What we want to achieve
Safe and accessible routes that make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle between East Lammermuir communities and connect with nearby services, public transport and the coast.
How this work began
The East Lammermuir Local Place Plan, adopted in 2024, identified the need for a usable and effective network of segregated paths. This included at least one safe crossing over or under the A1 and mainline railway, improving connections towards the coast and Dunbar.
Building on this community priority, East Lammermuir Community Council and SP Energy Networks invited Walking Scotland to bring together local residents and organisations to explore how the ambition could be taken forward.
The workshop involved local residents, energy developers, transmission owners, East Lothian Council and organisations working in active travel, including the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
It explored:
- where people currently walk, wheel, cycle and horse ride;
- the barriers that make local journeys difficult or unsafe;
- opportunities to improve and connect local paths; and
- actions that could help turn the Local Place Plan ambition into practical delivery.
An online survey and mapping exercise were also undertaken to gather wider community experience. This work was supported by SP Energy Networks through capacity-building funding connected with the Eastern Green Link 1 project.
What is happening now
Walking Scotland has completed a consultation report bringing together:
- workshop discussions involving people from Stenton, Spott and Innerwick;
- 86 responses to the Active Travel survey;
- mapped information about local routes and barriers; and
- recommendations for future action.
The work considered walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding. It looked at local paths, road safety, accessibility, signs and connections between communities—not only the A1 crossing.
What local people told us
The main barriers identified were:
- the lack of pavements and safe space beside roads;
- missing path links to important destinations;
- poorly maintained or overgrown paths;
- inaccessible gates, stiles and surfaces;
- inadequate signs and information; and
- the difficulty of safely crossing the A1.
For journeys of less than five miles, 76% of survey respondents said they currently travel by car. However, just over half said they would be likely or very likely to increase their walking, wheeling or cycling. Safer, traffic-free routes could help more people make that change.
The workshops also identified particular opportunities and concerns around Stenton, Spott and Innerwick, including connections to Dunbar, East Linton and National Cycle Network Route 76.
What the report recommends
The report recommends:
- bringing the relevant organisations together to explore options for safely crossing the A1;
- investigating how existing underpasses and crossings could be improved and used more effectively;
- making roads and village approaches safer;
- surveying and improving important paths, gates and access points;
- improving signs, maps and information about local routes;
- developing better connections between communities, services and public transport;
- exploring walking, cycling, active-travel or mobility-hub activities;
- protecting local routes during energy-development construction; and
- retaining useful new paths or tracks created through development where possible.
What happens next
The recommendations now need to be considered with residents, East Lothian Council, landowners, transport bodies, developers and active-travel organisations.
An important first step will be bringing the relevant partners together to explore the A1 crossing options. This will include considering how existing underpasses and crossings could be improved, whether a new crossing is feasible and which organisation could lead any future project.
Smaller improvements to paths, signs, vegetation and access may also be progressed while larger projects are investigated.
The report is the beginning of this process, rather than a final action plan. Further community involvement will be needed as individual projects and priorities are developed.
Read the full report
This page provides a summary to make the findings easier to read on phones and tablets.
The complete report, including the detailed findings, maps and recommended actions, is also available:
How can I get involved?
Residents can continue to share their knowledge of local routes, barriers and missing connections.
There will be further opportunities to contribute as individual projects and priorities are developed. Details will be published on this page.
Update: August 2026