Tourism in East Lothian

Alastair Durie

The 1960s was the watershed decade. Though tourism was still thriving, it was obvious that its continuing success could not be taken for granted. And government had to take an increased part in steering development and promotion. In 1964, in response to a government initiative, the County Council submitted a Tourist development scheme.

It started by showing just what had been done already to re-open the beaches, pointed with pride to the establishment in the early 1950s of Aberlady Bay as the first local nature reserve in the United Kingdom and what was in the pipeline by way of new or enlarged camping and caravan sites; Dirleton, for instance was to be home to a 120 vans site, to be run by the Caravan Club. Picnic facilities and overnight parking in lay-bys on the A1, to be known as an International Tourist Route, were to be provided. Sailing, fishing, horse-riding and walking all received favourable mention, and county's heritage in the form of its historic villages, doocots and mining at Prestonpans were to be listed and explained.

If Dunbar and North Berwick were the major resorts (with 780 and 905 - or 85% - of the county's tourist beds, and a further 68% of the caravan stances), others were not to be neglected and every effort was to be made to spread the tourist trail inland as well as along the coast. Another objective was to try to lengthen the season, always a desirable objective for any tourist destination, but seldom realised, and simply not possible in East Lothian with no prospect of winter sports. Pony trekking from Gifford was an asset, but never likely to be a major activity.

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© 2004 Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian Society