Gosford Sands

Popular with walkers, bird watchers and kite-flyers, this attractive strip of beach, with its backdrop of forest and cliffs is just a short drive from Edinburgh.

Behind the beach are the gates to the magnificent Georgian mansion of Gosford House. This is still privately owned, although it is open to the public during the summer.

The beach is west-facing and the waves generated by the westerly winds have caused erosion of the sand over the years.  However, action has been taken to stabilise the sand. Sea defences made from sea-lyme grass and dead buckthorn run along the shoreline at the southern end of the bay.

At low tide, a large expanse of sand and shingle beach is exposed.  When the tide is in, the coastal road running alongside the beach limits the area available for games and other activities.
There are the remains of wartime defence blocks between the road and the shore line.

When the tide is out, curlew, plovers and other wading birds can be seen down in the mud flats.