East Lothian
Overview
A short coastal stretch east of Edinburgh with one of the highest concentrations of historic links in the world, led by Muirfield and North Berwick's West Links.
Why Play Golf Here
Muirfield and North Berwick's West Links anchor this stretch of coast — Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, one of golf's most storied clubs, founded in 1744 and a multiple Open Championship venue; and North Berwick, opened in 1832 and among the oldest courses still played anywhere, home of the original Redan hole copied at courses worldwide. East Lothian's coastline packs an unusual density of historic links within a short drive of Edinburgh, making it one of Scotland's richest golf corridors outside the Fife and Ayrshire coasts.
- Best time to visit
- April to October for the most reliable conditions and firmest links.
- Nearest airports
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) — approximately 22 miles / 45 minutes' drive
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
Featured Courses
Where to stay
Gullane
Gullane village is the natural base for Muirfield, sitting immediately alongside the course with easy access to the rest of East Lothian's dense links coastline. It has a quiet, well-kept character quite different from Edinburgh, roughly 45 minutes away by car.
- Golf access
- Muirfield is on the edge of Gullane village; several other East Lothian links are within a short drive.
- Restaurants & evenings
- Gullane's high street has a good range of cafés, restaurants, and pubs for a small coastal village.
- Families
- Gullane Bents beach and the West Lothian coastal path give non-golfing companions genuine walking and beach options.
North Berwick town
North Berwick is a full seaside town rather than a village, giving it more restaurants, shops, and family-oriented things to do than Gullane while keeping the West Links a short walk from the centre. It works well as a base for golfers combining North Berwick with a day at Muirfield or the wider East Lothian coast.
- Golf access
- The West Links runs along the edge of North Berwick itself; Muirfield and Gullane are a few minutes further along the coast.
- Restaurants & evenings
- North Berwick has a proper seaside town centre with a wider range of restaurants, cafés and pubs than Gullane.
- Families
- North Berwick's beaches, harbour, and the Scottish Seabird Centre make it a genuinely family-friendly base beyond golf.