Longniddry Bents
Encyclopedia
Longniddry Bents is a beach just north of Longniddry
in East Lothian
, Scotland
.
The beach is almost 2 miles in length, which includes Gosford Bay to the east side, and the rockier Seton Sands
to the west. Along the beach are the remains of a wall of concrete tank traps erected during World War II
as protection from any attempted German invasion. Many of these are now hidden in the surrounding sea-grass and sea buckthorn bushes.
The area is popular, mostly in the summer months, with local families, holidaymakers, picnickers, horseriders, ramblers, metal detectors, dogwalkers and the occasional kite buggy
. The shallow bay is a popular watersports location for windsurfers, kitesurfers and sea kayaks.
Many sea and wading birds frequent this area making it a regular haven for bird-watchers. A small community of rare water voles are known to reside around the several burns running out of the bents. Grey seal
s are often spotted to the west of the bay.
The area is part of the Firth of Forth
Site of Special Scientific Interest
, a Special Protection Area
and Ramsar Site.
There are three car-parking areas here, and the largest (No. 3) has good views west across the bay to Edinburgh
's skyline and the Forth Bridge and Forth Road Bridge
. Overnight parking is prohibited.
Close to car park No.3 is Gosford House
, and one of its two listed 18th century lodges can be seen on the main road.
Longniddry Bents are part of the John Muir Way
coastal walk and were presented with a Seaside Award (Rural) in 2006.
In the East Lothian Council-produced series of leaflets on the John Muir Way, Longniddry is included in the leaflet "Cockenzie to Aberlady". The John Muir way is also part of the North Sea Trail
of seven nations and 26 areas around the North Sea
.
Longniddry
Longniddry is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, with a population of 2,613 .Longniddry is primarily a dormitory village for commuters to Edinburgh, with good transport links by road and rail to the capital...
in 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....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The beach is almost 2 miles in length, which includes Gosford Bay to the east side, and the rockier Seton Sands
Seton Sands
Seton Sands is a rocky beach to the east of Port Seton, East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated at the western end of Longniddry Bents and is part of the John Muir Way coastal walk....
to the west. Along the beach are the remains of a wall of concrete tank traps erected during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as protection from any attempted German invasion. Many of these are now hidden in the surrounding sea-grass and sea buckthorn bushes.
Kite buggy
A kite buggy is a light, purpose-built vehicle powered by a traction kite . It is single-seated and has one steerable front wheel and two fixed rear wheels. The driver sits in the seat located in the middle of the vehicle and accelerates and slows down by applying steering manoeuvres in...
. The shallow bay is a popular watersports location for windsurfers, kitesurfers and sea kayaks.
Many sea and wading birds frequent this area making it a regular haven for bird-watchers. A small community of rare water voles are known to reside around the several burns running out of the bents. Grey seal
Grey Seal
The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus...
s are often spotted to the west of the bay.
The area is part of the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
and Ramsar Site.
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...
's skyline and the Forth Bridge and Forth Road Bridge
Forth Road Bridge
The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland. The bridge, opened in 1964, spans the Firth of Forth, connecting the capital city Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, to Fife, at North Queensferry...
. Overnight parking is prohibited.
Close to car park No.3 is Gosford House
Gosford House
Gosford House is the family seat of the Charteris family and is situated near Longniddry in East Lothian, Scotland. It was recently the home of the late Rt. Hon. David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March, chief of the name and arms of Charteris.Gosford was built by the 7th Earl of...
, and one of its two listed 18th century lodges can be seen on the main road.
Longniddry Bents are part of the John Muir Way
John Muir Way
The John Muir Way is a continuous coastal path in East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It is named in honour of the Scottish 19th-century conservationist John Muir, who was born at Dunbar, East Lothian, in 1838 and became a founder of America's national park system...
coastal walk and were presented with a Seaside Award (Rural) in 2006.
North Sea Trail
The North Sea Trail is a long-distance path linking seven countries and 26 partner areas in Northern Europe around the North Sea.The project's aims are to support sustainable tourism and to explore the heritage of communities along the North Sea coast....
of seven nations and 26 areas around the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
See also
- Longniddry Primary School
- Longniddry railway stationLongniddry railway stationLongniddry railway station is located at the southeast corner of the village of Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland. The station is on the East Coast Main Line 21 km east of Edinburgh Waverley, and is served by stopping passenger trains on the North Berwick Line.-History:The main line between...
- List of places in East Lothian