North Berwick Beaches (West Bay and Milsey Bay)

North Berwick's two town beaches, West Bay and Milsey Bay, lie either side of the harbour and the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland, about 23 miles (37 km) east of Edinburgh. Both are small sandy beaches with rocky edges and rock pools, and the Firth of Forth water is cold, typically about 7-8 C in spring and up to roughly 15-16 C in August. West Bay is a gently curving bay with a view back to the town, while Milsey Bay is the smaller, more sheltered beach beside the harbour wall; neither is an open surf beach, and both offer calmer conditions than the exposed coast further east. The atmosphere is a classic family seaside town: ice cream, cafes, tidal pools suited to children, paddleboarding, rock-pooling and seal and bird watching from the shore, with Bass Rock and the Forth islands visible offshore. The Scottish Seabird Centre at the harbour is a notable attraction. Public toilets and cafes are within a short walk of the sand. Lifeguard cover is not confirmed, so visitors should check the SEPA classification at sepa.org.uk before swimming and take extra care with children near the tideline. Access is excellent by Scottish standards: ScotRail runs from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick in about 30-35 minutes, with return fares of roughly £8-14, and East Coast Buses also serve the town. The beaches are a few minutes' walk from the station through the town centre. Car parking in North Berwick fills quickly on warm days, so the train is the easier option. The beaches are free, and the coastal path leads onwards to Seacliff and Tantallon Castle for longer walks.