Home Report Inveresk

Inveresk is an attractive and desirable village in East Lothian, the centre being under a mile to the south of Musselburgh and just under 10 miles from Edinburgh city centre. Indeed, it is informally considered part of the larger town as there are no natural or manmade boundaries between them but has a distinct character all of its own. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969 with many buildings from the 18th-century and some from well before that surviving in the town to present day.

Most residents work in Musselburgh or Edinburgh, with some commuting to other nearby settlements. Transport links are good and while there’s no railway station in the immediate vicinity, residents can reach Musselburgh train station or Wallyford train station in a short span of time. There’s also the A1 trunk road to the south of village, and the A6124/A199 that allows for fast travel west to Edinburgh or east on to other settlements in East Lothian.

In terms of amenities and things to do, it suffices to say that Inveresk hasn’t got too much to speak of. But then, the village has no real need to develop its own amenities given how close it is to Musselburgh and all amenities therein, even Edinburgh too which isn’t too far away by any means. It does have Inveresk House, the oldest property in Inveresk built in 1597 and has believed to have had many famous guests over the centuries, Duke of Somerset, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Sir Walter Scott. Oliver Cromwell had his Headquarters in Inveresk House in 1650​. There’s also Inveresk Lodge Garden, a National Trust for Scotland attraction, that attracts many a visitor to the wonderful grounds and tranquillity among well-tended lawns and borders.

In terms of local schooling, the village has no school of its own, with pupils attending school in Musselburgh proper, whether it be Musselburgh Primary, or St Peter’s Primary given their proximity. Secondary age pupils attend Musselburgh Grammar School which is closer to Inveresk than the primary schools.