Walks you can reach from Musselburgh by train

Recommended: Mostly flat walk on the John Muir Way around two harbours, with a temporary detour at Cockenzie.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Urban walk with some climbing, through parkland with views over the city, and along Portobello promenade.

Warnings: Some climbing.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: An absolutely beautiful coastal walk, ideal at low tide, with superb and expansive views. A stunning coastal walk along wide sandy beaches, rock lines and headland footpaths, best on a sunny day at low tide (the section to Aberlady can be walked barefoot on the sand). The surface is frequently soft sand and which is not hard going but tiring. The whole route can also be walked at high tide via parallel inland paths.

End-of-walk reward: Bakeries and ice cream at North Berwick, with facilities and bus services at Aberlady and Gullane; a fish and chip van in the car park north of Longniddry.

Warnings: Do not attempt to wade across Aberlady Bay — lots of soft mud; turn inland to use the footbridge. The soft sand dunes at Gullane can be tricky in poor weather or fading light. Watch for the turn off Gullane Sands across Gullane Links.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Stunning views of the Bass Rock and the North Sea. A gorgeous, flat and easy route on very well-surfaced paths, almost entirely off-road. Passes through farmland, woodland and the Tyne estuary and with a dramatic final clifftop approach to Dunbar along the edge of the golf course and beach. Follows the John Muir Way. Plenty of bird life along the Tyne estuary; look out for seals in Dunbar harbour, and emus and llamas at the back of East Links Family Park. Extensive woodland.

End-of-walk reward: Ice cream may await on Dunbar High Street.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Very pleasant route; A lovely, varied route; great views north and south; Lots of vistas both north and south. A lovely, varied and well-surfaced route with very few steep sections and only one set of steps, passing through woodland and farmland with great views north and south. Mostly traffic-free, well-signposted and still direct and used by walkers and mountain bikers. Follows the John Muir Way, signposted all the way; extending to or from Dunbar makes a full day. Passes close by North Berwick Law, well worth climbing. North Berwick and East Linton are both historic and worth exploring. Extensive woodland.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Coastal walk with some climbing, partly inland and along main roads.

Warnings: Some climbing, two stretches on main roads, and paths sometimes unclear.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Tarmac path along a burn then the John Muir Way behind the beaches, ending through Preston Tower.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A very green, quiet and largely traffic-free route, gently downhill towards Edinburgh for most of the way, with a good surface throughout. It follows the Water of Leith Walkway and then the Union Canal towpath and ending through the city's parks and streets. A few steepish slopes but no stairs; the river path can be muddy in places. Follows National Cycle Route 75 for most of its length and is part of the John Muir Way; the Colinton Tunnel is a highlight. Princes Street Gardens open at 7am and close at dusk.

Lunch: Cafes near the route at Juniper Green, though most open around 10am.

Warnings: The Slateford Aqueduct has only a narrow, cobbled towpath with a drop, so take care and be patient when passing others.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Route into Edinburgh along the shoreline and old railway path, with some modest climbing.

Walk details: Railwalks.