Following huge tidal swells on Sunday, 28th and 29th October 2023, North Berwick harbour area suffered extensive damage. The stone harbour wall which dates to around 1780's, was breached leaving a 16ft gap, and the walkway partially collapsed. Beach Huts housing small businesses floated perilously across the esplanade, kayak racks were destroyed and the whole area left littered with debris, glass, and tarmac. Early estimates suggest that to reinstate and repair the damage will cost up to £1million.

We are raising funds to ensure the wall gets repaired and carry out initial assements, to ensure that we put in place a blended form of funding from ELC,Gov and Donations to ensure a full repair . This work is progressing well.

We are also re setting sea defences and strengething walls in other areas that are at risk from future storms as well as many of minor reopars that cant be lfet to worsen and cause further danage.

The harbour area is leased from East Lothian Council (ELC) to the volunteer-run North Berwick Harbour Trust (NBHT). NBHT maintain and conserve the site. Representatives from NBHT met yesterday (30.10.23) with ELC and whilst the outlook is positive, we need your help.

There will be two stages to securing the harbour. The first is the repair of the breach in the harbour wall and dealing with the water overtopping at the North side of the esplande. It’s likely that the initial funds to repair that will mostly come from ELC with support from the Government and various agencies but we may need to contribute to that to return the wall to what you would expect on a heritage site.

The second stage will be for strengthening work and ongoing repairs around the harbour following the damage caused. This will be more difficult to secure funding for, although ELC and NBHT will apply to as many sources as possible. We have set up this crowdfunding to kickstart this side of the repair as there are a long list of smaller but vital items that need to be secured , not least the anchoring of the remaining walls to prevent further problems. Every penny counts and whatever you can give will make a real difference and will be spent on long term fixes to the structure, returning the area to the historic site we love, improving storm controls and protections to future proof the area.

North Berwick harbour is one of the most popular tourist attractions in East Lothian as well as being a much loved recreational and working area. It is vital we get the area back to it’s best as soon as possible.

Since the storms, volunteer members of NBHT and our Harbour Helpers have been working tirelessly to tidy up and protect what we can from threats of further storms. If you are not able to give a monetary donation but can give some time, please consider joining us on a Friday morning at 9:30am on the harbour esplanade.