The Whiskey Bottle, North Berwick

If you are not local to North Berwick, it is unlikely that you will have heard of, or be able without assistance to locate the Whisky Bottle, although for most locals it is a right of passage, particularly if you grew up here, to spend some time hanging out (almost-definitely getting up too no good!)… despite this, I have always found the place to be quiet and peaceful, often deserted, and not badly spoiled by rubbish. There is now a ‘forest-nursery' that utilise the area for a couple of hours a day Mon-Thurs so expect it to be not quite so peaceful when overrun by handfuls of toddlers!

So, this walk starts at the Law car park on Law Road. Instead of entering the compound of the Law via the little stone stile/gate combo, take a right just before it into the field and follow the makeshift path that follows alongside the brook. The path quickly turns sharply left and into the woods. I have always liked this entrance spot, the water bubbles by down a couple of almost-waterfalls and immediately that feeling of being able to breathe hits me, always I feel this when I step under a canopy of trees and you could be anywhere at all... The path here can be very muddy and a little uneven, with protruding tree roots, but if you are relatively sure-footed, shouldn’t present a massive issue. Dogs are safe to be off a lead at this end- there is no access back through to the Law, and no livestock kept in any of the surrounding fields, but you should be aware that the far end of this circular walk skirts the main road out of North Berwick, so keep a closer eye on your pooch as you proceed around there.

The path splits early on and this forms one big loop- there are a couple of minor diversions but basically, it is impossible to get lost. I generally like to head left first, as round the first corner you will encounter a fairly short but steep section that I prefer climbing up rather than down, particularly if it has been raining. If you take this left spur, you will notice almost immediately a separate path to off to your right- this cuts through the middle of the loop and leads right back to it, but requires a bit of a scramble up a very steep muddy bank where more-often than not you will find a couple of make-shift rope swings hanging from a prominent tree- these were a great source of (borderline-illegal) entertainment during the ol’ covid lockdown of 2020 when all of the playparks closed!

Unless you are particularly bothered about trying those out imminently, I recommend ignoring this right turn and continuing on the path, round to the side of a high fence that sections off some allotments, well maintained by a charity that encourages young people with learning disabilities to work the ground there. Continue past this and up the steep muddy section described earlier and there is a small clearing with a prominent rock which is the perfect size for a toddler to sit on or jump off depending on their current inclination! The path splits a bit here and it doesn’t matter which fork you take they both end up at the same place in a short distance – this is the area used as a base by the playgroup so you will notice all manner of make-shift shelters and benches, random things hanging from trees etc- do not be alarmed, as far as I know there is no one living in the woods!

Back on the main path as it narrows and you become surrounded on each side by bushes and brambles- a good spot for blackberries if you visit at the right time of year! An opening in the foliage to your right allows you to look at last into the ‘whiskey bottle’ itself- a small (fairly stagnant, but still picturesque) reservoir of water in the middle of the woods. A short path leads down here to the edge of the water and this is a favourite spot for my Springador to take his daily dip! He will swim back and forth for as long as keep throwing the sticks in, and since I rarely meet anyone here- this always makes for an enjoyable few minutes, althought the water-shy romanian-rescue prefers to stand on the bank and watch!

Back on the path which continues around the loop- this is where you are fairly close to the road and I would advise dogs to be kept under closer control. There is a gate on the left hand side which leads directly onto the roadway- it is well trodden because it is possible to sneak through a gap here and cross the road , then climb over the adjacent gate on the other side straight into the North Berwick Nature Park- this however is heavily discouraged by the council who have made this progressively more difficult to do, blocking up all gaps in the fences etc. As it is actually a very dangerous point to cross the road- I would strongly advise against attempting this. Instead, continue following the path around the reservoir, through the trees until you reach the opposite end of our swimming spot where you can afford wonderful views of the water from the bank- this is an obvious spot, and from here you will notice the steep descent and rope-swing-tree mentioned (and pictured) earlier to your right. The main path continues straight to join the one you entered into, so follow this straight back out of the woods the way you came, although I often take a second full loop if I feel the dogs deserve a longer run.

It is a short walk, but lovely if you need a quick dose of forest-therapy and a perfect spot for little legs- plenty of adventures to had climbing on fallen trees or building dens! I think the whiskey bottle is often overlooked due to its vicinity to the Law, but even as an add-on to a Law climb, it is a nice wee place to explore.

Berwick Law, North Berwick