East Linton

East Linton is a charming country village between Haddington and Dunbar 22miles (35km) east of Edinburgh. In the 1500s a bridge was built across the River Tyne and the village of East Linton became a staging post on the Great North Road. Today it still has excellent accommodation and great food & drink for tired and hungry travellers!

The River Tyne provided power for mills and there were several in the area around East Linton. Just to the northeast of East Linton, you will find Preston Mill which dates back to the end of the 1500s. This National Trust for Scotland property is one of the oldest meal mills in Scotland still in working order. The mill played a starring role in the hit TV series Outlander. With its curious conical roof, and idyllic setting you’ll get a great selfie here!

Close to the mill is Phantassie Doo'cot, a beehive-shaped dovecot from the 16th century. The civil and mechanical engineer, John Rennie was born at Phantassie. He is famed for designing the Crinan, Kennel & Avon and Rochdale Canals and for Waterloo Bridge in London.

Take a look at an exciting new walking route with audio guide for East Linton as part of an innovative new project with Geo Tourist and the University of Dundee - A Walk Around East Linton

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What to see and do

Stop for a while in the Square and watch the water in the fountain.
Take a walk to Preston Kirk which has a fascinating graveyard complete with cast iron headstones.  
Stroll from the Square down Mill Wynd and see The Linn which is the waterfall that gives East Linton its name.
Visit the last working mill in East Lothian and discover more about the history of the people who lived and worked here at Preston Mill.
Stop off at Smeaton and take a walk round the lake with an impressive collection of specimen trees, head for the garden centre and refuel in the tearoom set in a beautiful walled garden.
Just a short distance away you will find the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune where you can uncover the story of aviation and the people who have shaped and been shaped by this amazing industry – home to Scotland's Concorde.
Hailes Castle which is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland is a real hidden gem, set in beautiful surroundings on the bank of the River Tyne just outside East Linton and one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles dating from the early 1200s. The castle has connections to Mary Queen of Scots who stayed here in 1567. It was a residence of her 3rd husband the Earl of Bothwell.

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