A golf trip to East Lothian is as much about the evenings as the rounds. Here is our practical guide to planning the week, choosing a base, getting to the courses and packing for links weather.
Planning a golf trip to East Lothian: tee times first, then the house
The best East Lothian golf trips are planned in a simple order. Book the tee times first, then the home, then everything else. The courses set the shape of the week, and the home should fit around them, not the other way round.
A planning order that works
- Agree the group and the dates. Who is definitely coming, and who is a maybe. A firm number makes everything else easier.
- Book the rounds. Contact each club directly about visitor tee times. Clubs set their own rules on visitor days, booking windows and handicap certificates, so check each one.
- Choose a base. Once you know which courses you are playing, pick a home that keeps the driving short.
- Sort the travel. Train, car or a mix, and who is driving on which days.
- Plan the evenings. Which nights you cook, which nights you eat out, and where.
Popular summer weeks and the big golf weeks book up a long way ahead, both on the tee sheet and for homes. Once you have even provisional dates, send them to us with your group size, and we will reply within one working day with the homes that fit and how far each one is from your courses.
What to tell us
- How many golfers, and how many non-golfers
- Who needs their own room, and who is happy to share
- Which courses you are playing
- How many cars you are bringing
- Whether you want to be near the station
You can also browse all our homes first and send us the ones you like the look of.
North Berwick or Musselburgh as a golf base
East Lothian's coast runs east from the edge of Edinburgh, with links courses along much of the way. Where you stay depends on where you are playing and what the group wants from the evenings.
North Berwick
A seaside town with a harbour, two beaches, good places to eat and drink, and Berwick Law rising behind it. It is a natural base for the courses along the coast around North Berwick and Gullane. Evenings are easy: a walk along the shore, a pint, a meal and an early night before the next round. Ask us about our homes in North Berwick for your dates.
Musselburgh
Right on the edge of Edinburgh, a few minutes by train from Waverley. Musselburgh is home to one of the oldest golf links in the world, and it is close to both the city and the start of the East Lothian coast. A good choice if the group wants to mix golf with a night or two in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh itself
Some groups prefer to stay in the city and travel out each day. It works if you want Edinburgh's restaurants and bars in the evening, but it adds travel to every round, and Edinburgh stays include the Visitor Levy. Our Edinburgh homes are an option for a split trip: a few nights by the sea, then a couple in town.
Bigger groups
If the group is too big for one home, tell us the full headcount. We will say honestly what we have for your numbers and dates, and where it makes sense, suggest two homes close together so you can still eat as one group.
Getting to East Lothian golf courses by train, car and taxi
By train
The North Berwick line runs from Edinburgh Waverley, and the journey to North Berwick takes about half an hour. Musselburgh is a few minutes from Waverley. For a group flying into Edinburgh, the tram runs from the airport to the city centre, where you can pick up the train. The train works well for getting to your base. Getting from the station to some courses, with bags, is another matter.
By car
Most golf groups bring at least one car. It makes it far easier to reach the courses that are not near a station, to carry clubs and trolleys, and to fit in a round somewhere new on a whim. If you are bringing cars, tell us how many. Some of our homes have parking and some rely on the street, and we will tell you which is which before you book.
Taxis
Local taxis are available, but there are far fewer than in the city, and they get busy in summer and around big golf weeks. Book ahead for course runs and for the evening, especially if you are coming back late from a meal.
A plan for the driving
- Agree who is driving on which day before the trip, not on the first tee.
- Allow time for parking at the course and checking in with the starter.
- Keep a spare set of car keys somewhere sensible in the home.
- Check the route the night before. Rural roads and summer traffic in the coastal towns can add time.
For trips that start or finish in the city, our page on stays near Murrayfield covers getting around Edinburgh on a big event weekend.
What to pack for links golf on the East Lothian coast
Links golf is played in the weather, whatever it is. The East Lothian coast can give you sunshine, sea haar and a stiff wind in a single round. Pack for all of it.
For the course
- A proper waterproof jacket and trousers, and a waterproof bag cover
- Layers you can add and remove: a base layer, a light jumper or fleece and a windproof top
- A warm hat for the wind, as well as a cap for the sun
- Spare gloves, since wet gloves are miserable
- Two pairs of golf shoes if you have them, so one can dry overnight
- Sun cream: a breezy day by the sea can still burn
For the house
- Old newspaper for stuffing wet shoes
- A small towel per golfer for the clubs
- Comfortable clothes and shoes for the evenings
- Any club or course paperwork, such as handicap certificates
Drying kit after a wet round
Coming back to a home rather than a hotel room makes a real difference after a soaking. You have space to lay things out, and the heating to dry them. Tell us if drying space matters, and we will tell you which homes have room for wet kit. Please do not dry wet kit directly on top of radiators or heaters, and keep muddy shoes off the carpets.
If anything goes wrong in the home, from the heating to the hot water, message us. Our team is on from 9am to midnight, with an emergency line around the clock. You can read how other guests found their stay on our reviews page.
Sharing a home on a golf trip
A golf trip in a whole home is a different thing from a golf trip in a hotel. You eat together, you go over the round together, and you settle the bets at the kitchen table. A little organisation keeps it pleasant for everyone.
Rooms
Sort out who sleeps where before you arrive. Snorers are worth discussing early. If anyone needs a ground-floor room or their own bathroom, tell us when you book, and we will tell you honestly which homes can offer it.
The kitchen
- Do one big shop on arrival day for breakfasts, snacks and drinks.
- Agree a rota for dinners, or decide which nights you are eating out.
- Book restaurants ahead in summer, especially for a big table.
- Take the bins out as the home's instructions say. Local collections vary.
Neighbours
Homes in North Berwick and Musselburgh sit among people who live there all year. Golf groups are welcome. Late, loud nights are not. Quiet hours start at 10pm, so keep noise down after that, especially outside and in gardens, and park considerately. Our page for neighbours explains how we look after the streets our homes are in.
Arrival
Our homes use self check-in, so you can arrive when your train or flight allows. You get clear arrival instructions and a code on the day. If the group is arriving at different times, tell us, and we will make sure everyone knows how to get in. More about our team is on our about page.
Things to do in East Lothian on rest days
Not everyone in the group will want to play every day, and even the keenest golfers sometimes need a rest. East Lothian has plenty for the days off.
Around North Berwick
- The beaches. Two sandy beaches, West Beach and Milsey Bay, good for a walk in any weather.
- Berwick Law. A short, steep climb behind the town with a wide view over the Forth and the coast.
- The Scottish Seabird Centre. In the town, with live views of the Bass Rock, one of the world's largest gannet colonies.
- The harbour. Boats coming and going, and a coffee by the water.
Along the coast
The coast between Musselburgh and Dunbar has long beaches, coastal paths and small villages that are worth exploring by car or on foot. A walk along the shore after a morning round is one of the quiet pleasures of an East Lothian trip.
A day in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is about half an hour away by train from North Berwick and a few minutes from Musselburgh. A day in the city makes a good rest day: the Old Town, the castle, the galleries and a long lunch. If you are visiting in August, the city is very busy with the festivals; our page on Fringe accommodation explains what that means.
Families on a golf trip
If you are bringing family, a home by the sea gives everyone a holiday, not just the golfers. Tell us who is coming, and we will suggest homes with the right beds. Our stay with us hub covers every kind of trip we look after.
Golf trip costs: the Visitor Levy, licences and booking safely
No Visitor Levy in East Lothian
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy is charged by the City of Edinburgh Council on stays in the city. East Lothian is not part of the Edinburgh scheme, so homes in North Berwick and Musselburgh do not include it. If you split your trip and spend some nights in Edinburgh, those nights include the levy: 5% on the cost of the accommodation for the first five nights of a stay. Our Visitor Levy page explains it in full.
Licensed homes only
Every short let in Scotland needs a short-term let licence, whether it is in Edinburgh or East Lothian. Every home we let is licensed, and the licence number is on the listing. Our licensing page explains what that means for you as a guest.
Booking safely
- Book through a known platform or company, not through a stranger's personal account.
- Check the licence number on the listing.
- Be very cautious about paying by bank transfer.
- Make sure the beds, parking and check-in times are clear in writing before you pay.
Prices
Prices depend on the home, the dates and the season. Summer and the big golf weeks are busiest. When we send you homes, we include the prices so you can compare like with like, and split the cost across the group. If you have any questions, ask us.
Need a family home while yours is repaired after a flood or fire? See insurance accommodation in Edinburgh. In town for August with a show? See Fringe accommodation for performers.
Message us on WhatsApp on +44 7898 116933, or get in touch. We reply 9am to midnight, and the emergency line is there 24/7.