Travel
Travel Information
Planning your trip to Dunbar starts with travel, not just how to reach our beautiful town, but also how to travel around the town and to its many attractions when you are here!
It also raises an important question of how to travel and below we have listed all the options for your trip to Dunbar starting with greener more sustainable public transport choices.
In November 2021 Scotland hosted the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow and this seems a good opportunity to challenge our travel choices and consider opting for a lower carbon method by choosing public transport for longer journeys as well as walking or cycling options for shorter trips. Reduce emissions and your carbon footprint and make your personal contribution to climate change targets!
Find out more about some of the projects in Dunbar working towards a more sustainable town:
https://sustainingdunbar.org https://www.miixer.org https://the-ridge.org.uk
Travel by TRAIN
One of the most locally appreciated and yet relatively unknown facts about Dunbar is that it is located on the main East Coast railway line making travel to, and from, almost anywhere in the country effortless.
Dunbar is a regular stop on the East Coast mainline with trains coming north from London, the east coast of England, and as far afield as Penzance in Cornwall. From Dunbar it is only a short 20-minute ride into Edinburgh where trains from Waverley Station connect to all parts of Scotland. “Sit back, let the train take the strain”.
Plan your journey here:
ScotRail Train Times | Plan your Journey | ScotRail
Please note that if you are bringing your own bike to check whether you need to book it on board in advance of travel. It is not possible to bring surf boards by train but Coast to Coast Surf School hire boards (and wetsuits) from their base at Belhaven Beach https://www.c2csurfschool.com
Travel by BUS
Travelling by bus to Dunbar is just as easy with services from Edinburgh and Berwick-Upon-Tweed (both just 30 miles away). The bus journey is just under an hour from both locations.
For all bus travel timetables in Scotland www.travelinescotland.com
Borders Buses run a service between Edinburgh and Berwick Upon Tweed, via Eyemouth and Dunbar (Number 253). Conveniently stopping on Dunbar High Street
Travelling around Dunbar and East Lothian can be easily achieved by using Eve Coaches, which travel to North Berwick via East Linton (Number 120).
https://www.eveinfo.co.uk/bus-services/
East Coast Buses will take you from Dunbar to Edinburgh, via Haddington and Musselburgh (Number x7).
If you are a group booking it may be worth investigating coach and taxi hire ahead of travel. Eve Coaches has a full range of coaches of all sizes and Torrance Taxis have a range of smaller vehicles and minibuses. They can also arrange airport transfers and golf transport.
https://www.eveinfo.co.uk/portfolio-2/
https://torrancetaxisandtravel.co.uk
Travel by CAR
Dunbar is located just off the A1 which travels south from Edinburgh towards the England border onto north London where it joins the M1. Dunbar is a small town and free parking is limited, and parking restrictions apply on Dunbar High Street, so the use of public transport is encouraged. There are two filling stations in Dunbar, one at ASDA and the other at the Jet / Ring Service Station on Belhaven Road EH42 1DE.
Parking is available at the centrally situated railway station (£4 per day / £2 off peak). Electric car charging points are a short walk of the High St. at the Rail Station, Abbeylands Car Park, Westgate and Bleachingfield. They are operated by Chargeplace Scotland.
https://chargeplacescotland.org
Additional car charging points can be found at Floors Terrace, Winterfield Golf Club and the Pine Marten. Full details on charging points in and around Dunbar can be found at:
Dunbar charging points – EV points near Dunbar, East Lothian (zap-map.com)
If you are a member of the Co Wheels Car Club, there are two cars located in Dunbar at the railway Station Car Share: Co Wheels Car Club | Co Wheels | Co Wheels (co-wheels.org.uk)
Gocompare has designed a fuel price calculator and guidance to help drivers plan ahead for any journey and cut down on fuel use.
Travel by TAXI
Travelling around Dunbar and East Lothian is also possible by taxi with several companies operating in the town. They can also arrange airport transfers and group travel.
Torrance Taxis and Travel also have minibuses for hire
https://torrancetaxisandtravel.co.uk T: 01368 862612
WB Taxis
http://www.wbtaxis.co.uk T: 07585 330139
TAB Taxis
TAB Taxis – Taxis & Private Hires (business.site) T: 01368 650600
Redline Cabs T: 01368 864640
Bicycles for Hire at Belhaven Bikes
Dunbar is an ideal place for cycling being relatively flat and with most attractions within a short cycle ride and a generous number of bike racks in the town. Known as Sunny Dunny the weather is also usually dry which helps! Just to the south of Dunbar are the Lammermuir Hills should you be looking for some steeper climbs to conquer while you are in town!
Prebook Bike Hire:
Travel to Dunbar by bus or train and book cycle hire with Belhaven Bikes. They also have a range of e-bikes for hire and can help with repairs and parts if needed.
https://www.belhavenbikes.co.uk/hire/ T: 01368 860300
Cycling route suggestions can be found here: https://www.belhavenbikes.co.uk/links/
Walking in and around Dunbar
Leaving the car at home and travelling by public transport to Dunbar does not disadvantage visitors in any way. The good news is that Dunbar is relatively flat, so it is very easy to walk around the town and many of the attractions are a manageable walk away. The climate is very dry and sunny much of the time, so walks are not often spoilt by a rain shower. For those attractions a little further afield there are convenient bus and taxi services.
Keen walkers can walk to Dunbar from Edinburgh or North Berwick on sections 8 to 10 of the John Muir Way. Part of a much longer journey of 134 miles from Dunbar to Helensburgh on the west coast!
Discover more at: https://johnmuirway.org
