Visit East Lothian > Things To See & Do > Towns & Villages > Dirleton

Dirleton

Nestled along the East Lothian coast 3miles (5km) from North Berwick is the picturesque village of Dirleton. An imposing late 13thcentury castle takes centre stage opposite a quaint village green. Dirleton Castle was home to three families; the De Vauxes, the Haliburtons, and the Ruthvens, and is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Within its grounds is the world’s largest herbaceous border and beautifully planted gardens which were developed in the 19th century.

Dirleton was an important coach stop between Edinburgh and North Berwick and you can still enjoy an authentic welcome here today – one of the two hotels is named The Open Arms Hotel!

With two pubs, a vast sandy beach at Yellowcraig, a huge castle and an ice cream parlour Dirleton is a great place to spend the day!

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What to see and do

Explore the magnificent Dirleton Castle and immerse yourself in history. There is a full programme of special events and you can even meet a knight in shining armour!

Soak up the sun, take a dip, build amazing sandcastles and enjoy a picnic at Yellowcraig Beach. Enjoy lovely views across to Fidra Island, the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island. Facilities include toilets, showers and children’s play-park.

Sit down to lunch and savour the best of local produce and hospitality at The Open Arms Hotel or the Castle Inn.