Muir Way and historical connections ranging from medieval pilgrimage to the late 19th-century church.

Nature and walking trails at Aberlady Bay

Aberlady Bay was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated a Local Nature Reserve, in 1952. The bay is also part of the Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its birds, plants and geology.

Walks through Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve begin by crossing the footbridge known as the “footbridge to enchantment”. The paths in the reserve are mostly sandy, making them unsuitable for cycling. This makes a walk a better fit than a bike ride when planning activities.

Getting there and other activities

East Coast Buses services pass Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve; passengers can ask to get off nearby. As bus services and stop arrangements may change, check the timetable and arrangements for getting off for your travel date before setting out.

The section of the John Muir Way from Aberlady to North Berwick is 9 miles (15 km) long and starts in Aberlady. Check the route details before your walk. This lets you include the specific section in your plans without inferring a walking time from the route length.

Kilspindie Golf Club welcomes visitors to its traditional Scottish links course. As visitor arrangements may change, check them before your visit.

Church, cross and pilgrimage history

Aberlady Parish Church in its present form dates from 1886–1887. The new church opened for worship on 2 June 1887—a specific historical point of interest for anyone interested in the village’s architectural history.

A reconstruction of the Aberlady High Cross stands in the village’s Memorial Garden. The elaborate carvings on the cross fragment show a strikingly close relationship to the illuminated art of the Lindisfarne Gospels, which were created around 720 AD on Holy Island. This connection places the carvings in an early medieval art-historical context.

From the early to the late Middle Ages, Aberlady was an important centre for pilgrims travelling between the great early monasteries of Northern Europe. Together with the High Cross, this pilgrimage history offers a different perspective from the later architectural history of the Parish Church.

The historical connections can also be distinguished by period: the Lindisfarne Gospels were created around 720, Aberlady’s pilgrimage history spans the early to late Middle Ages, and the church’s present form dates from 1886–1887. This spans the period from early medieval art and pilgrimage to the late 19th century.

Discover more destinations: East Linton, Prestonpans, Cockenzie And Port Seton, North Berwick, Haddington, Gifford, Musselburgh, Tranent

For the wider travel overview: East Lothian.