Only a short distance from Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, East Lothian provides the right ingredients for bikepacking adventures for all ages. With funding from East Lothian Council, Bikepacking Scotland has added another trail to its offer of bikepacking routes, and today released the new short film ‘Go East Lothian’ to showcase the route.

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Round the world cyclist and Bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz spotted the opportunity for a much shorter route close to his hometown Edinburgh that encourages more people to try bikepacking:

‘I wanted to create a route that is suitable for people that are new to bikepacking and gives parents the chance to take their children on bikepacking adventures. I learned to ride my bike pretty late at the age of seven and as a child I would have loved to go bikepacking, but back then the word didn’t even exist. Therefore I was very keen to develop a route I would have loved to ride with my parents in my childhood, and the Go East Lothian Trail is the result.’

The route

The Go East Lothian Trail is not only perfect for beginners and families, but also for a microadventure during the week or on the weekend.

At 39 miles (63 km), the Go East Lothian Trail features quiet roads, gravel tracks, singletrack, cycle paths. The route incorporates sections of the well-known John Muir Way and offers plenty of opportunities to stop and explore, from the stunning beaches at Seacliff, Tyninghame, Belhaven and Yellowcraig to John Muir’s birthplace, Archerfield Walled Garden, Smeaton Nursery, East Links Family Park, the Scottish Seabird Centre and the magnificent Preston Mill. The route also includes the great restaurants, cafes and shops East Lothian has to offer.

The Go East Lothian Trail starts and finishes at the harbour in North Berwick and is well-served by public transport. There are bike shops in North Berwick and Dunbar, and bikes can be hired from Belhaven Bikes in Dunbar and The Bike Hub at Archerfield. Car parking is available in North Berwick and villages and towns along the route.

More information about the route and the GPX file can be found at www.bikepackingscotland.com/eastlothian.
 

Key stats for ‘Go East Lothian Trail’

• Total ascent: 603 m (1,979 feet)
• Length: 63 km (39 miles)
• Max elevation: 78 m (255 feet)
• Min elevation: 0 m (0 feet)
• The Go East Lothian Trail can be ridden all year round. The best time to visit is from April to October. Some sections can be muddy in wet weather conditions.
   

Route highlights

• The beaches at Seacliff, Tyninghame, Belhaven and Yellowcraig with the views towards Bass Rock
• The trail along the river Tyne to Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot, featured in Outlander
• The bustling seaside towns of North Berwick and Dunbar
• The John Muir Way at Craigmoor Wood
• The single trail along the anti-tank obstacles at Hedderwick Sands

For more info:

• www.bikepackingscotland.com/eastlothian
• www.visiteastlothian.org
• www.familybycycle.uk

Credits ‘Go East Lothian’

Camera, narration and edit: Markus Stitz

Starring: Katie, Rhoda, Ruth, Thomas Ivor & Tom Jones, Jig and Lachlan Johnson, Markus Stitz

Music: Korolkov  & Sergin XS

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