John Muir Way

Gullane beach, East Lothian

John Muir Way fingerposts

The John Muir Way is a pair of long-distance path. The coast to coast route is 134 miles long through the Central Lowlands, designed for walking or cycling. Another route stretches extend it further down the East Lothian coast. The 'ownership' of the route being unsettled, there may be said to be two John Muir Ways, and in addition a number of loops off the main routes for cyclists.

The trail is named in honour of the 19th-century conservationist John Muir, who was born at Dunbar in East Lothian, in 1838 and who became a founder of America's national park system.

Hisotry of the route

The original John Muir Way was a modest affair but a fine route in itself. It was a continuous coastal path, 45 miles long, from John Muir's birthplace, Dunbar in East Lothian, to Edinburgh in Midlothian, running close by the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. The path became a well-established, popular route. Later extensions take the route down the coast of East Lothian. This old route with later extension, running from Musselburgh to Cockenzie, is known as 'The John Muir Way in East Lothian'

In 2014, the 100th anniversary of John Muir's death, a number of tax-eating authorities decided to add to the honour of John Muir by extending the route from coast to coast. The route today is 134 miles long, from the original starting point at Dunbar westwards to Helensbugh on the Firth of Clyde in Dunbartonshire. This version of the John Muir Way may be known as the John Muir Way Coast to Coast.

John Muir Way Coast to Coast

East Lothian:
1	Dunbar to North Berwick	15 miles
2	North Berwick to Prestonpans	16½ miles
East Lothian to Midlothian:
3	Prestonpans to Edinburgh	10 miles
Midlothian to West Lothian:
4	Edinburgh to South Queensferry	15½ miles
West Lothian:
5	South Queensferry to Linlithgow	14 miles
West Lothian to Stirlingshire:
6	Linlithgow to Falkirk	8½ miles
Stirlingshire:
7	Falkirk to Kilsyth	13 miles
8	Kilsyth to Strathblane	13 miles
Stirlingshire to Dunbartonshire:
9	Strathblane to Balloch	18½ miles
Dunbartonshire:
10	Balloch to Helensburgh	9 miles

The East Lothian John Muir Way

The path runs from the edge of Edinburgh, along the coast initially through Midlothian and then after leaving Musselburgh it enters East Lothian, where it continues to the edge of Berwickshire.

Fisherrow Harbour, Musselburgh, to Cockenzie	6 miles	including Ash lagoons, Levenhall Links, Musselburgh Racecourse, West Pans, Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum, Morrison's Haven, Prestonpans, and Cockenzie Harbour
Cockenzie to Aberlady	5 miles	Cockenzie, Port Seton, Seton Sands, Longniddry, Gosford, Kilspindie and Aberlady
Aberlady to North Berwick	9 miles	Luffness House, Gullane, Archerfield House, Dirleton, Dirleton Castle, Yellowcraig and North Berwick
North Berwick to Dunbar	15 miles	North Berwick Law, East Linton, Preston Mill, Prestonkirk Parish Church, John Muir Country Park, Belhaven Bay, and Dunbar
Dunbar Harbour to Dunglass, near Cockburnspath	10 miles	Dunbar Castle, East Links, Broxmouth, Catcraig, Barns Ness, Skateraw Harbour, Torness Nuclear Power Station, Bilsdean, and Dunglass

The John Muir Way in East Lothian is signposted throughout with green fingerposts. It also connects with other coastal and countryside pathways, for example the 4-mile Railway Walk from Longniddry to Haddington

Outside links

• The John Muir Way in East Lothian - leaflet
• East Lothian Council: The John Muir Way and North Sea Trail
• John Muir Way Coast to Coast
• John Muir Way on Walkhighlands
• John Muir Way