Danderhall Railway Path Sculpture

The sculpture trail along the old Danderhall Railway Path is a curious bit of East Lothian that most people miss entirely. You're walking a converted railway line between Musselburgh and Dalkeith, and scattered along the route are contemporary sculptures that catch you by surprise - some brilliant, some frankly baffling, all worth a look.

It's a proper walker's sort of thing rather than a destination in itself. The sculptures range from abstract metalwork to more figurative pieces, and they break up what would otherwise be a fairly straightforward cycle path or walking route. Allow two to three hours if you're going to stop and actually take them in rather than just hammer through. Early morning or late afternoon light works best for photography, which matters more than you'd expect when you're looking at steel and stone in the middle of a field.

Families with older kids will get something from it - younger ones might lose interest unless you make it into a treasure hunt. The real appeal is for walkers doing the longer East Lothian coastal or country routes, because this path connects to other trails and gives you an excuse to linger longer in the area. The surface is decent enough for trainers, though muddy patches appear after rain.

If you're based at somewhere like Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site, this is an easy morning excursion that combines gentle exercise with a bit of culture - the sort of thing that justifies a second coffee at the café back in Musselburgh. Free to access, as far as anyone can tell, and best visited when you're not expecting revelations. You'll probably enjoy it more if you're already keen on contemporary art.