Longniddry Bents

An area of heathland and beach located on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth between Seton Sands and Gosford Bay, in front of the settlement of Longniddry.

On the beach and amongst the scrubland behind are a series of large concrete blocks which represent tank-traps constructed during the Second World War when a German invasion across the North Sea was expected. Several car parks give access to the area, the most significant of these is Longniddry Bents No. 3, on Ferny Ness, which gives excellent views across the Firth of Forth and west towards Edinburgh.

The area is valued for a variety of recreations, with the John Muir Way passing through, and forms part of an area protected for its importance to nature. Chiffchaff, willow warbler and reed bunting occupy the scrub, while wading birds in the shallow waters of the bay include curlew, bar-tailed godwit, oystercatcher and redshank. Out at sea are rafts of eider duck with a small population of red-necked grebes sometimes seen between November and March. The streams crossing the bents are home to a small population of rare water vole. Longniddry Bents is managed by the East Lothian Ranger Service.


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