Longniddry to Haddington: an easy, traffic-free cycle route in East Lothian

A foggy morning on the Longniddry to Haddington cycle path

For an easy day out take the 18 minute train journey from Edinburgh to Longniddry. From there you can cycle the 4.5 mile traffic-free path to Haddington. This is a disused railway with information panels about the line's history and the wildlife that lives here. 

At Longniddry station the start of the path is marked with a large wooden sign announcing the distance to Haddington. There is also a warning to be on the look out for thieves. I would not worry, you are quite safe on this peaceful path. 

The start of the cycle path from Longniddry to Haddington

There are information posts at regular intervals along the route. They are in the style of railway signals and you operate them by pushing them down to raise the "signal". This reveals a panel with information about wildlife or the line's history. It is a clever design that pays homage to the railway heritage of the path. 

The information posts on the Longniddry to Haddington cycle path

Information panel about the Longniddry to Haddington Railway path

This branch line was closed in 1968, but there have been calls to reopen it on the basis that the population of Haddington is increasing and many people commute to Edinburgh.

There is plenty of evidence of the railway, mainly in the form of these stone bridges:

A bridge over the Longniddry to Haddington Railway path

This photograph provides a good view of the colossal stones used in the construction of these bridges:

Close up view of the impressive stonework on a bridge of the Longniddry to Haddington Railway path

There is something that looks like a pond alongside the path. This had been a tank for the steam engines to load up on water. Nowadays it provides a home for frogs, toads and water beetles:

This used to be a water tank for steam engines on the disused Longniddry to Haddington Railway

I enjoyed reading about events in the railway's past on the information panels. There had been a regular train that carried manure from Edinburgh police horses to be used as fertiliser on East Lothian farms. In 1937 a train went straight through the buffers at Haddington station. It was thought that frost on the rails caused the accident.

Longniddry to Haddington Railway path

This is a popular path, so you will likely come across walkers, joggers and other cyclists.

Once in Haddington cycle up to Station Yard industrial estate where you can find the surviving station building on a piece of platform.

I used this cycle route to reach the radio station, East Coast FM, located at Station Yard. I was invited to speak on air about my blog and cycling in Scotland.

The old station building in Haddington

Haddington is an attractive town with neat streets and interesting buildings, so it is worth having a look around.

Haddington, East Lothian

Haddington, East Lothian

There is a sculpture of two goats fighting. They are up on their hind legs and head butting each other. The goat is the emblem of Haddington and it is on the town’s coat-of-arms.​

Sculpture of fighting goats in Haddington, East Lothian

Next: cycle to Hailes Castle
My next blog covers the route from Haddington to Hailes Castle.


Visit a whisky distillery
This railway path features in the cycle route to Glenckinchie distillery. Read my feature about cycling to the distillery.

Visit a motor museum, Concorde and the birthplace of Scotland's flag
Drem, the next station along from Longniddry, provides easy cycling access to these attractions. Read my blog about where you can cycle to from Drem