Innerwick is a coastal civil parish

Civil parishes in Scotland

In Scotland, parishes, as units of local government, were abolished by the Local Government Act 1929. The geographical area is sometimes still referred to, however, for statistical purposes....

 and small village, which lies in the east of East Lothian

East Lothian

East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....

, 5 miles (8 km) from Dunbar

Dunbar

Dunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....

 and approximately 32 miles (51.5 km) from Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

.

Innerwick Castle

Innerwick Castle

Innerwick Castle is a ruined castle in East Lothian, Scotland, near the village of Innerwick, from Dunbar, on the Thornton Burn, and overlooking Thornton Glen....

 was originally a Stewart stronghold, then passed to a grandson of Walter fitz Gilbert de Hamilton

Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow

Sir Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow, 1st Laird of Cadzow was a Scottish nobleman. The son of Gilbert fitz William of Hameldone, and an unknown wife, possibly Isabelle Randolph...

, and remained in the Hamilton family, until its destruction. Alongside nearby, Thornton Castle, a fortalice owing allegiance to the Earls of Home

Earl of Home

The title Earl of Home was created in 1605 in the Peerage of Scotland for Alexander Home of that Ilk, who was already the 6th Lord Home.The Earl of Home holds the subsidiary titles of Lord Home , and Lord Dunglass , in the Peerage of Scotland; and Baron Douglas, of Douglas in the County of Lanark ...

, it was destroyed after a siege by the invading forces of the Duke of Somerset

Duke of Somerset

Duke of Somerset is a title in the peerage of England that has been created several times. Derived from Somerset, it is particularly associated with two families; the Beauforts who held the title from the creation of 1448 and the Seymours, from the creation of 1547 and in whose name the title is...

, during the Rough Wooing.

The village itself is not of great antiquity; the old primary school, village hall and Parish Church all date from around 1784. The majority of the buildings created at this time are made from sandstone. A large number of the buildings in Innerwick are listed as having architectural or historical importance.

The village and surrounding area have been designated as a conservation area

Conservation area

A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...

, which strictly controls development in the surrounding area, helping the village stay as small and well preserved as it is.

It has an outdoor centre which was formerly the old school and schoolhouse. This has recently undergone refurbishment and modernisation and is regularly used by schools in the county, as well as groups from further afield.