Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery

The Town House sits right on Dunbar's High Street, a striking red sandstone building that's impossible to miss. It's a proper local museum - the kind where you actually get a sense of what a place was like rather than just staring at objects behind glass. Inside you'll find paintings, sculpture, and exhibits covering the town's maritime past and its role as a strategic stronghold. The gallery space hosts rotating contemporary work, so there's always something different to see depending when you visit.

It's worth an hour if you're already in town, particularly if you've got an interest in Scottish coastal history or East Lothian's industrial heritage. Kids might find the exhibits a bit text-heavy for a full afternoon, but families breaking up a caravan stay at Belhaven Bay - just a mile away - would do well to pop in on a drizzly day. The staff know their stuff and aren't the type to rush you through.

Admission details weren't entirely clear from the council website, so ring ahead to confirm opening times and whether there's a charge. The building itself is worth photographing regardless, and you're surrounded by decent places to eat and drink once you've finished. Dunbar's a working harbour town, not a sanitised tourist trap, which is precisely why it rewards a proper visit. Combine it with a walk along the clifftops and you've got a solid morning sorted.