John Muir Country Park, Dunbar

The Park is named after John Muir, the explorer, naturalist and conservationist who was born in Dunbar in 1838. He lived here until the age of 11, when the Muir family immigrated to the United States, where they settled in Wisconsin.

As an adult, his pioneering conservation work and naturalist publications led to him being dubbed America's founder of National Parks.

John Muir Country Park covers some of the most spectacular East Lothian coastline and is a haven for wildlife and people too. From the Castle Ruins in Dunbar, to the Peffer Burn six kilometres to the north, the Park includes the Cliff Top Trail, with fine views of the sea and the historic Bass Rock; the long sandy sweep of Belhaven Bay; the River Tyne estuary; and extensive areas of grassland, salt-marsh and woodland.

How to Get There

By Car

Follow the A1. At the Thistly Cross Roundabout, take the turning towards Dunbar/East Linton/North Berwick. Arriving soon after at a second roundabout, turn right (along the A1087, signposted Dunbar). After one kilometre turn left and follow the signs into Linkfield car park which is clearly signposted.

By train

Scotrail services operate to Dunbar from both Edinburgh and from the south.

By Bus

First Bus services X6 / 6 operate between Edinburgh and Dunbar, ask the driver to drop you off near to John Muir Country Park. 

Facilities 

• A full-time Countryside Ranger  co-ordinates the day-to-day management of this site
• toilet facilities, including disabled toilets, are available at Shore Road and Linkfield Car Parks
• two barbecue stoves are available at Linkfield Car Park. Groups of 20 or more people should book in advance at the East Lothian Council Area Office, Town House, High Street, Dunbar, Telephone: 01368 863434.
• Belhaven Bay Users' Group A local community group which co-ordinates the sporting/recreational interests   (e.g. horse riding, surfing) across much of John Muir Country Park.

Natural History

Plants

To date, around 400 species of plant have been found. Among the most common are thrift and sea aster on the saltmarsh; sea rocket and biting stonecrop on the upper beach; marram grass and birds-foot trefoil on the dunes; with meadow cranesbill and vipers bugloss along the grassy edge to the woodland.

Insects

The meadow brown and common blue butterflies are often seen in July and August, feeding on plants in the shorter grassland. Two of the commonest moths that can be seen are the day flying cinnabar and six-spot burnet moths. In late summer, the yellow and black caterpillars of the cinnabar moth can be seen feeding on ragwort.

Birds

Some breed in the park, such as kittiwake on the castle ruins and eider duck and shelduck in the dunes, others are seasonal visitors. Birds that can be seen in the summer include skylark, meadow pipit and lapwing in the dunes and saltmarsh; ringed plover on the rocky and sandy shores; with gannet and terns offshore. Sand martins swoop above the sand and saltmarsh, and flocks of crossbill can sometimes be glimpsed moving through the plantation at Hedderwick. Winter visitors include wigeon, bar-tailed godwit and whooper swan.

Annual report

For a full description of work carried out on-site please download the annual report.