Dunbar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dunbar Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Bàrr Scots: Dunbaur
Dunbar Town House and mercat cross, Dunbar High Street
Dunbar
Area	3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi)
Population	10,270 (2020)
• Density	3,412/km2 (8,840/sq mi)
OS grid reference	NT678789
• Edinburgh	26 mi (42 km)
• London	325 mi (523 km)
Council area	East Lothian Council
Lieutenancy area	East Lothian
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DUNBAR
Postcode district	EH42
Dialling code	01368
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	East Lothian
Scottish Parliament	East Lothian
List of places UK Scotland 56°00′10″N 2°31′01″W / 56.002725°N 2.516901°W / 56.002725; -2.516901

Dunbar (pronounced dun-BAR) is a town located on the coast of the North Sea in East Lothian, Scotland. It's about 30 miles (48 km) east of Edinburgh. It's also close to the border with England.

Dunbar used to be a "royal burgh," which means it was a special town with rights given by the king or queen. The area around Dunbar includes the villages of West Barns and Belhaven.

The town has a harbour that was built in 1574. It is home to the Dunbar Lifeboat Station, which is the second-oldest RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) station in Scotland. Dunbar also has two main schools: Dunbar Primary School and Dunbar Grammar School.

Dunbar is famous as the birthplace of John Muir. He was a very important explorer, naturalist, and conservationist. He helped create many National Parks in the USA. His childhood home on High Street is now a museum. There's also a statue of him and a park named after him, the John Muir Country Park. A walking path called the John Muir Way starts from Dunbar harbour. A large sculpture called The DunBear was put up to honor John Muir.

What is the history of Dunbar?

Castle at Dunbar Harbour

Seal of Dunbar from Groome's Gazetteer

Seal of Dunbar from Samuel Lewis

Where does the name Dunbar come from?

The name Dunbar comes from an old Scottish Gaelic word, Dùn Barra. This means "summit fort" or "fort on the hill." It might have come from an even older language called Cumbric.

When did people first live in Dunbar?

People have lived in the Dunbar area for a very long time. In 2003, archaeologists found remains of a person from the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age (around 800–540 BC). This shows that people were here thousands of years ago.

There was also an Iron Age fort on a hill near the current High Street. This fort was a main center for a group of people called the Votadini.

What happened in Dunbar's early history?

Dunbar became part of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria in the 6th century. It was first written about around the year 680.

Archaeologists also found an old cemetery with 32 burials from the early Christian period (AD 4th–8th centuries). This tells us that a settlement existed here during that time.

St Cuthbert, a famous monk and scholar, was born around 630 AD. He might have been from the Dunbar area. He became a monk after seeing a vision. Dunbar was an important place for the kings of Northumbria. It was used to collect food and manage the northern part of their kingdom.

How did Dunbar become part of Scotland?

Attacks by Vikings (Danes and Norse) weakened Northumbria. This allowed Scotland to take over the northern parts. Kenneth MacAlpin burned Dunbar in the 9th century.

Scotland gained more control in the 10th century. After the Battle of Carham in 1018, the area of Lothian (where Dunbar is) became part of Scotland.

In 1072, King Malcolm III gave Dunbar and a large area of land to an exiled earl named Gospatric. This helped Malcolm fill a power gap in the southeast. Gospatric's family became the Earls of Dunbar and March. They were very powerful until the 15th century.

What happened in Dunbar's later history?

Dunbar became a "baronial burgh" and then a "royal burgh" in 1370. This gave the town special trading rights.

Important battles were fought near Dunbar in 1296 and 1650. The 1650 battle was between a Scottish army and English forces led by Oliver Cromwell. The Scots lost, which led to big changes in Scotland.

A military base, Castle Park Barracks, was built in 1855. In 1987, a fire badly damaged the historic parish church. However, it has since been rebuilt with a modern inside.

What has archaeology revealed about Dunbar?

In 2003, archaeologists found a very old house near Dunbar. It was from the Mesolithic period, around 9,000 BC. This site is very rare and important.

Another excavation found signs of human activity going back 2,000 years. They found a large ditch that might have been part of an old fort's defenses. This ditch dates back to around 50 BC to AD 70.

Later, a building was built over the ditch. It was a grain storage building that burned down. This was part of an early Anglian settlement.

Between the 9th and 11th centuries, the area was used as a cemetery. Archaeologists found 76 skeletons buried in a Christian way.

What is the climate like in Dunbar?

Dunbar has a mild climate, like most of the British Isles. It has cool summers and mild winters. It is one of the sunniest and driest places in Scotland. It gets about 1,450 hours of sunshine and 600 mm (24 inches) of rain each year.

What is the environment like in Dunbar?

Dunbar gets more sunshine and less rain than most of Scotland. This is because of its location.

The town has two walking paths along the coast, which are part of the John Muir Way. These paths offer great views of Dunbar's geology, including volcanic rocks.

There are two local beaches. East Beach is smaller and has rock pools. Belhaven Beach is larger and on the edge of town. Lochend Woods is a community woodland managed by a local group.

What is the economy of Dunbar like?

Dunbar's town center has many local shops. These include gift shops, cafes, a bakery, a fishmonger, and antique stores. There are also two RNLI stores, showing the town's connection to the sea.

Outside the town center, you can find a large garden center, an Asda supermarket, and a McDonald's.

Tourism is important for Dunbar. Many people visit for walking and cycling on routes like the John Muir Way. The town has hotels, B&Bs, and campsites. You can also try adventure activities like surfing, wakeboarding, and coasteering. Dunbar has a large indoor swimming pool and many sports facilities.

Farming is still important, but fishing has become less common. The harbour is still active, mainly for catching shellfish. The main manufacturers are Tarmac, which makes cement, and Belhaven Brewery, which makes Scottish Ale.

How do people travel in Dunbar?

The town is connected by the A1 road. Dunbar railway station offers train services to Edinburgh, other parts of Scotland, and even London.

What sports can you play in Dunbar?

Dunbar RFC over 30s

Rowing off Dunbar harbour mouth with the Bass Rock in the background.

Paddle Boarders at Eye Cave Beach

Football

Dunbar has a football club called Dunbar United. They play at New Countess Park. There is also a youth football club, Dunbar United Colts.

Golf

Dunbar Golf Club was started in 1857. It's a famous course that has hosted many major Scottish championships. Dunbar is also home to Winterfield Golf Club.

Rugby

Dunbar also has a rugby club, Dunbar RFC. They play at Hallhill Sports Centre and have teams for different age groups.

Basketball

Dunbar Grammar School offers basketball training for school and club teams. The school also hosts training for the Dunbar Dragons club.

Coastal Rowing

Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club has two special boats called St Ayles Skiffs. They often row along the coast. In 2018, they rowed to all the named islands in the Firth of Forth.

Wakeboarding, Surfing, and Paddleboarding

Foxlake in Dunbar was the first place in Scotland for cable wakeboarding. It also has a water obstacle course and segways. Surfing and paddleboarding are popular at Belhaven Bay. The Coast to Coast surf school is located there.

What are the schools in Dunbar?

Dunbar Grammar School

Dunbar has two primary schools: West Barns Primary School and Dunbar Primary School. Dunbar Primary School has two campuses: the John Muir Campus for younger students (Primary 1-3 and nursery) and the Lochend Campus for older students (Primary 4-7).

The town also has a secondary school, Dunbar Grammar School. It serves students from Dunbar and nearby villages like East Linton and Stenton. The school has over 1,000 students.

What youth facilities are in Dunbar?

Many youth groups use the facilities at The Bleachingfield Community Centre.

What churches are in Dunbar?

Today, Dunbar has several churches:

• Church of Scotland
  • Dunbar Parish Church, Queens Road
  • Dunglass Parish Church, Kirk Bridge
  • Belhaven Parish Church, Belhaven Road

• Episcopal and Methodist Church
  • St. Anne's Church, Westgate
  • Methodist Church, Victoria Street

• Catholic Church
  • Our Lady of the Waves Church, Westgate

Has Dunbar been featured in films?

Films that have scenes in Dunbar include:

• Lothian Landscape (1974)
• Dunbar (1958)
• Dunbar - The A1 Resort (1970)
• Outlander (2020-2022) filmed camp scenes in John Muir Country Park.

What are some notable buildings in Dunbar?

Ordnance Survey Tide Gauge House, Dunbar Harbour

• The old chapel tower of the Trinitarian Priory (around 1240).
• Dunbar Castle, mostly ruined now. It was destroyed on purpose in 1567 and parts were removed for the new Victoria Harbour in the 1840s.
• The Parish Church (1818–21), rebuilt after a fire.
• The Parish Church Hall (1910) has stained glass from St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
• St Anne's Episcopal Church (1889).
• Dunbar Methodist Church (1764) is the oldest Methodist Church in Scotland. John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, preached there many times.
• Dunbar Town House, High Street (around 1550).
• The Mercat Cross (around 1911), a market cross made from old pieces.
• Lauderdale House (1790–92), designed by Robert Adam.
• Railway station (1845).
• Cromwell Harbour, a very old fishing harbour from the 1600s.
• The Ordnance Survey Tidal Gauge (1913) at Victoria Harbour. This building was used to figure out the "Mean Sea Level" for all heights in the UK.
• Dunbar Battery (1781) was built to protect the town. It was restored in 2017 and now has an outdoor amphitheater.

Who are some famous people from Dunbar?

People born before 1000 AD

• Saint Wilfrid (633-709) - A bishop who was imprisoned in Dunbar for a time.
• Saint Cuthbert (634-687) - An early saint and evangelist. Some say he was born and grew up in Dunbar.

People born between 1001 and 1500 AD

• Black Agnes (1312-1369) - Countess of Dunbar and a local hero.
• Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots (1404-1445) - Wife of King James I of Scotland. She was a regent for her son. She died in Dunbar Castle while being attacked by her enemies.
• Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany (1454-1485) - The second son of King James II of Scotland. He owned and lived in Dunbar Castle.
• John Stewart, Duke of Albany (1482-1536) - The son of the above Duke of Albany. He became the ruler of Scotland for a time and also used Dunbar Castle as his base.

People born between 1501 and 1900 AD

• James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell (1534-1578) - The third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and owner of Dunbar Castle.
• Alexander Dow (1735-1779) - An author and army officer who lived and was educated in Dunbar as a boy.
• Robert Wilson (1803-1882) - One of the inventors of the ship's propeller, born in Dunbar.
• Sir Anthony Home (1826-1914) - A British soldier who received the Victoria Cross. He was born in Dunbar.
• John Muir (1838-1914) - A very important conservationist and environmentalist. He was born in Dunbar and helped create the US National Parks system.
• Walter Runciman, 1st Baron Runciman (1847-1937) - A shipowner and politician, born in Dunbar.
• General Sir Reginald Wingate (1861-1953) - A high-ranking army officer and colonial governor. He lived in Dunbar for a long time.
• Jack Hobens (1880-1944) - A Scottish-American professional golfer.
• Dr James Wyllie Gregor (1900-1980) - A botanist, born in Dunbar.

People born after 1901 AD

• William Alexander Bain (1905-1971) - A pharmacologist.
• Sadie Aitken (1905-1985) - A Scottish actor and film critic for the BBC.
• Hugh Trevor-Roper (1914-2003) - A famous English historian who went to school in Belhaven.
• Davy Henderson (b. 1962) - A Scottish musician.
• Maria Lyle (b. 2000) - A para-sprinter who has won medals at the Commonwealth and Paralympic Games.

Which towns are twinned with Dunbar?

Dunbar is twinned with:

• Lignières, France.
• Martinez, California, United States.

Gallery

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  Dunbar Castle and Victoria Harbour

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  Bass Rock from Dunbar

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  The Bridge to Nowhere, with The Bass and the North Berwick Law

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  View towards Belhaven Bay (John Muir Country Park) with North Berwick Law and Bass Rock in the distance

See also

In Spanish: Dunbar (Escocia) para niños