Scotland Station code DUN
Dunbar
Dunbar by train: an East Lothian harbour town, birthplace of John Muir, with coastal country park walks and Tantallon Castle nearby.
- Around 4 hours from London
- 2 LNER routes
- 3 things to do
The ruins of Dunbar Castle above Victoria HarbourPhoto: Jennifer Petrie, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Dunbar
Dunbar is a coastal town and former royal burgh in East Lothian, about 30 miles east of Edinburgh. Its harbour dates from 1574, and the ruins of Dunbar Castle – once one of Scotland's strongest fortresses – still cling to the rocks above it.
The town is best known as the birthplace of John Muir, the Scottish-American naturalist, writer and influential conservationist. The house where he was born is now a museum and the starting point of the John Muir Way, and the coastline west of town is protected as a country park in his name.
Direct LNER trains are few, but ScotRail and TransPennine Express link Dunbar to Edinburgh, making it an easy seaside outing from the capital.
Journey
DUN- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 4 hours
- LNER routes calling
- 2
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 17 of 18 | Reston | Edinburgh Waverley |
| London – Aberdeen stop 16 of 26 | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Edinburgh Waverley |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Only a handful of LNER trains call each day in the May–December 2026 timetable – more southbound than northbound. The quickest northbound direct train takes about 4 hours 5 minutes; otherwise travel via Edinburgh or Berwick.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1846 (building dated 1845)
- Heritage status
- Category B listed (Historic Environment Scotland LB24857)
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 416,356 entries and exits (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Until December 2019 Dunbar had only one platform in use, so trains heading for London and for Edinburgh had to take turns to call.
- Historic Environment Scotland's listing notes that the station site is thought to be that of Cromwell's camp.
- The station's old cast-iron footbridge had been bought second-hand from Ayton station in Berwickshire; it was demolished in 1979.
Photos of Dunbar
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The ruins of Dunbar Castle above Victoria Harbour Photo: Jennifer Petrie, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Dunbar's 1845 station building, seen from platform 2, which opened in 2019 Photo: Adrian Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Dunbar's old harbour and the town beyond Photo: Iain Lees, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Dunbar
The stone station building, with the booking hall, ticket office and toilets, stands on platform 1, which is level with the main entrance on Station Road. Platform 2, opened in 2019, is reached by a footbridge with lifts. The town centre is a short walk away – about a third of a mile as the crow flies – and the harbour and castle ruins are about half a mile due north.
The station is a short walk from the town centre – about a third of a mile as the crow flies – with a footbridge with lifts and a car park.
Getting around
The High Street, harbour and John Muir's Birthplace are all walkable. Visit East Lothian says it is about 15 minutes on foot from the station to the eastern end of John Muir Country Park. Tantallon Castle, near North Berwick, is best reached by car or bus.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail (stopping trains to Edinburgh)
- TransPennine Express (Newcastle and Edinburgh)
- CrossCountry (limited)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to both platforms (National Rail category A), with a footbridge and a lift to each platform
- StaffingStaffed Monday to Friday 06:10–21:15, Saturday 07:00–20:00, Sunday 11:15–18:30
- Ticket officeIn the booking hall on platform 1, open the same hours as the staffing times
- Ticket machinesFor buying tickets and collecting ones bought online
- Waiting roomIn the ticket office building during opening hours, plus enclosed shelters on both platforms
- ToiletsIn the booking hall, open only while the ticket office is open
- Accessible toiletUnisex accessible toilet in the booking hall
- Baby changingAvailable
- Help pointsOn both platforms, with induction loops
- Food and drinkNone listed at the station
- Wi-fiNo station wi-fi
- Left luggageNot available
- Car park76 spaces run by ScotRail, open 24 hours, including 6 accessible bays and EV charging points; £2 an hour or £4 a day, free for Blue Badge holders in Blue Badge bays
- Cycle parking48 uncovered stands in the car park, covered by CCTV
- TaxisTaxi rank at the station
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Dunbar was one of the stations on the North British Railway's main line from Edinburgh to Berwick, which opened in June 1846. Its two-storey, Tudor-style building of squared rubble with pale Catcraig stone dressings is dated to 1845 and is now category B listed; the platform side still has a fretted timber canopy.
The line has had its dramas. In August 1948 severe flooding closed the main line and trains were diverted via Carlisle until November. During electrification in 1987–88 British Rail removed the station roof and the northbound platform, leaving a single platform on a loop that served trains in both directions. A new second platform, with a footbridge and lifts, opened in December 2019, letting trains call in each direction at the same time.
A day in Dunbar
John Muir's home town, its harbour and the coast he loved, all on foot from the station.
-
Morning
John Muir's Birthplace
Walk into town to the house on the High Street where the naturalist was born, now a museum about his life and ideas.
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Late morning
Harbour and castle ruins
Head down to the harbours, where the red sandstone ruins of Dunbar Castle cling to the rocks above Victoria Harbour.
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Lunch
Lunch by the harbour
The Creel, on Lamer Street by the old harbour, serves lunch from Tuesday to Saturday.
-
Afternoon
Along the John Muir Country Park coast
Walk out along the protected coastline west of town, about 15 minutes on foot from the station to the park's eastern end.
Things to do near Dunbar
John Muir's Birthplace
The house where John Muir was born is now a museum about the inventor, botanist, writer and campaigner, towards the north end of the High Street.
John Muir Country Park
Around eight miles of coastline between Dunbar Castle and Pfeffer Sands, protected for its wildlife and geology, with a large outdoor play area and picnic tables.
Tantallon Castle
A dramatic 14th-century cliff-top fortress facing the Bass Rock, and the last medieval curtain-wall castle built in Scotland.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Restaurant
The Creel
A family-run restaurant beside Dunbar's historic harbour, cooking with local produce – including Dunbar lobster – and serving lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.
Day trips from Dunbar
-
Edinburgh
The capital is under half an hour away, so Dunbar makes a relaxed seaside base for exploring it.
LNER trains to Edinburgh Waverley take about 25 minutes (only a few a day in the May–December 2026 timetable); ScotRail and TransPennine Express also run to Edinburgh.
-
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Cross the border for England's northernmost town, ringed by Elizabethan ramparts.
LNER trains to Berwick take about 24 minutes (a handful a day in the May–December 2026 timetable); TransPennine Express also runs there.
Where to stay in Dunbar
Dunbar has a modest choice of places to stay; the wider East Lothian coast and Edinburgh offer more.
Tips for your visit
- The John Muir Way long-distance route starts at the Birthplace – even a short stretch along the coast is worthwhile.
- With few direct LNER calls, consider travelling via Edinburgh and taking a local train back out to Dunbar.
Questions about Dunbar station
How far is Dunbar town centre from the station?
About a third of a mile as the crow flies, and the harbour is about half a mile due north.
Is Dunbar station step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to both platforms, with a footbridge and a lift to each platform.
Can I park at Dunbar station?
Yes. ScotRail's 76-space car park is open 24 hours and charges £2 an hour or £4 a day, with 6 accessible bays (National Rail, checked September 2026).
Are there toilets at the station?
Yes, in the booking hall, including a unisex accessible toilet – but only while the ticket office is open.
Can I get a direct train from London?
Only a handful of LNER trains call each day in the May–December 2026 timetable; otherwise travel via Edinburgh or Berwick-upon-Tweed.
How far is John Muir Country Park?
Visit East Lothian says it is about 15 minutes on foot from the station to the eastern end of the park.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- jmbt.org.uk/
- visiteastlothian.org/things-to-see-do/beaches/john-muir-country-park-linkfield/
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/tantallon-castle/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir's_Birthplace
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_Country_Park
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar_Castle
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantallon_Castle
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/dun/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB24857
- thecreeldunbar.co.uk/
Travelling to Dunbar?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.