Thistle Gardens
An attractive coastal town with a rich and fascinating history, Dunbar combines picturesque buildings and magnificent views with a reputation for being exceptionally sunny. With many of the benefits of a major regeneration project now in place, this welcoming community combines sea air and broad horizons with remarkable convenience. Thistle Gardens is only around 45-minutes' drive, or a 20-minute train journey, from the centre of Edinburgh.
Local history
Dunbar, a settlement which dates back to the Bronze Age, was made a Royal Burgh in 1370 by King David II. The town has been the setting for some of Scottish history's most dramatic episodes, including a major battle in 1650 between Cromwell's troops and the Scots army. The ruined castle which guards the harbour, twice provided refuge for Mary Queen of Scots. Today the town is celebrated as the birthplace of John Muir, the pioneering conservationist and founder of the American National Park Movement. In addition to a museum where you can explore local history and archaeology, a superb education and interpretation centre has been created in the house where John Muir was born.
Outdoor activities
Dunbar is a wonderful base for walkers and cyclists, with a rich variety of green spaces, seafront and inland paths to explore. A cliff-top trail through a succession of natural habitats and the challenging John Muir Way, will eventually cover the whole North Sea coastline. The John Muir Country Park on the edge of the town, combines peace and quiet with some of the most spectacular views in East Lothian.
Sport and leisure
The Hallhill Healthy Living Centre, a few minutes' walk from Thistle Gardens, offers a choice of indoor and outdoor activities, including badminton and squash courts, an all-weather track and floodlit multi-use sports pitches. Dunbar has an excellent new Leisure Pool, close to the seafront, in which water features and a shallow beach are complemented by a health suite, body-conditioning room and poolside café. Dunbar Golf Club, with a breathtaking links course laid out by the legendary Old Tom Morris in the middle of the nineteenth century, has hosted all of the major Scottish championships. Family days out at nearby attractions include the Museum of Flight, around nine miles away, where you can visit one of the decommissioned Concorde aircraft. The Myreton Motor Museum, around 12 miles from the development, has a diverse collection of cars, motorbikes and cycles dating back to 1899.
Shops, bars and restaurants
Dunbar High Street and its surrounding area, less than 10 minutes' walk from Thistle Gardens, contains a comprehensive choice of local shops catering for everyday needs, including convenience stores and supermarkets as well as traditional butchers, bakers and greengrocers. There is also a good choice of bars and restaurants in the town.
Transport
Thistle Gardens is approximately two minutes' walk from Dunbar Railway Station, from where there are frequent services into Edinburgh. There is also an excellent bus network linking Dunbar with other East Lothian towns and villages as well as the capital. The A1 is just five minutes from the development, offering fast access into central Edinburgh. Edinburgh International Airport is just 45 minutes' drive away.
Education
Dunbar Primary School, which underwent a major refurbishment at the turn of the millennium, is a co-educational and interdenominational school serving the whole community. It has both nursery and primary classes, and it also provides specialist teaching in music and PE. Dunbar Grammar School, also recently refurbished and extended, is a six-year interdenominational comprehensive. Both schools are within easy walking distance of Thistle Gardens.
Health care
Dunbar Medical Centre in Queens Road, around a quarter of a mile from the development, offers a full range of GP services. There are also two nearby dental surgeries in the High Street. |
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