Gilmerton Cove

You'll find yourself standing in front of what looks like an ordinary sandstone cottage on the outskirts of Musselburgh, but step inside and the whole thing gets properly strange. Gilmerton Cove is an underground chamber carved into the bedrock - a labyrinth of passages, rooms and alcoves dug out by hand, probably in the early 18th century. Nobody's entirely sure why someone bothered. A hermit? An eccentric laird? A smuggler's den? The mystery is half the appeal.

What you actually see down there is genuinely eerie - low ceilings that make you crouch, carved furniture still in place, and walls that have stood undisturbed for three centuries. The air feels thick and cold. It's not a massive sprawl, so you'll be through it in under an hour, but it's absolutely worth that time. History enthusiasts will lose their minds; families with older kids enjoy the slight creepiness factor, though very small children might find it claustrophobic.

The cove sits perfectly for a broader East Lothian break. You're close enough to Musselburgh for decent provisions, and if you're based at Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site just down the road, you can easily pop over as a half-day excursion. Pair it with some proper walks around the Lothian coast and you've got a solid itinerary.

Check the website for current admission fees and opening times before you head out - it's not staffed constantly.