3 Day Scotland's East Coast Golf Itinerary
East Lothian, the run of coast east of Edinburgh known as Scotland's Golf Coast, packs more great links into a short drive than almost anywhere on earth. This three day route plays Gullane, the historic North Berwick West Links and Dunbar from a single seaside base, with no round more than twenty five minutes from your hotel.
Photograph: North Berwick Golf Club, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the trip for the golfer who wants the soul of Scottish links golf without the long transfers of a grand tour. East Lothian sits on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, a string of small towns and ancient courses you can string together from one hotel, so three days here means three proper rounds and almost no time in the car. It suits a long weekend group, a couple pairing golf with Edinburgh, or anyone who wants old fashioned, quirky, history soaked links rather than polished resort golf.
The headline is North Berwick West Links, one of the oldest courses still played over its original ground and the template for the famous Redan hole copied around the world. Around it sit Gullane, with three courses climbing a whaleback hill above the sea, and Dunbar, a slender links squeezed between a stone wall and the shore. Add the championship names nearby, Muirfield and the Renaissance Club among them, and you have a base from which to build anything from a relaxed three days to a serious week.
The three days
Gullane No 1
Open with Gullane No 1, the best of the three courses that climb Gullane Hill, a classic links that rises to wide views over the Forth before tumbling back to the sea. It has long served as Open final qualifying and rewards honest ball striking. Settle into Gullane or North Berwick for the night and walk to dinner.
North Berwick West Links
The heart of the trip. North Berwick is gloriously old fashioned, played over walls, burns and humps that no modern architect would dare build, including the original Redan 15th and the Pit 13th with its stone wall guarding the green. Quirky, joyous and unforgettable, it is many travellers' favourite round in all of Scotland.
Dunbar
Finish at Dunbar, a narrow, underrated links running out and back along the rocky shore east of North Berwick, with the sea in play down the right and the wind the main defense. It is the value round of the trip and a fittingly wild, exposed way to end, a true seaside test before the drive back to Edinburgh.
Course histories and access verified June 2026. Swap in Gullane No 2, the Glen at North Berwick or a championship name such as the Renaissance Club to lengthen or vary the trip. Check tee time availability.
Indicative green fees, 2026
| Course | Indicative peak fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Berwick West Links | Around 250 pounds | Historic links, advance booking essential in summer; shoulder and twilight rates lower |
| Gullane No 1 | Around 205 pounds | Open final qualifying course; No 2 and No 3 are good value alternatives |
| Dunbar | Around 120 pounds | The value round of the trip; superb classic links on the rocky shore |
Indicative figures for the peak 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. Three rounds total roughly 500 to 600 pounds per golfer at peak, far less in the shoulder season. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Logistics and packing
Stay in North Berwick or Gullane and you are in the middle of everything, with the three courses all within about twenty five minutes by car. A hire car makes the short hops simple, though North Berwick itself is walkable from the station and the West Links. Edinburgh airport is about an hour away, and the city makes an easy alternative base if you want restaurants and sights between rounds.
This is exposed seaside golf, so pack for wind and sudden showers whatever the forecast: waterproofs, a warm layer and a spare glove are non negotiable even in summer. Book North Berwick and Gullane well ahead for high season, carry your handicap details, and dress to the smart links standard the clubs expect. May to September gives the warmest, driest conditions and the longest evenings, with the shoulder months trading a little weather risk for quieter fairways and softer rates.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels in North Berwick and Gullane.
Plan your East Lothian golf trip
Tell us when you want to travel and how many rounds you want, and one concierge books the tee times, holds a base in North Berwick or Gullane and costs the trip to the head, with a Muirfield or Renaissance Club round added where we can. No obligation.
East Lothian golf questions
What is the best 3 day golf itinerary on Scotland's east coast?
East Lothian, the stretch of coast east of Edinburgh known as Scotland's Golf Coast, is the ideal base. A classic route plays Gullane No 1 on the first day, the quirky and historic North Berwick West Links on the second and Dunbar on the third, all within about twenty five minutes of one another so you never change hotel. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
Where should you stay for an East Lothian golf trip?
Stay in North Berwick or Gullane. Both are charming seaside towns in the middle of the cluster, putting Gullane, North Berwick, Dunbar and the championship courses within a short drive. North Berwick has hotels and restaurants steps from the West Links, while Gullane sits beside its own three courses and Muirfield. Edinburgh is about forty minutes away if you prefer a city base.
How much does a 3 day East Lothian golf trip cost in green fees?
Three rounds come to roughly 500 to 600 pounds per golfer in peak 2026 season, led by North Berwick West Links at around 250 pounds, Gullane No 1 at around 205 and Dunbar at around 120. Shoulder season and twilight rates are considerably lower. These are indicative figures, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Can you play Muirfield on an East Lothian golf trip?
Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, accepts a limited number of visitors on set days by advance arrangement, and access is far from guaranteed. Most trips build around the courses that welcome visitors freely, such as North Berwick, Gullane and Dunbar, and treat a Muirfield tee time as a bonus arranged well in advance.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course histories, access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.