Finally the main street suddenly takes almost a ninety degrees turn towards the bay. Continue along the main road towards Gullane and soon a wooden bridge comes into view, referred to by author Nigel Tranter as the "bridge to enchantment". Tranter lived and worked in Aberlady and everyday would set out with a note book over the bridge to write great historical novels: The Bruce Trilogy, The Wallace, Children of the Mist among them. As a teenager I was an avid reader of his books and had the good fortune to meet him and receive a signed copy of 'The Wallace'. The bridge crosses the Peffer Burn, the boundary between Aberlady and Dirleton parishes into Aberlady Nature Reserve,the first local reserve in the UK.
Adjacent to the car park, an odd shaped block resembling the numerous Second World War concrete, anti-tank blocks scattered along this coastline is the memorial erected to Nigel Tranter.
Following the coast road back, continue round the bay passing the scant remains of Kilspindie castle. Here a sign points to the old customs house or return by the delightfully named Coffin Lane, back to the church and the start of the walk.
Also worth visiting on advertised open days is Gosford House, built by Robert Adam and the home of the Earl of Wemyss.
Aberlady offers great charm and fascination for all lovers of nature,history and literature plus that bridge to enchantment.
Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Sheet 351 Dunbar & North Berwick