3 Day North Berwick and Gullane Golf Itinerary
A long weekend on Scotland's golf coast, a half hour east of Edinburgh, where the greatest concentration of classic links outside St Andrews sits within ten minutes of one base. North Berwick's quirky, copied West Links, the panoramic heights of Gullane No.1 and, for those who can book it, the holy ground of Muirfield. Here is the plan, day by day.
Photo: North Berwick Golf Club via Google.
Who this trip suits
This is the itinerary for the links lover short on days but not on standards: three rounds of genuine top tier coastal golf, almost no driving, and Edinburgh and its airport less than an hour away. North Berwick and Gullane sit about ten minutes apart along the East Lothian shore, the village base puts pubs and restaurants on the doorstep, and the whole trip works without repacking a bag.
It is also the heart of a bigger trip. If it leaves you wanting more, the coast holds Muirfield, Dunbar, Craigielaw, Archerfield and the Renaissance Club, and our 4 day East Lothian itinerary is this trip's natural extension. For the wider picture, see our guide to golf in East Lothian.
The 3 day plan
North Berwick, West Links
Open on the most charming and most copied links in the world. The West Links has been played since 1832 over land barely changed, with stone walls to carry, a beach in play, blind shots and the original Redan, the par 3 15th that has been imitated on great courses everywhere. The 13th, the Pit, plays over an old drystone wall to a green tucked behind it. It is pure links theater in the town itself, indicative 2026 peak fee around 320 pounds. Read our full North Berwick West Links profile.
Gullane Golf Club, No.1
The big view round. Gullane No.1 climbs over Gullane Hill to one of the great vantage points in golf, a panorama of the Firth of Forth, the Lammermuirs and, on a clear day, Edinburgh and the Highland hills. A par 71 of about 6,500 yards, it has hosted more championship and Open qualifying golf than any East Lothian course bar Muirfield, and the descent home is glorious. Gullane No.2 and No.3 share the hill at a fraction of the fee if you want 36 holes. Indicative 2026 summer fee around 325 pounds; see our Gullane No.1 profile.
Muirfield, or Gullane No.2 or Dunbar
Finish on the connoisseur's choice. Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and a regular Open venue, is one of the fairest and most admired links in the world, but visitor access is limited, typically to Tuesdays and Thursdays, and must be booked well ahead. If you can secure it, build the whole trip around that day. If not, Gullane No.2, Dunbar's clifftop links or Craigielaw all make a worthy third round a few minutes away. See our Muirfield profile for the access detail.
Fees and visitor days verified June 2026 from the clubs' published information; they change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Berwick, West Links | Around 320 pounds Apr to Oct; about 220 in March | In town; visitor days chiefly Mon to Thu and Sun |
| Gullane No.1 | Around 325 pounds summer | About 10 minutes; No.2 and No.3 much cheaper on the same hill |
| Muirfield | Premium round; confirm current rate | About 10 minutes; visitor days typically Tue and Thu, book well ahead |
| Dunbar or Craigielaw (alt) | Around 90 to 130 pounds | 15 to 25 minutes; dependable third round options |
Edinburgh Airport to North Berwick is about 40 to 50 minutes by car; trains also run from Edinburgh to North Berwick. Find an East Lothian base.
When to go and where to stay
May to September is the window, with long daylight, firm turf and the seaside towns in full swing; April and October trade some weather for quieter tee sheets and friendlier rates. Base in North Berwick itself, a handsome resort town with hotels and restaurants walking distance from the West Links, or in Gullane for the village pubs and the courses on the hill. Book the hardest course to access first, usually Muirfield, then North Berwick, then slot Gullane, and reserve dinner ahead on summer weekends. A car is useful, though North Berwick is reachable by train, and the whole coast is an easy day trip from Edinburgh.
Get this itinerary booked
Muirfield's restricted tee sheet and North Berwick's summer demand are the bottlenecks, and we know how to work them. Tell us your dates and group and one concierge confirms the three tee times, the base and the dinners, costed to the head with no obligation.
East Lothian itinerary questions
Can you play North Berwick and Gullane in three days?
Easily. North Berwick and Gullane sit about ten minutes apart on the East Lothian coast, so one base serves the whole trip with short drives. A natural plan plays North Berwick's West Links, then Gullane No.1, then a third East Lothian links such as Muirfield, Gullane No.2 or Dunbar.
What do North Berwick and Gullane cost in green fees?
Indicatively for 2026, North Berwick's West Links is about 320 pounds from April to October and around 220 in March, and Gullane No.1 is about 325 pounds in summer. Gullane No.2 and No.3 are much cheaper, and Muirfield is a premium round on restricted visitor days. Always confirm directly before booking.
When should you play this East Lothian itinerary?
May to September gives the longest daylight and the firmest links turf. North Berwick welcomes visitors most of the year, chiefly Monday to Thursday and Sunday, while Muirfield's visitor days are typically Tuesday and Thursday, so build the trip around the harder course to book first.
How do you get to North Berwick and Gullane?
Edinburgh Airport is about 40 to 50 minutes by car, and trains run from Edinburgh to North Berwick. The courses cluster within about ten minutes of each other along the coast, so a single base in North Berwick or Gullane covers the trip, with a car the simplest way to move between them.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Green fees, visitor days and course facts verified June 2026 from the clubs' published information. Last reviewed June 2026.