Dunbar or North Berwick?
 

For my first two nights after my flight from the West coast to Heathrow I will train up to this area to relax and get over jet lag. Any reason to pick one over the other?

Personally I prefer North Berwick as I find it more relaxing and better to wander about. The trains from London and the south stop often stop at Dunbar but do not stop at North Berwick so that may influence your decision.

Either would be fine IMO. Dunbar has all the John Muir connections and North Berwick has the Seabird Centre and golf courses.

The trains go to Dunbar and then there is bus service on to N. Berwick. Be sure to visit Tantallon and Dirleton castles. Both are basically walking distance from N. Berwick.

Both are nice, but Berwick's just got a wee bit more about itself

My advice would be to take the train right to Edinburgh and then take the commuter train back to North Berwick. The express trains from London do not stop at Dunbar to the best of my recollection. An even better idea would be to go to Musselburgh, which is an easy bus ride from Edinburgh, and stay at the Woodside hotel.

Think I have decided on North Berwick. I much prefer smaller towns and the thought of getting some sleep on the train up to Edinburgh is something to take into account.
Thanks all and if you have a recommendation for a B&B, open in the Winter, it would be welcomed.

try these:

http://www.thewing.co.uk/homepage.htm
http://www.seaholm.co.uk/

I like the location of these two

Dunbar is where I spent the first twenty years of my life. Greatly changed these days and I have to say that North Berwick now has much more to offer.

Tantallon and Dirleton castles are both very much worth a visit, but no way is either within walking distance.....both being around four miles from North Berwick. So that's an eight mile round trip!

Gullane is a nice option if you are just looking to relax.

But probably, I would go for North Berwick.

From the TIC in North Berrwick to Tantallon is approx. 2.5 miles. From the B&Bs I recommended on North Marine it is just a tad less. So I guess it depends on what one considers walkable.

I did say "basically" walkable -

I stand corrected...... 2.42 miles from your b&b, according to RAC, but still not a walk that I would recommend. It is nearly 40 years since I lived in Dunbar so I suppose my memories are probably a little bit vague. I served my apprenticeship working in North Berwick whilst living in Dunbar and travelled daily by bus, passing Tantallon twice a day everyday, for several years. It seemed longer than 2.5 miles......but, yes, janisj, you appear to be right.

Well, with the distance settled :), my guess is that a frequent bus service exist from North Berwick to the Castle?