logo
Award-winning holiday park next to one of UK's finest beaches set to triple in size – with 22 new lodges being built

Award-winning holiday park next to one of UK's finest beaches set to triple in size – with 22 new lodges being built

Scottish Sun22-05-2025

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A POPULAR holiday resort located next to one of the UK's top beaches is set to undergo an ambitious expansion.
The award-winning park, made up of wooden cabins, will triple in size as 22 new lodges are added.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Whitekirk Hill is set to triple the amount of lodges on site with an ambitious new expansion
Credit: Landal
5
Whitekirk Hill already has nine eco-friendly lodges, with 22 more planned as part of the project
Credit: Landal
Whitekirk Hill is located in East Lothian, Scotland, just an 11 minute drive from North Berwick.
It first opened in 2019 following a £3 million renovation of the golf club which previously occupied the site.
The location was converted into a modern family-friendly lifestyle hub, which includes a café, restaurant, indoor children's play area, spa, gym, and event spaces.
In 2021, nine luxury eco-lodges were added to the property for overnight guests.
Now Whitekirk Hill plans to add 22 more lodges, tripling the size of its accommodation.
Plans were approved in April, consisting of 12 three-bedroom lodges and 10 one-bedroom micro lodges.
And the resort reportedly plans to add an additional 10 lodges in the future.
The news comes just weeks after the Wild Cairns Outdoor Activity Centre was opened at the 160-acre resort.
This new addition features an axe-throwing area, an airsoft gun range with zombie targets, and a 1.5-mile obstacle course.
Younger visitors can enjoy an indoor adventure playground with climbing structures and slides, perfect for colder days.
Inside little-known seaside spot right next to the country's most iconic sites
Guests can also enjoy garden games, which are available for hire for weddings, corporate events, and private parties.
The resort boasts views of the nearby Tantallon Castle, the Bass Rock, and the Firth of Forth.
Described as the place "where beauty meets adventure", Whitekirk Hill has been awarded a five star rating by the Scottish tourism board.
And if that's not enough reasons to visit this stunning area, one of the UK's finest beaches is also located nearby.
Tyninghame Links, also known as Ravensheugh Sands, is regarded as "one of the finest beaches in the south of Scotland", according to Visit East Lothian.
The World's 50 Best Beaches
The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches. Lucky Bay, Australia Source D'Argent, Seychelles Hidden, Philippines Whitehaven, Australia One Foot, Cook Islands Trunk, US Virgin Islands Honopu, Hawaii Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland Navagio Beach, Greece Balandra, Mexico Cala Goloritze, Italy Pipe Creek, Bahamas Pink, Indonesia Grace, Turks & Caicos Gardner, Ecuador Mcway, California Turquoise, Australia Le Morne, Mauritius Sancho, Brazil Seven Mile, Cayman Islands Lanikai, Hawaii Maya, Thailand Moro, Spain Kelingking, Indonesia Meads, Anguilla Flamenco, Puerto Rico Arena, Dominican Republic Little Hellfire, Australia Lazio, Seychelles Vaeroy, Norway Horseshoe, Bermuda Myrtos, Greece Hidden, Mexico Grand Anse, Grenada Xpu Ha, Mexico San Josef, Canada Matira, French Polynesia Capriccioli, Italy Pasjaca, Croatia Boulders, South Africa Salines, Martinique Champagne, Vanuatu Marinha, Portugal Balos, Greece Achmelvich, Scotland Kaputas, Turkey Radhangar, India Varadero, Cuba Piha, New Zealand Pink Sand, Bahamas
Paths wind through the adjacent forest, emerging onto the huge sandy bay, with dramatic views of the Bass Rock.
Visitors can park up nearby for just £3 for the entire day.
And if you're a fan of the show Outlander, this area may look familiar to you.
This stunning beach featured in season five, episode two, in what has been described as "one of the most dramatic scenes" of the series.
Whitekirk Hill is located just 46 minutes from Edinburgh, and is well worth a day trip if you're in the area.
5
Whitekirk Hill has received a five star rating from the Scottish tourism board
Credit: Landal
5
It is located near Ravensheigh Sands, regarded as one of Scotland's finest beaches
Credit: Alamy

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY?
UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY?

Scottish Sun

time14 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY?

Inside the ultra-luxe nursery where toddlers jam on drums and dine like royalty HOW MUCH? UK's POSHEST nursery with gourmet chef's tasting menu & kids potty trained on marble loos… but is it worth £150 a DAY? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT COSTS £150 a day — and comes with marble loos, Mandarin lessons and a gourmet tasting menu. Welcome to Odyssey, the UK's poshest nursery, where toddlers are potty trained in luxury and dine like mini royals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant's tasting course Credit: The Odyssey 6 Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play Credit: The Odyssey 6 The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education Credit: The Odyssey Based in Marylebone, central London, this lavish early-years setting has just opened in a Grade II-listed former prep school, offering a blend of elite childcare, plush interiors and a 'global' outlook — including marble loos for potty training. The nursery, which hails from Singapore and is built on the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-led learning, is the first of its kind in the UK. Spread across three pristine, light-filled floors, Odyssey caters to children from infancy up to five years old, offering everything from multilingual education to music lessons in a dedicated 'jam room.' Angela Ang, head of school, explained: 'Our philosophy is 'learning without boundaries', so we believe learning doesn't only take place in the rooms, it takes place anywhere.' For £150 a day — or £690 for a full five-day week — little ones are served three gourmet meals prepared by an in-house chef, all NHS-accredited. But this is no ordinary nursery food. Think free-range pork loin with leek and cauliflower gratin, or spanakopita with tzatziki. One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant's tasting course. Still, Odyssey isn't just about luxury lunches. Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play. Each room is designed with natural materials and educational themes, encouraging hands-on exploration and creativity. There's a bespoke library, a spacious art studio, and even a climbing wall outside. Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play. Ang said: 'We observe the needs of the children, their interests, and we provide materials based on what they enjoy.' Technology plays a subtle role too. 'We give the children iPads,' she said. What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. 'If we're learning about shapes, for example, they might find a circle in their environment, snap a photo, and we project it onto the screen so everyone can see each other's work.' The focus, she insists, is not just on ticking off academic milestones. 'We want them to leave with lifelong learning skills — soft skills, open-mindedness, resilience and a willingness to take risks,' said Ang. The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education. With Singapore's education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience who expect high quality — and are prepared to pay for it. In an age when many nurseries in the capital charge more than £100 per day, often with additional fees for meals or longer hours, Odyssey's all-in model, while eye-watering, is not entirely out of step. Parents across England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare for children aged three and four, with up to 30 hours for working families, but many London nurseries charge well above the funded hours. Odyssey also prides itself on being inclusive, catering to both mainstream children and those with special educational needs and disabilities. The nursery is yet to be rated by Ofsted but says it's committed to top-tier educational outcomes and pastoral care. 6 Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play Credit: The Odyssey 6 With Singapore's education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience Credit: The Odyssey

Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners
Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners

South Wales Guardian

time21 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners

Charles met David Beckham, Stanley Tucci and Penny Lancaster, all King's Foundation ambassadors, alongside friends of the charitable body, Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, at the St James's Palace awards ceremony. Prizes including Young Entrepreneur and Advocate of the Year were presented by the celebrities including the King Charles III Harmony Award, recognising a long-term commitment to the foundation's mission of creating a world where people, places and the planet can live in harmony. Charles met his foundation's famous supporters and award winners before touring stands showcasing the charity's work, and Winslet smiled as she told him: 'Don't worry, I'll be all in – I've got your back.' Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc hailed the King for his campaigning over the decades on issues like communities, sustainability and traditional crafts that underpin the foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary. His ITV series Raymond Blanc's Royal Kitchen Gardens took him to palaces like Hampton Court and Hillsborough, as well as Highgrove House and the Castle of Mey – places Charles calls home. Blanc, a foundation ambassador, said after meeting Charles: 'I think what the King has done is extraordinary. He's done it for many, many years – from the 1970s, about the same time I arrived in England – and my values are his values. 'There's a deep belief in connecting human beings with communities, with agriculture, with sustainability, management of waste, management of energy, and he has done it for the last 45, 50 years.' Speaking about filming at the King's Scottish retreat, the Castle of Mey, which once belonged to his grandmother the Queen Mother, Blanc added: 'I really believe he got all his values seeing his grandma in this beautiful space. 'So natural, close to the sea, at the tip of Scotland where there was such a reservoir of natural things.' Blanc's words were echoed by Penny Lancaster who praised the monarch for creating the awards and highlighting the needs of the planet throughout his adult life. She added: 'The King may have been accused of hugging trees and people thinking he was mad when he started talking about the environment all that time ago, but he was at the forefront then and now has been proved right with everything he said and now we're all just trying to play catch up. 'I really recognise the beauty in the way he is trying to get us on board with his knowledge and if we can pass that on to the younger generation, and save some of the traditional skills like we've seen with these winners today, we can all be a part of making a difference.' The King's Foundation, previously known as The Prince's Foundation following an amalgamation of Charles' charities which stretch back to 1990, aims to 'advocate for the change His Majesty wants to see in the world'. The Emerging Talent prize was presented by Beckham, the former England football captain rumoured to be knighted soon, to Emily Hurst who has shown exceptional talent and commitment while on a King's Foundation programme. She recently completed the Chanel and King's Foundation Metiers d'Art Fellowship in Millinery, based at Highgrove Gardens after she had become fascinated with the heritage craft of straw braiding and began learning to produce hats from the material. She said: 'Working at Highgrove was absolutely the best place to be, surrounded by so much inspiration from His Majesty's garden and learning from some of the best milliners with country, I'm so incredibly honoured.'

Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners
Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners

North Wales Chronicle

time30 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Charles joined by David Beckham and Meryl Streep to celebrate award winners

Charles met David Beckham, Stanley Tucci and Penny Lancaster, all King's Foundation ambassadors, alongside friends of the charitable body, Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, at the St James's Palace awards ceremony. Prizes including Young Entrepreneur and Advocate of the Year were presented by the celebrities including the King Charles III Harmony Award, recognising a long-term commitment to the foundation's mission of creating a world where people, places and the planet can live in harmony. Charles met his foundation's famous supporters and award winners before touring stands showcasing the charity's work, and Winslet smiled as she told him: 'Don't worry, I'll be all in – I've got your back.' Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc hailed the King for his campaigning over the decades on issues like communities, sustainability and traditional crafts that underpin the foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary. His ITV series Raymond Blanc's Royal Kitchen Gardens took him to palaces like Hampton Court and Hillsborough, as well as Highgrove House and the Castle of Mey – places Charles calls home. Blanc, a foundation ambassador, said after meeting Charles: 'I think what the King has done is extraordinary. He's done it for many, many years – from the 1970s, about the same time I arrived in England – and my values are his values. 'There's a deep belief in connecting human beings with communities, with agriculture, with sustainability, management of waste, management of energy, and he has done it for the last 45, 50 years.' Speaking about filming at the King's Scottish retreat, the Castle of Mey, which once belonged to his grandmother the Queen Mother, Blanc added: 'I really believe he got all his values seeing his grandma in this beautiful space. 'So natural, close to the sea, at the tip of Scotland where there was such a reservoir of natural things.' Blanc's words were echoed by Penny Lancaster who praised the monarch for creating the awards and highlighting the needs of the planet throughout his adult life. She added: 'The King may have been accused of hugging trees and people thinking he was mad when he started talking about the environment all that time ago, but he was at the forefront then and now has been proved right with everything he said and now we're all just trying to play catch up. 'I really recognise the beauty in the way he is trying to get us on board with his knowledge and if we can pass that on to the younger generation, and save some of the traditional skills like we've seen with these winners today, we can all be a part of making a difference.' The King's Foundation, previously known as The Prince's Foundation following an amalgamation of Charles' charities which stretch back to 1990, aims to 'advocate for the change His Majesty wants to see in the world'. The Emerging Talent prize was presented by Beckham, the former England football captain rumoured to be knighted soon, to Emily Hurst who has shown exceptional talent and commitment while on a King's Foundation programme. She recently completed the Chanel and King's Foundation Metiers d'Art Fellowship in Millinery, based at Highgrove Gardens after she had become fascinated with the heritage craft of straw braiding and began learning to produce hats from the material. She said: 'Working at Highgrove was absolutely the best place to be, surrounded by so much inspiration from His Majesty's garden and learning from some of the best milliners with country, I'm so incredibly honoured.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store