Top Things to do in East Lothian
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Things to do in East Lothian, Scotland: The Best Castles
Discover the best top things to do in East Lothian, United Kingdom including Winton Castle, Pinkie House, Hailes Castle, Tantallon Castle, Lennoxlove House, Dirleton Castle, Dunbar Castle, Fa'side Castle, Yester Castle, Stoneypath Tower.
Restaurants in East Lothian
1. Winton Castle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
Winton lands predate the Magna Carta; and the Setons built the House before Leonardo da Vinci established his reputation. Their architect, the King's Master Mason, didn't work on ordinary castles! His carved, twisted chimneys still herald the palace within and his ornate plaster ceilings are the most elaborate in Scotland. A Castle for Hire with a Warm Welcome Winton House remains a private house, but one which is available for hire for a wide variety of functions. It has architectural grandeur and history, but is not aloof or austere; you are welcomed warmly as a guest into a home (mine!). Corporate Events with a Twist Winton House can be exclusively yours for memorable corporate events, gala dinners, incentive events, private parties and special celebrations. The House's interconnecting reception rooms are ideally laid out for conferences and meetings. A Wedding Venue with Real Romance For a truly Scottish wedding, Winton is one of the most romantic wedding venues in the country and will make your big day a memorable one. Look no further if you're considering country house or castle wedding venues! If you're looking to develop your management team's performance and collaborative skills then we can offer a range of interesting and innovative events, including: 4x4 driving; Archery; Clay Pigeon Shooting; Falconry; Golf (East Lothian has some of the finest courses in Scotland); The Winton Highland Games; Hovercraft driving; Whisky tasting; and Wine and Champagne tasting.
Reviewed By K8reviews - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
My husband and I got married at Winton Castle in February 2020, it was the most special day and weekend we could have imagined! The castle is such a beautiful venue, the room layout flows perfectly and it felt both grand and homely with the fires lit. Every room is beautiful - so there was no need to decorate them much further; we chose to add some table decorations and that’s it. With infinite thanks to the Winton staff, particularly our wedding planner Rae, the event ran smoothly from the day we first contacted Winton! We didn’t have to worry about anything; on our wedding day, I was confident that Rae and the Team had it all organised, they did and it all happened effortlessly! Wedding planning: Rae was absolutely fantastic! She kept us on-track, asking all the right questions and prompting for information in plenty of time - it never felt stressful. There was never any pressure or ‘up-selling’. Rae just seemed to understand exactly the type of wedding day we wanted, and arranged everything in such a calm way. Thank you! Accommodation: My family (9 adults, 2 children) stayed in Winton Cottage for the long weekend and were delighted with the accommodation from arrival to departure. It felt like a home, and there was plenty of space for everyone! I slept at the Cottage the night before the wedding (Friday night) which worked so well. There was plenty of space for some quiet time which was lovely! The Winton Team were very accommodating, providing extra towels for my husband and two Best Men to get showered and ready at the Cottage after I had left. I’d definitely stay there again for a holiday! On the day: I woke up having slept well in the Cottage, I had plenty of time for a relaxed breakfast with everyone and zero worries about transport to the venue! My dad then drove me, my sisters and our things (2mins drive/ ~700m) to the Castle where we got ready in one of the gorgeous bedrooms in the Castle! There was plenty of room for us and to have our make-up artist and hairdresser both working their magic at the same time. Our photographer had worked at Winton Castle many times before so he knew what he was doing. The Winton staff were brilliant! Rae was a calm and friendly face before entering the wedding ceremony! Throughout the day, the Winton staff were friendly and attentive but you also barely knew they were there - delivering excellent service without any fuss! On such a quick day, they made sure there were opportunities for my husband and I to have a few minutes to ourselves, to take it all in which we loved. We stayed overnight in the Castle in the beautiful bedroom and bathroom. Having a leisurely breakfast in the ceremony room the morning after was lovely and allowed us to soak up how special our wedding day was. Thanks again to all of the Winton Team x
2. Pinkie House
3. Hailes Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By andrewhdk - Falkirk, United Kingdom
My wife and I wanted to visit Hailes Castle and climb up Traprain Law before trying lunch in East Linton. We were holidaying in Dunbar to attend the Lammermuir Festival and enjoy sea walks, historic sites and local restaurants. What we found particularly attractive about visiting Hailes Castle is its size and neatness. . Though now a well-preserved ruin, because it’s small and well-maintained, and also because there are only a few visitors at any one time, it becomes easy to visualise the whole picture of castle life, and to imagine the bustle and activities around the whole castle in the 1400s. PRACTICALITIES It’s worth saying, as others have done, that the road taking you to Hailes Castle, called Brae Heads Loan, is almost single-track, with very few passing places, so drive cautiously and expect to have to reverse some distance if you meet another car head-on. Brae Heads Loan is accessed by turning off the A199 where ‘Hailes Castle’ is signed, then turning off to the right. On reaching the castle, which is set back from the road and overlooks the (Scottish) River Tyne, there’s a parking area for two or three cars. But since visitors aren’t frequent, that’s probably enough. Entry is free; there is no shop or attendant. The grounds of the little castle are impeccably maintained by Historic Scotland, grass well mown, signage undamaged. We found the small Hall and the vaulted Bakehouse and Brewhouse rather beautiful, and the views from the windows down to the Tyne are impressive. Families can easily get down to the river for a picnic. HISTORY The castle is one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles, dating from the early 1200s when its thick curtain wall was laid. It was begun as a tower house by the de Gourlay family from Northumbria, taken from them by forfeit in the wars of independence, and conferred on the de Hepburn family, who added substantial extensions in the 14th and 15thC. The Hepburns, who were also from Northumbria, built the west and east towers during the 15thC. Mary Queen of Scots’ third husband, James Hepburn, was from this family. Then Oliver Cromwell attacked and incapacitated the castle after the Battle of Dunbar in 1650; it was no longer a viable fortification and was used for storage until coming into public trust in the 20thC. Overall, we found Hailes Castle charming, romantic and – significantly – easy to imagine alive historically. It’s well worth an hour’s visit.
4. Tantallon Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 899 reviews
Tantallon Castle is now open and we are delighted to welcome you back. Booking in advance is essential. Find out more and book at restarthistory.scot. Set on the edge of the cliffs, looking out to the Bass Rock, this formidable castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family. Ascend Tantallon’s towers for spectacular views of the Bass Rock and to watch gannets plunge into the North Sea. Then descend into the depths of a particularly grim pit prison. The castle was home to the powerful Red Douglas dynasty, which often clashed with the Crown. It was besieged by both James IV and James V but was ultimately destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s troops in a siege of 1651. Many artefacts are displayed to help tell its dramatic stories.
Reviewed By 220NickS - Oxford, United Kingdom
A hefty walk along the beach from North Berwick (watch the tides and check your path or stay on the road) or a bus ride from the town, this was not to be missed. Views out onto crashing waves and masses of seabirds out by the Bass Rock: this was an awesome spot! The red castle walls are foreboding, majestic and even with some restrictions for the pandemic there was access to the battlements. Staff on hand were helpful and friendly- more than making up for having to book beforehand (a minor irritation), information boards were, well, informative, and on the whole a really enjoyable afternoon. I’m not a huge fan of cafes at such sites- but Tantallon, if you’re thinking about it, even a stall in the car park would be welcome...
5. Lennoxlove House
6. Dirleton Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 410 reviews
Dirleton Castle is now open and we are delighted to welcome you back. Booking in advance is essential. Find out more and book at restarthistory.scot. A romantic castle often in the forefront of Scottish history since it was built in the 12th century. The renowned gardens include an Arts and Crafts herbaceous border and Victorian garden. The herbaceous border has been authenticated by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest.
Reviewed By kenf426 - Gateshead, United Kingdom
I joined Historic Scotland last month and have been looking on their website of places to visit, I chose Dirleton Castle due to reviews on here and decide to give it a visit, on arrival there is one small car park and toilets near to the castle entrance, the castle does not have a café and you have to use toilets near the car park, Once in the castle via a long stair way or via a ramp you notice the place is small compared to other castles but it has loads of rooms you can go into and have a good look around, you can also climb up near to the top, there is lots of info boards around to let you know what the castle originally looked like. The gardens are kept lovely loads of flowers all in bloom with nice walk ways around them and some people sitting around having picnics.. On our visit there was a guide who had on display armour with loads of weapons including all types of swords, he was very good telling us all about the evolution of them and how sayings we use today came about relating to some of the weapons.. Overall an excellent place to visit if you've never been put it on your "list" of places to visit. I will be back myself soon.
7. Dunbar Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By MoDoodlebug75 - Livingston, United Kingdom
Yes, it's a ruin. No, you can't access it anymore. However, it's in a lovely wee town, beside an interesting harbour and you could spend hours just watching the kittiwakes who have claimed the castle as their own. Buy a book on the history of the town (I got one for £3.50 from the local history society) sit in the sunshine with the castle and harbour entrance as your view and marvel at the fact that there's anything left of this castle at all after everything it's been through!!
