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"With ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh"

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 Wednesday 16 September

Today
Chance of rain %
Max temperature 16°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 68%
Min temperature 12°C
feels like 10°C
Wind 18mph

The tide at Thorntonloch Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 6:13 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 12:09 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Location: Thorntonloch

Location type: Village

OS Grid: NT754742

Coordinates: 55°57'37"N 2°23'43"W

Mapcode: GBR NDFY.Z73

What 3 Words: stubborn.september.shampoo

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: 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 However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication.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.

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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216.73.217.94 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:22:32 +0100