East Lothian Council - Countryside and wildlife

The East Lothian Landscape

From the moorland expanse of the Lammermuir Hills to the sandy, rocky coast, East Lothian has an incredibly varied landscape with something for everyone to enjoy.

East Lothian Council's Countryside Section owns or manages a large amount of the county's open space.

This includes most of the coastline together with key inland sites, including old railway walks, pockets of woodland and the familiar 'laws' (the Scottish word for hills) at North Berwick and Traprain.

Access to the outdoors

East Lothian offers a great variety of landscapes for walking, cycling and horse riding, with the Lammermuir Hills to the south, a coastline of broad sandy beaches and rugged cliffs to the north and east, and an expanse of arable farmland, woods and rivers in between.

Access to the outdoors

The natural environment

East Lothian is fortunate to have a wide range of natural habitats, from sea to broad-leaved woodland to open moor and all that lies between. There are a multitude of plants and animals that can be seen and enjoyed and landscapes to discover and enjoy.

The natural environment

Sites to explore

The variety of countryside contained within East Lothian really means that there is something to suit all tastes. From sandy beaches for familiy picnics to quiet areas for bird-watching and walks by the river bank, this page details just a few of the fantastic places that you can discover.

Sites to explore

Countryside Ranger Service

To help look after these areas and make sure people enjoy their visit to East Lothian, we have a large Countryside Ranger Service that operates across the region.

Our Rangers perform a number of services, including managing sites for people and wildlife, delivering a programme of environmental education to the public and conducting flora and fauna surveys.

Access Officers

The Countryside Section also has two outdoor Access Officers whose primary task is to make sure people enjoy the outdoors in a responsible manner.

They co-ordinate the management of the county's path network, the development of new routes and the provision of access for cyclists and horse riders.

Annual reports

Biodiversity Officer

Our Biodiversity Officer is responsible for the development of initiatives to protect and enhance wildlife and habitats across East Lothian.

Contacting the Countryside Section

If you'd like any more information about our countryside services, please contact us:

Countryside Section, East Lothian Council, Block C, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 3HA

Telephone: 01620 827279

Email: ranger@eastlothian.gov.uk

Office hours are Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm and Fri 9am-4pm

Categories in Countryside and wildlife

Wildlife