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"The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too"

Gosford Sands

East Lothian, Scotland


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Gosford Sands is a picturesque beach located on the East Lothian coast of the Firth of Forth, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance.

Gosford Sands is a west-facing sand and shingle bay, popular with walkers, bird watchers, and kite-flyers. The beach is set against a backdrop of forest and cliffs, and is just a short drive from Edinburgh. The bay is situated near the magnificent Georgian mansion of Gosford House, which is still privately owned but open to the public during the summer.

The beach is west-facing, and the westerly winds have caused erosion of the sand over the years. However, measures have been taken to stabilise the sand, including the use of sea-lyme grass and dead buckthorn as sea defences along the shoreline at the southern end of the bay. At low tide, a large expanse of sand and shingle beach is exposed, providing ample space for activities. When the tide is in, the coastal road running alongside the beach limits the area available for games and other activities.

The beach is home to a variety of wildlife, including curlew, plovers, and other wading birds, which can be seen in the mud flats at low tide. The beach also features the remains of wartime defence blocks between the road and the shoreline.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Wednesday 16 September

Today
Chance of rain %
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 17°C
Wind 16mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 81%
Min temperature 13°C
feels like 11°C
Wind 19mph

The tide at Gosford Sands is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 11:49 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 6:34 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Location: Craigielaw

Location type: Village

Nearest village: Longniddry

OS Grid: NT444785

Coordinates: 55°59'46"N 2°53'31"W

Mapcode: GBR 2M.VB5M

What 3 Words: poets.candle.routs

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: Scotland

Local Authority: East Lothian

Nearest postcode: EH32 0PX

(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.

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

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216.73.217.16 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:59:54 +0100