film location
Preston Mill, East Lothian (Outlander)
The 18th-century water mill with its conical kiln appears as the mill Jamie hides beneath in Outlander.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Haddington
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Haddington
Haddington works well as a base: 15 minutes from Longniddry, 14km from Tantallon Castle.
Haddington is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 9,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Longniddry, about 7 km away.
Haddington (Scots: Haidintoun, Scottish Gaelic: Baile Adainn) is a historic market town in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies about 17 miles (27 kilometres) east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the sixth or seventh century AD when the area was incorporated into the Kingdom of Bernicia. TheRead more
town, like the rest of the Lothian region, was ceded by Edgar, King of England and became part of Scotland in the tenth century. During the reign of David I (1124–1153) Haddington received burgh status, becoming the Royal Burgh of Haddington; one of the earliest settlements to receive the status. This endowed Haddington with trading rights which encouraged its growth into a market town.
During the High Middle Ages, it was the fourth-biggest town in Scotland (after Aberdeen, Roxburgh and Edinburgh). In the centre of the town is the Town House, completed in 1745 based on a plan by William Adam. When first built, it contained markets on the ground floor, and an assembly hall on the first floor to which improvements were made in 1788, and a spire was added in 1831. Other notable buildings include the Corn Exchange (1854) and the County Courthouse (1833). Notable sites of interest include the Jane Welsh Carlyle House; Mitchell's Close; and a building on the High Street that was the birthplace of the author and government reformer Samuel Smiles and is marked by a commemorative plaque. John Knox was probably born in Haddington and Knox Academy, the local high school, is named after him.
Haddington had a population of 11,354 inhabitants in 2022. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Haddington?
Within an hour or so of Haddington: Preston Mill, East Lothian (Outlander) (9 km), Tantallon Castle (14 km), Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh (24 km), National Museum of Scotland (25 km).
Are there any good drives near Haddington?
The nearest famous roads are The Royal Mile, College Valley and Holy Island Causeway.
Where is Haddington?
Haddington is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 7 km from Longniddry.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 9,020
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.9561, -2.7833
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Haddington
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Tantallon Castle
A vast red curtain wall on a clifftop in East Lothian facing the Bass Rock, the last of Scotland's great courtyard castles.
14 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Ancient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
24 km · about 25 min drive
museum
National Museum of Scotland
A stunning Victorian and modern building housing diverse collections from Scottish history to world cultures and natural science.
25 km · about 30 min drive
historic highway
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
25 km · about 30 min drive
cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh with its distinctive crown spire, mother church of Presbyterianism on the Royal Mile.
25 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Calton Hill
An accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Edinburgh Castle
Dramatic fortress perched atop Castle Rock, dominating the Edinburgh skyline for over 900 years.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Haddington
- 24 kmArthur's Seat, EdinburghAncient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
- 25 kmThe Royal MileEdinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
- 25 kmCalton HillAn accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
- 40 kmQueensferry CrossingThe world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
- 60 kmCollege ValleyA remote Cheviot valley reached by a permit-only single-track road, one of the quietest drives in England.
- 66 kmHoly Island CausewayThe tidal road to Lindisfarne, submerged twice daily; crossing outside the published safe times regularly strands vehicles.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
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