Wild Swimming
Yellowcraig Beach
Yellowcraig is East Lothian's most popular family beach — a broad arc of clean Firth of Forth sand with views to Fidra Island (inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island), plus the Bass Rock (gannet colony) and Berwick Law beyond. The Firth here is warmer than the open North Sea, making this one of the more approachable east-coast sea swims. The pinewood behind the beach gives shelter for post-swim picnics. The RNLI have lifeguards in peak summer weeks.
Quick facts
- Type
- Beach
- Region
- Edinburgh & Lothians
- Grid ref
- NT 511 857
- Entry
- Sandy shore
- Depth
- Shallow (wading depth)
- Summer water temp
- 9–16°C
- Midges
- Low
- Dogs
- Off-lead OK
Key hazards
- cold water shock
- rip currents in onshore swell
- Dirleton rocks near eastern headland
Getting there
Large car park (EH39 5PH) near Dirleton village, managed by East Lothian Council. Open year-round. The beach is a 600m walk through dunes. Facilities including toilets in the car park.
Parking postcode: EH39 5PH
Safety
RNLI seasonal lifeguard cover at peak summer periods. Rip current risk in onshore southwest wind — swim between the flags when lifeguards are present.
Best for
- Edinburgh day trip
- families
- Treasure Island Fidra Island view
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:10
- Sunset
- 21:05
- Civil dawn
- 04:23
- Civil dusk
- 21:53
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- Did Treasure Island inspire Fidra Island?
- Robert Louis Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh and is believed to have been inspired by the shape of Fidra Island when writing Treasure Island, though he never confirmed this directly.
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