Walk this way... East Linton to Dunbar

Starting at Preston Mill in the pretty village of East Linton, go through the grounds and cross the small bridge by the mill wheel. Walk through the field and cross the River Tyne by the white bridge. From here, follow the signs for John Muir Way. They will take you along the banks of the River Tyne until you hit the A198 North Berwick Road. Go under the bridge, where the path turns right, away from the river. Turn left towards the estuary and follow it through John Muir Country Park. Straight ahead is Belhaven Bay, where you can look out onto Bass Rock. The path then follows the edge of the golf course and up some steps onto the Cliff Top Trail. The route goes to the cliff edge, where there are more steps before you descend into Dunbar Harbour.

Why go? This walk has it all - views, history, wildlife and even impressive geology! The Cliff Top Trail leading up to Dunbar has fantastic views of the Firth of Forth coastline and islands, including Bass Rock, which is an extinct volcano. Part of the harbour is formed of columnar basalt, like the Giant's Causeway.

How long will it take? The route is about eight miles. You can do it in just a couple of hours if you really stride out, but far better to allow four hours to take in the views and wildlife.

Stamina required? Most of the walk is along level, grassy paths and tracks. The last mile or so along the Cliff Top Trail involves climbing a number of steps, but it's well worth the aching calves for the views at the top.

Refuelling option: Tuck into local seafood at Creel Restaurant in the harbour of Dunbar (01368 863279, www.creelrestaurant.co.uk). Or pack yourself a picnic of cheese, chorizo and roasted vegetables from The Food Hamper in Dunbar (01368 865152, www.thefoodhamper.co.uk).

What else is there to see? Picturesque Preston Mill in East Linton (National Trust for Scotland), at the start of the walk, is well worth a visit as one of Scotland's oldest working watermills. The John Muir Country Park covers 1,804 acres along the coast from Dunbar Harbour to the Tyne Estuary, and is perfect for picnicking and wildlife watching.

Wildlife highlights? Pack your binoculars - otters are on this section of the River Tyne and the estuary is home to over-wintering wildfowl, such as pink-footed geese. From the Cliff Top Trail, sea birds, including terns and gulls, can be seen.

And for the kids? The beach at Belhaven Bay has a wide expanse of sand and is perfect for learning to surf. Lessons are available at the Coast to Coast surf school (www.c2cadventure.com).

Getting there: The train station at Dunbar is on the East Coast Mainline, or take the X6 or Perrymans 121 bus from Edinburgh to East Linton.

Where to stay: On the cliffs at Dunbar, The Rocks is a family-run restaurant with rooms specialising in local food, much of which is organic. Double B&B from £70 (01368 862287, www.experiencetherocks.co.uk).

Dunbar TIC: Open April to October (01368 863353, www.visiteastlothian.org). There's also an information point in Votadini Café in East Linton.

OS maps Landranger Map 67: Duns, Dunbar & Eyemouth; Explorer Map 351: Dunbar & North Berwick. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online