Overview

With the summer upon us, amongst the showers, it was time to head out for some exploring. Fancying a beach, but not a crowded one, I headed off along the coast to Yellowcraig. A sand drenched beach and small forest area on the East Lothian coastline. One of many beaches, it’s worthy go note for its reasonable access, good loos, and parking arrangements. You can wheel around the paths as you peer across the sand dunes. Avoiding the sands beach unless you’re equipped to go on to the sands. A beach wheelchair or all terrain buggy would be very handy here!

Transport & Parking

The best way to arrive is by your own transport simply because Yellowcraig is set at the end of a fairly lengthy single track style lane that runs from the nearby village of Dirleton. A large but sometimes busy car park is set out at the end of the lane. There is a height barrier here so tall vehicle will not slip under the 2m barrier. Useful to note if you’ve got a high top WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) as you will not find suitable parking easily here as you’d be competing with the motorhomes in the singular parking area for taller vehicles. Once in the main car park head for the only building you can see nearest the sea and tree line. In front of this you will find a row of accessible parking bays. The cap park is chargeable but the Blue Badge parking is free of charge.

Access

Beaches are often no go areas for wheelchair users as that idea of bringing sand, wheels and motors can be quite frightening. Yellowcraig is an interesting location as whilst you cannot wheel on the sands of the beach, also known as Broadsands Bay, there is a decent path from the car park across the dune like area to a wooden viewing platform. From this slightly raised platform you can get a good view out across the seashore on onward to Fidra island where the old lighthouse conjures up dreams of shipwrecks and pirates. Adjacent to the car park is a wooded area where there are some woodland paths as well as a children’s play area. It looks good for youngsters who like climbing up and onto things or exploring in their new found woodland world. Quite a nice place to sit a while too if you’re waiting on the children getting tired out and wanting to move on. The Joh Muir coastal path also crosses the dune area here and whilst the paths aren’t that accessible for typical wheelchair users they may work for folks who have more robust power chairs and fancy a bit of off road exploring.

Toilets

Within the faculties block adjacent to the accessible parking and accessed easily from the car parking is an accessible toilet. East Lothian have adopted a different approach to the usual RADAR lock on the door. The Council use a red coloured RADAR padlock which you unlock to open the building and whilst using the facilities you lock on to the door frame to prevent being locked in or people ‘borrowing’ the lock. At first I was too sure about this but having seen it in use across the area I have grown to prefer it. The loos spotless, spacious, and well equipped. If you are looking for a Changing Places Toilet and want to visit an amazing beach you can pop along the coast a few miles and visit Gullane where they have a Changing Places toilet as well as accessible toilets. It’s simply Fab!

Staff

This is an unstaffed site but I have met the ‘rangers’ from time to time on my visits and they are friendly and helpful.

Photos