Apparently Scotland is one of the top ten countries in the world when it comes to golf courses per capita.
They take their golf seriously in Scotland and are widely promoted as “the home of golf”.
Thats not a bad thing to be known for.
“Gullane Hill, with the sun shining and the wind blowing, the black clouds banked beyond the Forth, and just a glimpse in the distance of the mighty tracery of the Forth bridge, is one of the most beautiful spots in the world”
Wrote Bernard Darwin in an article for Country Life called “On Gullane Hill”.
Gullane village as viewed from the beach at the Forth or Firth.
Gullane is a small town on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian,
on the east coast of Scotland that lives and breathes golf, and it is where I found myself (through a Trusted Housesitters job), caring for Jussi the young black Labrador while her owners took a break away for a five days.
There are five superb golf courses in this small village about 30 mins drive south of Edinburgh, on the coast, apparently made so through the naturally occurring exquisite turf which maintains its quality year round. The best land in the area, is occupied by - yep, you guessed it - golf courses.
The stunning coastline in Gullane
Dissecting these fairways are beach access tracks, which give way to stunning coastal walkways with wonderful views across the Forth and towards the close larger town of North Berwick with its many off-shore small islands, home to many seabird varieties.
From the Gullane coast looking towards Bass Rock (off the coast of North Berwick)
Bass Rock with its distinctive lighthouse, and the small island of Craigleath (above)
Jussi was energetic - being young - and LOVED her three walks a day, especially if these included being able to swim.
Jussi the good girl.
Jussi’s humans were Geoff and Colette; and they chose me to care for their dog because I was a Kiwi. Geoff had lived and worked in New Zealand as a young optometrist for a while, and those vividly fond memories of my country had stayed with him.
I was treated to a wonderful five days in their glorious home, with the use of an EV, an amazing dog for company and wonderful walking trails to explore. Jussi was a well-disciplined dog, eager for affection and attention and was delight to have for company during my time exploring life in a small Scottish Village.
Being a substitute dog-owner for a few days, also brings with it the meritorious advantage of meeting random strangers to discuss all issues ‘dog’. It also brought with it the obligatory duty of seeking out lost golf balls, of which we found many, Jussi and I.
perfect golf-ball hunting terrain!
The colourful homes of Gullane.
From Gullane I frequented North Berwick (an extremely pretty coastal town which is the home of the Scottish Seabird Centre), hunting coffee and coastal walking tracks. I also visited Saltcoast Castle and Dirlton Castle, the latter also containing a delightful (and very old) walled garden full of summer blooms.
Stunning flowers from the gardens of Dirlton Castle
Dirlton Castle
Gullane was to be my last foray in Scotland and I was loathe to leave.
Another gorgeous stretch of beach near Gullane.
I headed back to Edinburgh on the train - after spending a night with Geoff and Colette (back home from their break) - sharing wonderful stories, food and wine. I prolonged the bliss and stayed one more night in Edinburgh, soaking up another full day in this wonderfully vibrant city before flying down to Dublin.
The gorgeous coastal town of North Berwick
Tips for Scotland:
See my first blog on Scotland for specific tips on Edinburgh
Public transport is not that reliable for beyond Edinburgh and the larger cities, so a car rental option is highly recommended for venturing further afield, unless taking a train
The roads in Scotland can be very narrow and windy.
Left hand side driving is the rule
There are villages every few kilometres in Scotland, so gas stations and pubs are common!
The Scottish weather is inclement at the best of times. ALWAYS take a jacket!
Check out Trusted Housesitters for opportunities to pet sit and explore!