Responsible Tourism
Respect East Lothian
We are looking forward to welcoming you to East Lothian and our beautiful coast and countryside. Much of East Lothian’s coastline is fragile and protected, with many designated wildlife areas.
Please remember to be respectful of the places you are visiting.
You can reduce the impact of your visit:
- take your litter home with you
- stick to the paths and tracks where available
- avoid lighting fires as they can get out of control
East Lothian has some amazing beaches which are very popular - especially during spells of sunny weather! There are car parks at all the main beaches along the coast. If the car park is full please avoid blocking roads and residents driveways, or drive along to the next beach - there’s plenty to choose from! The beaches further east tend to be a little quieter and closer to Edinburgh, Longniddry Bents has three car parks to pick from.
get the app!
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
It's a good idea to read up on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code NatureScot (outdooraccess-scotland.scot) particularly if you are thinking about wild camping.
What is Wild Camping?
- Part of a pedestrian or cycled journey.
- Lightweight – every piece of equipment is carried as part of that journey. Done in small tents (2 person) and a maximum of four campers together.
- Only for 2 nights in any one place.
- Done discretely - neighbours and nature are respected.
Campervans provide a great way to explore all that East Lothian has to offer, allowing you to take to the open road and visit a range of places from the comfort of your holiday home on wheels. It’s important to plan ahead; book your site in advance and check car parks which may have height barriers.
VisitScotland provides some great advice including a really handy video Campervan, Motorhome & Caravan Holidays in Scotland | VisitScotland
Watch our video for Wild Camping Advice.
Know Before You Go
Our top tip for visiting East Lothian is to 'know before you go'. It's important to plan ahead to ensure your trip is safe and hassle free.
We advise those thinking of visiting to check directly with businesses for opening times, advance booking and any special arrangements in place. You should also check what facilities including car parking, toilets etc. are available before you travel.
VisitScotland and the national tourism bodies of England, Northern Ireland & Wales have developed a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide confidence for you and visitors, as well as communities and tourism businesses alike.
Keep an eye out for the 'We're Good to Go' logo which will show you tourism businesses who have worked hard to adhere to government and public health guidance, and have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment to check they have everything in place to ensure your visit is safe.
