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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Gifford & East Lothian, Scotland
Lothian Lavender's summer open days near Gifford pair with Preston Mill tours, Concorde at East Fortune and Bass Rock views from North Berwick.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
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East Lothian is the farming county just east of Edinburgh, and Gifford sits at its quiet southern edge where the Lammermuir Hills start to rise. The village has a green, an 18th-century mercat cross and the white-harled Yester Parish Church, with a plaque to John Witherspoon, a signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Within half an hour the land drops to the sea at North Berwick and Dunbar, so a single day can take in hill villages, castle ruins, sandy bays and a seabird colony.
Lothian Lavender, on Redhill Farm just outside Gifford, grows and distills its own lavender for a small skincare range. It opens its garden on a few summer weekends, announced on its social pages, with free entry and donations for a local charity; at other times in the flowering season, visits can be arranged by email. Come in July or early August to catch the farm, then use spring and autumn for the coast, castles and museums.
The lavender farms
- Lothian LavenderLavender farm · Gifford
Open on advertised summer weekend open days (entry by donation, no booking); group visits by arrangement; products sold online and through stockists year-round.
Best time to visit
June to August is the time for Lothian Lavender, whose open-day dates are posted each summer on its social pages; outside those weekends you can email to arrange a visit while the lavender is in flower. The National Museum of Flight is open daily from April to October (10am to 5pm) and on weekends only from November to March. Preston Mill runs guided tours through the tourist season at 10:30, 12:00, 1:30 and 3:00. Seabird boat trips from North Berwick are seasonal, when the Bass Rock gannet colony is in residence. Winter is quieter, and East Lothian coastal car parks charge for fewer hours from October to March (8am–4pm).
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Gifford village🏘️ Town · Gifford · about 2 mi, 5 min drive
A village at the foot of the Lammermuirs, moved to its present site in the 1700s, with a green, a mercat cross and Yester Parish Church. A woodland walk leads to the scant ruins of 13th-century Yester Castle and its legendary Goblin Ha'.
- St Mary's Parish Church🏛️ Historic site · Haddington · about 6 mi, 15 min drive
Founded in 1380 and largely wrecked in the 1540s siege of Haddington, this Gothic church was not fully restored until the 20th century. At 206 feet long it is billed as the longest church in Scotland.
- Traprain Law🌉 Landmark · near East Linton · about 9 mi, 20 min drive
A volcanic hill where a famous hoard of Roman silver was found. A steep path on the north side climbs to a broad, flat summit with views across the county; wild ponies graze here, so don't feed them.
- Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot🏛️ Historic site · East Linton · about 11 mi, 20 min drive
East Lothian's last working watermill, still driven by the River Tyne, with guided tours of the machinery and a riverside walk to a 16th-century dovecote that held 544 pigeons. The grounds appear in the Outlander TV series.
Guided tours in the tourist season at 10:30, 12:00, 1:30 and 3:00; shop and exhibition 10am–4:30pm
Adult £11, child £6.50, family £33 (as listed October 2026); free for National Trust for Scotland members
- National Museum of Flight🏛️ Museum · East Fortune · about 11 mi, 20 min drive
Hangars on a First and Second World War airfield hold Scotland's largest aircraft collection, including the country's only Concorde. Plan two to three hours; there is an outdoor picnic area.
April–October daily 10am–5pm; November–March weekends 10am–4pm
Tickets from £15 (as listed October 2026)
- North Berwick Law🌉 Landmark · North Berwick · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A 187 m (614 ft) volcanic cone with a waymarked path to the top, where a replica whale jawbone stands among old lookout posts. The summit looks over the outer Firth of Forth.
free
- Scottish Seabird Centre🏛️ Museum · North Berwick · about 16 mi, 28 min drive
A harbourside wildlife centre with live cameras and a café sundeck. Seasonal boat trips run out to the Bass Rock, home to the world's largest northern gannet colony, and to the Isle of May puffins.
- Tantallon Castle🏛️ Historic site · near North Berwick · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
A massive 1300s red sandstone curtain wall on a clifftop facing the Bass Rock, once held by the Red Douglases and abandoned after Cromwell's siege. Some areas, including the east tower and vaults, are closed to visitors.
Ticketed; book online (free for Historic Environment Scotland members)
- Yellowcraig🏖️ Beach · near Dirleton · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
A sandy East Lothian bay with showers and a council car park. One £3 day ticket covers every East Lothian Council coastal car park that day.
Parking £3 per day (as listed October 2026)
- John Muir Country Park🏞️ Park · Dunbar · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
A coastal park named for the Dunbar-born conservationist, with varied wildlife habitats, a large play area, picnic tables and a seasonal food outlet at the Linkfield car park.
Parking charged 8am–6:30pm April–September and 8am–4pm October–March
Parking £3 per day (as listed October 2026)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Farm Shop at The MartFarm stand · East Linton
A family farm shop and café in East Linton, open daily, handy for lunch between Gifford and the coast.
- DriftCafé or coffee shop · North Berwick
A clifftop café near Tantallon with Bass Rock views, open daily for brunch, lunch and cake.
- NB DistilleryDistillery (21+) · North Berwick
A small gin and rum distillery outside North Berwick with tastings and a cellar door shop.
- The Bus Stop at Bankrugg FarmFarm stay or campground · Gifford
Converted-bus stays on a working farm a mile from Gifford, a base for open-day weekends.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLothian Lavender
On a summer open-day weekend, tour the garden and see how the lavender is grown and distilled; allow an hour. There are no toilets on site. Outside open days, email ahead during the flowering season.
- 11:10 AMGifford village · about 5 min drive
Walk the green, the mercat cross and Yester Parish Church with its Witherspoon plaque; about 30 minutes.
- 12:00 PMFarm Shop at The Mart · about 20 min drive
Lunch at the café (open 9am–4pm) and pick up farm produce; about an hour.
- 1:20 PMPreston Mill & Phantassie Doocot · about 5 min drive
Join the 1:30 guided mill tour, then walk the riverside path to the doocot; about an hour.
- 2:40 PMNational Museum of Flight · about 10 min drive
Walk through the Concorde Experience and the civil and military hangars; about 1.5 hours (open until 5pm April–October).
- 4:30 PMNorth Berwick Law · about 15 min drive
Climb the waymarked path to the whale jawbone for views over the Forth; about 45 minutes to an hour.
- 5:45 PMNorth Berwick harbour and Scottish Seabird Centre · about 5 min drive
Finish at the harbour looking out to the Bass Rock; check the centre's own hours if you want to go inside.
Tips
- Lothian Lavender has no public toilets, no nearby bus stop and asks visitors to follow map-app directions rather than older sat-nav units; Gifford has cafés and facilities.
- Most East Lothian beach car parks charge, and one £3 ticket covers all council coastal car parks for the day; parking is not allowed overnight (11pm–4am).
- Dogs on a lead are welcome at Lothian Lavender's open days.
- National Trust for Scotland members get into Preston Mill free, and Historic Environment Scotland members get into Tantallon free.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I visit Lothian Lavender?
On a few summer open-day weekends announced on its social pages. Entry is free, with donations for a local charity, and other visits during the flowering season can be arranged by email.
Is there somewhere to eat near the lavender farm?
The farm has no café or toilets. Gifford village, about five minutes away, has a hotel and a coffee shop, and the Farm Shop at The Mart in East Linton has a café open daily.
How far is the coast from Gifford?
North Berwick and Dunbar are both roughly 15–17 miles away, about 25–30 minutes by car.
Is the National Museum of Flight open all year?
Daily from April to October, 10am to 5pm, and weekends only from November to March. It is closed 25–26 December and 1–2 January.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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