Walks & Places We Love
We’re lucky to have so many beautiful places to explore in and around East Lothian. This page is simply a collection of walks, places and little discoveries that we’ve featured in our videos — some are firm favourites we return to regularly, while others are somewhere new we’ve stumbled across along the way.
We’ll keep adding to it as we explore, so hopefully you’ll find a few ideas for places to visit too.
A lovely countryside walk starting just outside Gifford and following part of the Gododdin Heritage Trail. We discovered this one recently and really enjoyed the mix of quiet paths, open countryside and views across the surrounding East Lothian landscape.
It’s exactly the kind of local walk we love finding — close to home, peaceful and somewhere we’ll definitely be heading back to.
Dog friendly and well contained, it reminds us of the Hermitage… on a smaller scale!
Gododdin Heritage Trail – Gifford
Innerwick Castle – Crowhill Walk
This walk starts at Crowhill and takes you through the countryside towards the ruins of Innerwick Castle. It’s a great little local route with a real mix of scenery, from quiet tracks and farmland to the dramatic castle ruins tucked away above the valley.
It’s one of those walks that feels surprisingly remote considering how close it is to home, and a lovely way to discover a bit more of East Lothian’s history at the same time.
There were LOTS of sheep in the field nearby, much to Annie’s delight!
Just outside Haddington, Amisfield Walled Garden is a beautiful community-run garden set within eight acres of historic stone walls. There are colourful borders, orchards, fruit and vegetable beds, woodland paths and plenty of little corners to explore.
We visited while looking for inspiration for our own garden and came away with far more ideas than we could possibly fit in!
It’s peaceful, free to visit and a lovely place to slow down for an hour or two.
Amisfield Walled Garden
Winton Estate Walks
The Winton Walks link Pencaitland with the surrounding estate, woodland and farmland through a network of peaceful countryside paths. There are several looped routes, so it’s easy to choose something that suits the time and energy you have.
It feels properly rural without being far from home, with a lovely mix of riverside paths, trees and open views.
A brilliant local option for stretching the legs — and giving Finn a good adventure too!
Standing high above East Lothian, Hopetoun Monument is reached by a short uphill walk through the Garleton Hills. The views from the base are already lovely, but the 132 dark spiral steps inside the tower lead to an incredible panorama across the Forth, Fife, Edinburgh and the Lammermuirs.
The climb is narrow, steep and definitely not one for anyone who dislikes heights!
We were very glad we did it — although our legs may not have agreed on the way back down.
Hopetoun Monument
Roslin Glen & Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel is famous for its extraordinary carvings and centuries of mystery, but the surrounding Roslin Glen makes the visit even more special. Ancient woodland paths lead alongside the River North Esk, with glimpses of Rosslyn Castle and reminders of the area’s long history.
It’s a wonderful mix of dramatic scenery, quiet woodland and one of Scotland’s most fascinating historic buildings.
This was one of those days where the walk and the destination were equally memorable.
Jupiter Artland is an outdoor sculpture park spread across 120 acres of meadow and woodland just outside Edinburgh. Artworks appear among the trees, beside ponds and across the landscape, turning the whole visit into an adventure.
It’s creative, surprising and great fun to explore at your own pace, with something unexpected around almost every corner.
The children loved discovering the sculptures — and we loved that it never felt like a traditional gallery!
Jupiter Artland
Pittenweem
Pittenweem is a colourful fishing village on the East Neuk of Fife, with a working harbour, winding lanes and plenty of character. We visited during the famous arts festival, when homes and little spaces throughout the village become galleries.
Even without the festival, the harbour, coastal views and old streets make it a lovely place for a slow wander.
It completely won us over — the kind of village where every turn seems to reveal another postcard view.
Maspie Den is a magical woodland walk from Falkland, following the burn through the Falkland Estate to a waterfall you can actually walk behind. The route includes old stone bridges, tunnels, steep sections and plenty of mud after wet weather.
It feels like a proper little family adventure, with something interesting appearing all the way along the path.
Walking behind the waterfall was the highlight — although getting everyone there with dry feet was never very likely!
Maspie Den
The Japanese Garden at Cowden
The Japanese Garden at Cowden is a beautifully restored garden set around a peaceful loch near Dollar. Carefully placed bridges, lanterns, water and planting create a calm landscape that feels unlike anywhere else we’ve visited in Scotland.
It’s a place to take slowly, noticing the reflections, changing colours and small details around the water.
We paired it with a wander around Dollar and came away feeling as though we’d discovered something genuinely special.
This route climbs through Holyrood Park to the summit of Arthur’s Seat before descending towards Duddingston village. From the top there are huge views across Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and the surrounding hills, while the village below feels wonderfully tucked away from the city.
The climb is steep and rocky in places, but finishing beside Duddingston Loch — with a well-earned stop at the Sheep Heid Inn — makes it worth the effort.
A proper city adventure that somehow feels miles away from the middle of Edinburgh.
Arthur’s Seat to Duddingston
Yester Castle & the Goblin Ha’
Hidden in woodland near Gifford, the ruins of Yester Castle are best known for the Goblin Ha’ — an eerie underground chamber linked to tales of the “Wizard of Yester” and an army of goblins said to have built it.
It was one of the strangest and most atmospheric local adventures we’ve filmed, with a fascinating mix of real medieval history and East Lothian folklore.
CURRENT ACCESS WARNING: Public access to Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha’ is currently closed following structural damage and the theft of historic stonework. Please do not attempt to visit. Check the current-access information linked below for any future change.
