East Lothian (Lodainn an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32
unitary council areas in Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City
of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative capital is
Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh.
The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland)
Act 1994, with the boundaries of the East Lothian district of the Lothian
region. The district had been created in 1975, under the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973, and it consisted of the local government county of East
Lothian, plus the burgh of Musselburgh and the Inveresk area, both formerly
within the county of Midlothian.
When abolished, for local government purposes, in 1975, the county of East
Lothian bordered the county of Midlothian to the west, and the county of Berwick
to the south. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. Although border
changes saw several villages on the outskirts of Edinburgh (e.g. Whitecraig)
transferred to the county, most residents of "Haddingtonshire" do not regard
them as part of the same county.
Main towns; Musselburgh, Haddington
East Lothian has a reputation as a golfer's paradise. From the high-end courses, espc. the championship course at Muirfield, venue for many Open Championships, and the recently-constructed Renaissance Club course within the Archerfield estate, through a variety of open-qualifying courses, such as Monktonhall and Gullane No. 1, through to the 9-hole layouts at Gifford, there's something for all standards of player. As well as the newer courses, East Lothian is home to reputedly the oldest active golf course in the world - the old course at Musselburgh