On Lamer Island, reached by a footbridge from the harbour, sits Dunbar Battery — a former coastal gun battery built to defend the town during the Napoleonic Wars and later used as a smallpox hospital.
It has been sympathetically restored into a dramatic public space, with a sculptural amphitheatre and sweeping views out to the Bass Rock and the Firth of Forth.
From Gun Battery to Public Space
The battery was built in the early 1800s amid fears of French invasion, and its guns once guarded the harbour approach. After falling derelict it was transformed by a major restoration project into an open-air venue and viewpoint that hosts occasional events and installations.
The Views
This is one of the best vantage points in Dunbar. On a clear day you can see along the coast to Torness and out to the Bass Rock, with the harbour and castle ruins framed behind you.
Getting There
Cross the footbridge from the harbour to Lamer Island. The walk is short but exposed, so wrap up on windy days. Access is free and open.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Dunbar Battery?
Cross the footbridge from Dunbar Harbour onto Lamer Island. It is a short, exposed walk and access is free.
What is Dunbar Battery now used for?
After restoration it serves as an open-air viewpoint and amphitheatre-style public space, occasionally hosting events and art installations.
What can you see from the battery?
Wide coastal views taking in the Bass Rock, the Firth of Forth and, looking back, Dunbar Harbour and castle.