Historic days out in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle
Dirleton, East Lothian, EH39 5ER
Opening times
29 March to 30 September: Daily, 9.30am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm).
1 October to 28 March: Daily, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).
Closed for lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Cost
Adult (16-64yrs) £7.50
Child (7-15yrs) £4.50
What they say
This magnificent fortress–residence served three successive noble families over 400 years. Badly damaged in Cromwell’s 1650 siege, Dirleton’s fortunes were revived by its new owners in the 1660s.
The Nisbet family built a new mansion house nearby to live in and made the picturesque castle ruins the central feature in their new designed landscape. They also breathed new life into the splendid gardens, now home to the world’s longest herbaceous border.
Tantallon Castle
North Berwick, East Lothian, EH39 5PN
Opening times
29 Mar to 30 Sept:
Daily, 9.30am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
1 Oct to 28 Mar:
Daily, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
​
Cost
Adult (16-64yrs) £7.50
Child (7-15yrs) £4.50
​
What they say
Climb to the battlements of the last of the grand medieval castles and marvel at its scale. Set high on a cliff edge and featuring a massive red sandstone curtain wall, Tantallon Castle was home to the Red Douglas dynasty.
View the artefacts and imagine the clashes with the Crown that left their mark on this family seat. The mighty stronghold was finally abandoned after more than 300 years, when it was besieged for a third time – by Oliver Cromwell’s army.
Tantallon Castle is a popular filming location and appears in the critically acclaimed film Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson.
What to see and do
-
Enjoy amazing views over the North Sea to the Bass Rock and its large seabird colonies
-
Look up at the mighty curtain wall – the best example of castle architecture from the 1300s anywhere in Scotland
-
View the replica gun in the east tower – an exact copy of the ones used to defend against James IV and James V
-
Spot rare animals, birds and plants among the local wildlife
-
Find out what we’ve learned from recent archaeological digs
-
Take our fun fact-finding quiz while exploring the castle.
Lennoxlove
Lennoxlove Estate Office, Haddington EH41 4NZ
Opening times
Please visit their website for details of their next house tours
​
Cost
Adults £10
Children free
​
What they say
Lennoxlove Estate located on the outskirts of Haddington and surrounded by the rolling East Lothian countryside overlooks the vista of the Lammermuir Hills. Lennoxlove House has welcomed visitors for fully escorted guided tours from the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and North America. All are keen to experience the centuries-old architecture, paintings, antiques and learn about its historical past and the families who have lived here. A working estate specialising in managing real estate, rural lettings, mixed farming, agricultural services and development.
Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot
Preston Road, East Linton EH40 3DS
Opening times
8 Mar–31 Oct, Thu–Mon, 10.30–15.30 (hourly guided tours)
1 Nov–28 Feb 2025, closed
Cost
Adult £10.00
Family £30.00
One adult family £20.00
Concession £8.00
Child £5.00
Young Scot £1.00
What they say
When you first see Preston Mill you might think you’ve taken a step back in time. With its curious Dutch-style conical roof, the mill is an architectural oddity that will beguile visitors as much as it delights painters and photographers.
Preston Mill was used commercially until 1959 and was the region’s last working watermill. Guided tours reveal the gruelling nature of the miller’s work, from heavy lifting to dealing with floods, mice and dust.
Just across the River Tyne lies the unusual structure of Phantassie Doocot, built in the 16th century to house 500 pigeons.
​
Nestled within an idyllic location, the grounds surrounding Preston Mill offer access to several tranquil walks, where you can spot the locations featured in the hit TV series Outlander.
​Inveresk Lodge Garden
24 Inveresk Village Rd, Inveresk, Musselburgh EH21 7TE
Opening times
1 January to 31 March, 10am to 4:30pm
1 April to 30 September, 10am to 5pm
​
Cost
Adult £3.50
Children free
​
What they say
Tall trees, fragrant flowers, clear water – these walled grounds tucked away in the charming village of Inveresk, near Edinburgh, have all the ingredients for a garden paradise.
This hillside plant haven offers a sanctuary of tranquillity and a year-round feast for the senses. It is home to colourful borders and a heady mix of scents, including roses, honeysuckle and herbs.
The garden is split into two main areas, with sloping lawns and borders at the top of the hill and the wilder woodland and ponds below.
Children can follow a discovery trail highlighting some of the garden’s flora and fauna. They can also bring their own nets and go pond dipping from the platform on the larger pond.
Chesters Hill Fort
Drem, East Lothian
Opening times
Open all year
​
Cost
Free
​
What they say
Explore one of Scotland’s best-preserved Iron Age hillforts, defended by elaborate ramparts and ditches.
Chesters Hill Fort was probably built in the first millennium BC, and was occupied into the Roman occupation of Britain in the early centuries of the first millennium AD. It remains an impressive and imposing monument despite the intervening 2,000 years.
The remains of several houses are visible within the fort, some of which appear to be later than the ruined defences.