Castles · Central Scotland
Dunbar
Also known as: Dùn Bàrr
In or near West Barns.
Dunbar ( ) is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) east of Edinburgh and 30 mi (50 km) from the English border north of B
Richard West — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Dunbar · 0.5 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Dunbar Castle, the nearest railway station is Dunbar, located 0.5 km away. The postcode for the castle is EH42 1JJ, and it is wheelchair accessible.
About
Dunbar ( ) is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) east of Edinburgh and 30 mi (50 km) from the English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and gave its name to an ecclesiastical and civil parish. The parish extends around 7+3⁄4 miles (12 km) east to west and is 3+1⁄2 miles (6 km) deep at its greatest extent, or 11+1⁄4 sq mi (29 km2), and contains the villages of West Barns, Belhaven, and East Barns (abandoned) and several hamlets and farms. Dunbar has a harbour dating from 1574 and is home to the Dunbar Lifeboat Station, the second-oldest RNLI station in Scotland. The Dunbar Primary School and Dunbar Grammar School opened in the 1950s and 1960s. Dunbar is the birthplace of the explorer, naturalist, and influential conservationist John Muir. The house in which Muir was born is located on the High Street, and has been converted into a museum. There is also a commemorative statue beside the town clock, and John Muir Country Park is located to the north-west of the town. The eastern section of the John Muir Way coastal path starts from the harbour. One of the two campuses of Dunbar Primary School: John Muir Campus, is named in his honour. A sculpture, The DunBear, the focal point of the DunBear Park mixed-use development, was erected as a tribute to John Muir and his role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2026
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
John Muir's Birthplace is a museum located in Dunbar, East Lothian, dedicated to the life and legacy of naturalist John Muir. Visitors can explore exhibits related to Muir's contributions to environmentalism and the natural world.
From the Wikipedia article
Dunbar ( ) is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) east of Edinburgh and 30 mi (50 km) from the English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and gave its name to an ecclesiastical and civil parish. The parish extends around 7+3⁄4 miles (12 km) east to west and is 3+1⁄2 miles (6 km) deep at its greatest extent, or 11+1⁄4 sq mi (29 km2), and contains the villages of West Barns, Belhaven, and East Barns (abandoned) and several hamlets and farms. Dunbar has a harbour dating from 1574 and is home to the Dunbar Lifeboat Station, the second-oldest RNLI station in Scotland. The Dunbar Primary School and Dunbar Grammar School opened in the 1950s and 1960s. Dunbar is the birthplace of the explorer, naturalist, and influential conservationist John Muir. The house in which Muir was born is located on the High Street, and has been converted into a museum. There is also a commemorative statue beside the town clock, and John Muir Country Park is located to the north-west of the town. The eastern section of the John Muir Way coastal path starts from the harbour. One of the two campuses of Dunbar Primary School: John Muir Campus, is named in his honour. A sculpture, The DunBear, the focal point of the DunBear Park mixed-use development, was erected as a tribute to John Muir and his role in the establishment of National Parks in the USA.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Dunbar was subsumed into Anglian Northumbria as that kingdom expanded in the 6th century and is believed to be synonymous with the Dynbaer of Eddius around 680, the first time that it appears in the written record. The 2003 archaeological excavation also found a cemetery comprising 32 long-cist burials. Cemeteries of this type date from the early Christian period (AD 4th–8th centuries) and have been found in several areas around Dunbar, including to the east of Spott roundabout and at the Dunbar swimming pool, which indicates a settlement existed during this time. It was then a king's vill and prison to Bishop Wilfrid. As a royal holding of the kings of Northumbria, the economy centred on…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 56.0027, -2.5169
- District
- East Lothian
- Postcode
- EH42 1JJ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Lothian East
- Phone
- 01368 865 899
- Nearest railway station
- Dunbar — 0.5 km
- Opening
- Wed – Sat: 10am – 5pm; Sun: 1pm – 5pm; Mon & Tue: Closed
Sources
- wikipedia: Dunbar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
John Muir's Birthplace
Museums · 0.0 km
John Muir Birthplace
Museums · 0.0 km
St Anne's Episcopal Church, Westgate, Dunbar
Historic churches · 0.1 km
John Muir Statue
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery
Museums · 0.1 km
Town House, High Street, Dunbar
Museums · 0.1 km
Lauderdale House, Victoria Street, Dunbar
Historic houses · 0.1 km
Red Friars Dovecot
Historic houses · 0.2 km
Templelands
Historic houses · 0.2 km
Dunbar, Castle Park
Vineyards · 0.3 km
Dunbar Lifeboat Station
Harbours & ports · 0.3 km
The Fishermen's Monument
Memorials & monuments · 0.3 km
Nearby
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John Muir Birthplace
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St Anne's Episcopal Church, Westgate, Dunbar
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Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery
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Town House, High Street, Dunbar
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Where to eat & stay near Dunbar
Places to stay
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Dunbar Camping and Caravanning Club Site
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Thurston Manor Caravan Park
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📷 5Places to eat & drink
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The Crown & Kitchen
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dunbar?
- Dunbar is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH42 1JJ).
- What is Dunbar?
- Dunbar ( ) is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) east of Edinburgh and 30 mi (50 km) from the English border north of B
- How do I get to Dunbar?
- The nearest railway station is Dunbar, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH42 1JJ.
- Does Dunbar charge admission?
- Dunbar typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Dunbar?
- The nearest railway station is Dunbar, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH42 1JJ.