Aberlady Bay Beach

The beach at Aberlady Bay stretches out wide and golden, proper flat at low tide so you can walk for miles without much effort. It's the kind of place where the sand feels endless and the sky somehow gets bigger the further out you go. The bay itself is a nature reserve - important for wading birds and seals if you're into that sort of thing, though honestly you might just enjoy the space and the light.

This works best for families with younger kids or anyone who wants an easy coastal walk without having to scramble over rocks. The main appeal is the sheer openness of it. There's a car park right by the beach, and you can be on the sand within seconds of arriving. Bring a picnic and time your visit around low tide if you want the full experience - the exposed flats make it feel like you've got the whole place to yourself, even when it's busy.

It's only a few miles from Haven Seton Sands Holiday Village if you're basing yourselves there for a week in East Lothian. Worth combining with a walk around Gullane Hill if you've got energy left, though the beach itself can easily eat up two or three hours without feeling rushed. The downside is weather - when the wind picks up off the Firth it cuts through proper cold, so save this for decent days rather than writing it into rainy-day plans.