Dunbar & District Tour

Dunbar High Street

Turn left and follow the high walls of the old manse and concealing a church ruin. At the turn of the 1900s the last of the major historic buildings appear on the high street ( the old post office on the left is 1904 and the Swanston & Legge tenement on the right 1899 - more in Pevsner  guide).

New Inn

A hotel, then barracks, then old people's home, then a surgery, then social housing ... but what next? Note the juxtaposition (hotchpotch?) of the large tenements and homes showing centuries of tastes and period styles.

Black's Railway Hotel

Swing round the one way system heading out of Dunbar past two fine 18C houses. Looking back is the Dolphin Hotel, notorious drinking den up to the noughties, but then known as Black's Railway Hotel. Next to it out of shot was a Temperance Hotel, now the Hillside.

Eastbay Beach

Head north along Church Street, possibly the main thoroughfare before the principal spine was developed in the 17thC, pass by the neglected Assembly Rooms a fine old building created by public subscription in 1822. Drop down to the East Beach.

East Esplanade & Bellevue Hotel

Head south and join East Links road. After a fire someone said of the Bellevue "... this building is giving a bad impression on what the town is about."

Roxeburgh Hotel

At the end of East links, head up to the main thoroughfare. This was the site of another rather fine building. There are fines for knocking down listed buildings. Not much much of a deterrent it seems.

The Old Smiddie Broxburn

Continue down the Queens road as quick as you can and pass the Deer Park on your left. After the cemetery the high walls of Broxmouth House and then Broxburn.

Scene of the Battle of Dunbar

There are 2 battle sites. It is unclear where exactly this image was taken, but assuming this is near Oswald Dean, south of Brandsmill. Take the single track private road and join the bridleway to Spott, the probable 1650 battlefield site is on the left, at the main road level.

Spott House

Follow the bridleway all the way to the foot of Doon Hill, even from down here the views are very fine. Eventually it takes you to Spott House. Navigate carefully through the private estate to reach the village, due north. A fine mansion.

Spott Village Hall

Make your way down the high road through the leafy village of Spott. Take care on the Canongate where the road narrows. Cross Doon bridge and take a sharp left on the old road to Westerbroomhouse. The 1296 battlefield site is above you.

Old Lochend House

There's a quiet road from Westerbroomhouse all the way down to Lochend Woods, via Bourhouse and underneath the new A1. Take the "old A1" footpath to the ruinous south Lodge, the gate piers only remain, then head north.

Lover's walk - Lochend Cottages

Take the west cut through the woods to the pretty cottages. Then follow the concrete road to west lodge, then head north on pot hole road to Belhaven. The idyllic woodlands and glades give way to neglected woodland and then new housing and then extractive agriculture. Go under the mainline railway.

Belhaven Duke Street

Take a right turn at the crossroads and then another sharp right at the head of Duke Street, before returning to the crossroads taking in the village of Belhaven. Head to Westbarns and over the river Biel before hanging right towards the estuary.

Beltonford Maltings

Head down the road past the car park and find the footpath that heads back east, towards the other side of Belhaven. There are imposing views over the old race course location, but the old industry has all but gone.

Belhaven Sands

The bridge to nowhere is a misnomer, it is in fact a bridge to Belhaven Sands, with the picturesque volcanic plugs of North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock. From here take the back road to return to Dunbar.

The Bayswell

Before you get to Dunbar take a left through Winterfield Park - more playing field than park - and head to the West Esplanade, a concrete road far less coastal footpath towards Lauderdale House, now dwarfed by the incongruous leisure pool. The image shows the old hotel in its heyday, and before the popular lido pool was created. Today the guns are gone and the lido gone (the restoration is however a credit).

Lauderdale House

Dog leg through the car park down Victoria Street and right down Castle St. Lauderdale is a palace on a high street. Is this unique? Then it was a barracks now social housing.

Johnstone's Close

This close has disappeared, situated it seems between nos. 119 and 121 High Street. Sites like this get preserved in rural Italy. There are several closes that resemble this though. Head next up Silver Street

Friar's Croft

Dog leg through the Co-op car park, noting the old Doocot as you pass, not dissimilar in construction to the one north of Spott House. Head out via the main access towards the Bleachingfield centre skirting round the back to compare the contrasting modern architectural idioms left and right. Now head back to the Countess Road and taking a short cut via the pavement back to Dunbar Station, or cary on through the 1-way system if you like being harassed by cars.