With a population of more than 90,000, East Lothian is one of the jost picturesque areas of Scotland. The county stretches from the eastern edge of Edinburgh along the waters of the North Sea to the Scottish Borders. Rich in history, the past is kept alive with rugged castles, historic market towns and the remains of ancient settlements.
The quality of the urban and rural environment is one of East Lothian’s greatest assets, with some of the finest farmland in Scotland. It is bounded on the south by the Lammermuir Hills and stretches eastwards to the boundary with Scottish Borders at Cockburnspath. It also contains part of the Edinburgh Green Belt.
More than half the population live in the Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Cockenzie, Port Seton and Tranent areas. Although Musselburgh is the largest town in East Lothian, Haddington is its administrative centre where over 400 of the Council’s 4,480 staff work. The area’s economy was built on farming, fishing, coal mining and general manufacturing. Today, East Lothian is home to a number of modern industries including electronics, chemical research and printing. Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy, providing around 14% of local employment, with the golf industry particularly important. Agriculture and inshore fishing also remain important.
East Lothian in Europe
East Lothian Council has active twinning agreements in place with France, Germany, Denmark and Italy – Musselburgh is twinned with Champigny-sur-Marne (France) and Rosignano Marittimo (Italy), North Berwick with Kerteminde (Denmark), Haddington with Aubigny-sur-Nere East Lothian Council has active twinning agreements in place with France, Germany, Denmark and Italy – Musselburgh is twinned with Champigny-sur-Marne (France) and Rosignano Marittimo (Italy), North Berwick with Kerteminde (Denmark), Haddington with Aubigny-sur-Nère (France) and Dunbar with Lignières (France). The 40th anniversary of the Haddington-Aubigny link was celebrated during 2005.
East Lothian schools have partnership agreements in place with their counterparts in other European countries and benefit from funding under the Socrates funding for staff and curricular development.
As well as western East Lothian being eligible for transitional Objective 2 funding, rural East Lothian is covered by the Tyne/Esk Leader+ programme, managed on behalf of East Lothian and Midlothian by East Lothian Council.
Interreg funding is also being accessed through the North Sea Trail project.