Innerwick – Small but Not Insignificant
The small village of Innerwick is not generally seen as having any special attraction. It is situated roughly 4 miles south east of Dunbar and overlooks the North Sea. The village and surrounding area have been designated as a conservation area and this is really the reason why the village is so small. However, being a conservation area also has its advantages and while people may not flock to Innerwick to enjoy the old buildings and interesting people, they do come here to enjoy other activities such as deer stalking, walking, golfing, fishing and bird watching.
The village of Innerwick is not all that old in relation to many settlements in Scotland. The primary school, village hall, Parish Church and post office all date from about 1784. The majority of the buildings created at about this time are made from a stone with a distinctive pink coloring and have orange roofs. A large number of the buildings in Innerwick are listed as having architectural or historical importance and a quiet meander around the village is a great place to start. In order to avoid disrupting the quietness of the area or the beauty of the actual village, development in the area is strictly controlled. This has kept the village small and gives it a great old-age feel.
Not far from the village you will find the remains of Innerwick Castle. This almighty fortress was once the home of the Stewards and Hamiltons but was destroyed by the Duke of Somerset in 1548. Situated on Thornton Burn and overlooking Thornton ravine, all that remains of the once magnificent castle are the vaulted basements, the castle keep and an outer courtyard wall. The original castle was built in the 1300s and was later expanded on numerous times. After the castle was partially dismantled, it continued to be used by passersby for some time. After the 1650s the remaining stones were carried away to be used by the locals for other purposes. Visitors to Innerwick can find accommodation the village itself but most prefer to find accommodation nearby farms – some of which provide perfect examples of working 19th century farms.
