A picturesque village straddling the coastline of the Firth of Forth, Gullane boasts one of the best beaches in East Lothian, three golf courses and some fascinating historical sites to explore. Ideal for a weekend away or a golfing holiday, visitors will marvel at the gorgeous landscape of green hills and sand dunes as well as the great array of activities on offer - from a round of golf at Muirfield to exploring the sublime ruins of Dirleton Castle. Enduringly beautiful and full of quaint country charm, the best places to stay in Gullane tend to be just outside the village itself in the pretty countryside.

Gullane's roots run deep and ancient. In the 9th-century, a church was built there only to be replaced by Saint Andrew's Kirk in the early 1100s. This was abandoned in the 17th-century for a number of reasons: sand was known to blow inside and the parish needed to cater to the residents of Dirleton Castle, which stands as a stark ruin nearby, so Dirleton Castle was built.

The ruin of Saint Andrew's Kirk still stands, along with many others in the nearby area, including St. Patrick's Chapel on Black Rock by the sea and, to the south of Gullane, Saltcoats Castle, a ruin which crawls with wildlife. Dirleton Castle is surely one of the finest ruins in all of Scotland. Built by the Normans in the 12th-century, it was wrestled over during the Wars of Independence and makes for a fascinating place to explore while the gardens are simply divine.

The village itself is incredibly pretty. The main street teems with old oakwood pubs, independent shops and to top it all off, an excellent fish & chips shop. Be sure to stroll down to the beach armed to the teeth with fish and chips and enjoy the sublime scenery. Gullane's beach is one of the best in East Lothian, if not, Scotland. The windswept dunes bristle with sea buckthorn, and in the backdro,p the seaward-facing villas are delightful to behold.

Of course, people don't come to Gullane for the mere opportunity of munching on a hearty portion of fish & chips by the beach - no matter how delightful that may be. They come for the golf. Gullane boasts three excellent courses within and around the village itself, and many more on the outskirts. To the east lies Muirfield, which has hosted the Open Championship 16 times - most recently in 2013 - and makes for a wonderful day out.

What not to miss

• Explore the ruined castle of Dirleton, a 12th-century castle built by the Normans, long-wrestled over in the Wars of Independence.
• Go for a round of golf at either the three golf courses in the village or out east in Muirfield!
• Lounge at the beach and, if you're feeling particularly brave, go for a dip!
• Gorge on fish & chips like there's no tomorrow.
• Check out the ruins of Saint Andrew's Kirk in the village, and head out to Black Rock to see Saint Patrick's Chapel.
• Head out to East Fortune and visit the Myreton Motor Museum and the National Museum of Flight!

During the summer months, this is a popular destination so in order to snag a room at one of the best places to stay in Gullane we recommend booking well in advance.

The best places to stay in Gullane

Golfing break

• Greywalls: a charming Edwardian country house built on the grounds of the Muirfield Golf Course. Effortlessly elegant, the rooms are decorated with antiques and the restaurant is superb.

For an apartment or cottage

• Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of cottages and apartments in the nearby area.

Travel information

• Fly to Edinburgh International Airport and get a train to Drem. Drem doesn't have regular taxis so remember to book one in advance.
• If you want to rent a car, contact our partner Rentalcars.
• The weather is remarkably clement in East Lothian, which experiences the most sun in all of Scotland, year-round. You should during the summer, when the temperature ranges from 9 to 19 degrees.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in East Lothian?
• Browse through our collection of Scotland's most romantic hotels?
• Or contact one of our Gurus for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Gullane