Bleachingfield is East Lothian Council's main office building for the Dunbar and East Linton area…read more It pretty much has everything that you would need for a council-owned building. Dunbar Library was relocated into here a few years ago and although the new building does not have as much character as the older building on Belhaven Road which is now an art school with a hideous pink door, you do not go to the library to stare at the building all day - you go there to look at books! The new purpose-built space is bright and clean with friendly staff, and as I mentioned before, lots of books are in-store. As well as the council offices, the centre also has a sports hall which is used for the polling station during the elections as well as a small coffee shop which is run by a local charity called The Ridge which helps people find jobs. I feel that it serves its purpose and that is why I often drop in when I am in town.

My wife and I visited in September 2024. We made a Last Kingdom pilgrimage from London to York…read more(Eoforwich) to Durham (Dunholm) to Bamburgh (Bebbanburg) taking in many historic Roman, Saxon and Viking sites along the way. We had so much fun and Bamburgh was the pinnacle of our trail. The castle itself is in incredibly well kept condition. Most of the building is Norman (like most of the medieval structures around Britain) though there is a small stone footing of Saxon origin, and some of the old Roman lookout. Its a muscular structure with an imposing silhouette on the hilltop overlooking the sea, that can be seen for miles around. We took a guided tour with one of the custodians and she was great. Shared so much knowledge and stories of the castle. We then took a self guided audio tour of the interior and State rooms. All of which were beautiful and majestic. The grounds are well groomed and easy for anyone to navigate, with smooth paved paths everywhere. Its a hill-fort, so yeah, its going to have some steepness but nothing too extreme once you are up in the parking lot. The views from up there are just beautiful. We had really great weather that day, clear and sunny, you could see for miles. The highlight for us surely was the Last Kingdom exhibit in the great hall that had props and costumes from several seasons of the show. TLK was one of our very favourite TV shows so it was a real bucket list item to visit Bamburgh. It really didnt disappoint. I wish we had more time, than the three hours we spent at the castle, to go walk on the beach.

We stayed in the castle at the Neville Tower for a week and it was absolutely amazing…read more First things first: the staff there was completely, absolutely, 100% over the top nice and helpful. From the first person we talked to when we arrived to the last person we said goodbye to on our last day the staff was incredibly nice and just so wonderful. They made an incredible spot that much more enjoyable. The castle itself is beyond words. So much history, such incredible views, so beautiful to look at from all the different perspectives, it was something you could never get tired of. There are actually a few apartments at the castle, and I spoke with a gentleman who had lived there for 20 years! It's hard to imagine. Staying at the castle wasn't cheap, but if you want to do a "once in a lifetime" kind of trip like we did you won't be disappointed. Spending a day there would be great too, but staying there was awesome because we had the run of the place after it closed to the public at 5:00 every night. I loved walking the grounds in the evening or early morning before the public was let in (10:00 AM). Having the whole place to yourself is a unique experience.

This is more like a fairy tale palace than a castle - It was built in the 18th century as a country…read morehouse I love all the old swords and guns on one wall of the entrance hall It is full of wonderful decor the drawing room has some lovely tapestries There are two places to eat which do wonderful meals and you can get some to take away at the Castle Kitchen Produce shop where they do all sorts of great food They have jars of dulche de leche here which is one of the few places I have managed to find them The gardens are lovely and there is a garden shop which has a giant selection of plants I got a jasmine here a few years ago which flowers wondefully

What a beautiful castle, we were driving passed and thought hey let's go and have a look…read more The staff were very knowledgable and were really kind to our little boy . Very friendly and highly recommend a visit here.

Just had my son's wedding here and stayed two nights in the castle as well. Can't say enough…read morewonderful things about our experience, everything was absolutely perfect. Jenna, Jamie, and all of the staff are simply amazing. Beautiful, peaceful grounds provided the most beautiful backdrop for indeed a very special day.

Definitely recommend! The tour guide Lesley is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are beautiful…read moreinside, and you can take photos and videos. Super interesting to hear the history of the castle! Can take an uber from Edinburgh, but will have to call a private car for a ride to the closest train station.

Kelso Abbey is the oldest abbey in Scotland, and it is showing its age a bit. However it can be…read moreviewed from a number of directions and can provide some terrific pictures. The grave yard has some interesting gravestones on in particular a small obelisk with the inscription Remember man as you pass by as you are now so once was I, as I am now so must you be prepare for Death and follow me. Local legend has it that there was a tunnel from the abbey to nearby Roxburgh Castle at one time there was what appeared to be a tunnel entrance on the other side of the Tweed. There is an interesting recent add on which is a Crypt for the Dukes of Roxburgh. The local War Memorial is situated along side in a very pleasant peaceful little park one of the nicest War Memorial I have seen. At my last visit it was free.

SMAILHOLM is not only a tower to look at, no, it also comes with it's surrounding hills, walkways…read moreand amazing views towards Kelso, Northumberland and much more. On a good sunny day the views are clear and breathtaking. Fresh air, hummingbirds and solace are your companions. Best way is down the A68. It's not far from Kelso in the Borders. The 20 meter high tower is still in tact, and although some of the outbuildings might be destroyed, you can still feel its strength. The lands were once held by the powerful Pringle family of which a few family members gave their lives in the nearby battle of Flodden. On occasion the lands and tower were subject to raids from the English. Smailholm is also linked to Sir Walter Scott and his connection and inspirations are presented in various rooms in the castle. On the ground floor there is a small Historic Scotland shop and the admission is £4.50 for an adult. Commissions apply. No toilets. Open summer only. There is a little walk up the hill towards the castle, such not really ideal for wheelchairs. Don't miss out on the fantastic views from the roof top!

This looks small from the outside It is a short walk up to…read morethe tower from the car park Inside it has a suprising amount there is a gift shop in the first room and an exhibition on the castle It was built as a 15th century pele towers to protect against the maurding english and steal the cattle and there are some interesting stories about the raids Throughout the rooms over the four storeys are figures in cases represeting the lift of walter scott His poem Marmion mentions smailhom The roof gives a lovely view of the surronding area but be careful as the steps up are very steep

There are not many ruins or castles left for which you do not need to pay any entry fee. Having…read moresaid this, Hailes castle was the first castle I encountered that is part of some sort of Trust called Historic Scotland and for which I did not have to pay any entry fee at all! Good start :-) Whilst driving along some country roads the other day, I saw a sign post near North Berwick, indicating a way to Hailes Castle. So I could not resist to drive back and check out this place. I made my way and followed my guide that is called "Sat Nav". After having left behind some suitable country roads and being asked to follow down a one way road with hardly any space to maneuver in case another car came the opposite way, I felt a bit too much exposed to the wilderness :-). Not sure what I would have done if there would have been a car approaching from the other side?!? Finally my Navigation system said that I had reached the destination, but all I could see was a bit of space for two cards to park on the side of the road. Thought the Sat Nav fooled me! Fortunately, I was not lost and after some looking around, I found the entrance to the castle grounds. No entrance fee! Whoop. Firstly a tablet tells you a bit about the history. The original tower was founded by a Northumbrian Gourlay family in the 13th century and was taken over by the Hepburn family in the 1400's. I believe Mary Stuart also stayed there once. Henry "Hotspur" tried to besiege this castle, but failed. Nowadays it's only a ruin, but if you have imagination you can appreciate its idyllic setting and past purpose. The castle is not a large one compared to other castles nearby, however, it has something special : untouched from the modern world! I walked around the ruins and even explored (from the top) a dungeon, which looked a bit scary from the outside. Am I glad we have hygiene in prisons today :-) A tor opened up to the back of the castle and it was soooo romantic. Nobody there either. Thinking back, some solitude could be a frighting thought, but because the scenery was so nice, it was easy to relax sitting down in the grass and watch the world go by - including the white swan that made its way down the banks of the river Tyne. Another reviewer mentioned a wedding party. Oh yes, I can definitely imagine that too. This place offers the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding. The only drawback is that there would not be enough parking spaces! I noticed that there were a few walkers passing by. So maybe an idea to plan a day of hiking and walking.

I'm in! I'm in! Hailes Castle, in kid-speak, is COOL. Its' partial remains still holds 2 pit…read moreprisons, and overlooks the river Tyne, where you can play spot the fish. On a summers day, it's clear that it made a perfect picnic spot for a few families, and later in the day, a wedding party as well. I could think of few spots that would be less picturesque to hold nuptials in. It is still free, and still in a stunning location - but beware - there are few passing places, so if you get stuck with a wedding car going the other way, one of you will have to switch to reverse.

Dunbar Harbour or Victoria harbour is so stunningly beautiful with breathtaking panoramic views…read more Here you will also find the ruins of Dunbar castle where Mary Queen of Scots visited, bass rock in the distance, fishing boats, rock pools and a small beach. There is a fantastic swimming pool nearby and public toilets and If your coming from Edinburgh, its around 1hr 20 mins on the X7 and perfect for a day trip with the kids.

Dunbar harbour is a beutiful working harbour with a new…read more boat trip service which takes you from Dunbar around the bass rock and back again.