East Linton Park

The Tyne Valley opens up properly once you reach East Linton Park, a sprawling nature reserve that catches most visitors off guard with how wild it feels for somewhere so close to Dunbar. This is genuine Scottish Lowland countryside - meandering paths cut through woodland and grassland where red squirrels still have a fighting chance, and the river itself is the main draw for serious birdwatchers and people who simply want to walk without bumping into crowds.

What you're actually doing here is following the River Tyne as it winds through different habitats. In spring the banks explode with flowers. Summer brings dragonflies and butterflies thick enough to distract you from the path. Autumn turns the whole place bronze and gold. The walks range from gentle riverside strolls to proper woodland treks, so families with younger kids won't feel trapped on a single route.

This appeals most to people who came to East Lothian for the coast but fancy something inland and quieter. Birdwatchers will spend hours here legitimately. Walkers get proper terrain without the crowded Lammermuir routes everyone else follows. Kids either love the freedom of exploring or get bored after an hour - depends entirely on the child and whether you've brought a nature guide.

You'll want to allow two to three hours minimum if you're doing anything worthwhile. The reserve is free, which is brilliant. Best visited outside summer weekends when Dunbar day-trippers haven't discovered it. If you're based at Belhaven Bay Caravan Park, this is genuinely worth the short drive inland.