British Beaches

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"On her ship, tied to the mast"

Thorntonloch Beach

East Lothian, Scotland


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Thorntonloch Beach is a beautiful and somewhat secluded sandy beach located on the east coast of Scotland, near the town of Dunbar.

Thorntonloch Beach is situated almost hidden behind the rocky outcrop of Torness Point and within sight of the Torness nuclear power station. The beach runs south for approximately 400m, backed along its length by shallow dunes. It is a wide, sandy beach that offers a range of activities, including bathing, windsurfing, and fishing, making it a popular spot for fishermen.

The beach is located about 32 miles south of Edinburgh, just off the A1. There is a small caravan park immediately behind the beach, and free parking with toilets can be found close by. For those looking for more amenities, Dunbar town is approximately 6 miles to the north, offering a range of cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The area surrounding Thorntonloch Beach offers some good walks, including the John Muir Way, which passes nearby. The beach gained brief notoriety in May 1950 when 147 beached whales became stranded here.

Sand

Weather and tides for Tuesday 8 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 3%
Min temp. 15°C
(feels like 13°C)
Wind 16mph
Tomorrow (Wednesday)
Chance of rain 1%
Max temp. 23°C
(feels like 19°C)
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Thorntonloch Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 7:56 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 2:21 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   13.4°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Campsite Toilets
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Fishing Sunbathing Swimming Wind surfing
  • Features

    Dunes
  • Parking

    Car park. which is a short walk from the beach. providing space for about 40 cars.

  • Dogs

    Dogs are allowed.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Beach cleaned weekly during the summer.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Thorntonloch Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Pease Bay (3 miles)
Dunbar Golf Club (4.8 miles)
Coast to Coast Surf School (5.3 miles)
Victoria Harbour (5.5 miles)
John Muir's Birthplace (5.5 miles)
Dunbar Leisure Pool (5.6 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Thorntonloch

Location type: Village

OS Grid: NT754742

Country: Scotland

Local Authority: East Lothian

Nearest postcode: EH42 1QS

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

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Visitor information for Thorntonloch Beach, East Lothian, Scotland. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.9.173 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:43:20 +0100