Belhaven Beach
East Lothian
Belhaven Beach is one of the finest beaches in East Lothian, a wide sandy bay within the John Muir Country Park west of Dunbar. The beach is famous for the 'Bridge to Nowhere', a footbridge that leads out into the sands, only becoming a bridge to somewhere when the tide retreats to reveal the Biel Water channel it spans. The country park behind the beach offers woodland, dune and coastal walking, and the combination of beach quality and country park setting makes Belhaven consistently highly rated.
East Lothian Council confirmed no dog bans at Belhaven Beach. Year-round unrestricted dog access. Showering facilities available at the car park. One of the most rewarding and dog-friendly beach outings in eastern Scotland.
At a Glance
- Dog Access
- Year Round
- Beach Type
- Sand, Dunes
- Tide Notes
- The Bridge to Nowhere is only a bridge when the tide is out. Check tide times to see the famous bridge in context.
- Facilities
- Car park with showering facilities. John Muir Country Park walking routes. No beach facilities. Dunbar town nearby
- Parking
- Belhaven Bay car park in John Muir Country Park. £3 day ticket valid across East Lothian coastal car parks
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Belhaven Beach, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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What’s Nearby?
Beach0.9 mi awayDunbar Beach
East Lothian
Dunbar's sandy main beach in the birthplace town of conservation pioneer John Muir, with year-round unrestricted dog access and direct access to the John Muir Country Park to the west.
Walk1 mi awayJohn Muir Way: Dunbar Coastal Section
Edinburgh
A dramatic clifftop section of the John Muir Way near Dunbar, tracing rugged coastal paths above the North Sea.
Beach3.9 mi awayThorntonloch Beach
East Lothian
A quiet, remote sandy beach south of Dunbar with year-round unrestricted dog access and genuine solitude, largely unknown to visitors despite its excellent beach quality.
Walk4.1 mi awayPressmennan Wood and Lake
East Lothian
An ancient woodland walk with plenty of off-lead freedom for dogs, circling one of only four lakes in Scotland with a carved sculpture trail.
Walk4.6 mi awayTyninghame, Binning Wood and Smeaton from East Linton
East Lothian
A varied East Lothian circuit from East Linton through Binning Wood to Tyninghame, with river paddling and woodland sniffs for dogs along the way.
Walk4.6 mi awayHailes Castle from East Linton
East Lothian
A flat riverside walk from East Linton along the Tyne, with room for dogs to roam before reaching the ruined Hailes Castle.