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Coasteering

The best outdoor water activities in Scotland. Min Age 12 [Younger for private groups]

About Us

We are passionate about the natural world and its beautiful wild places.

We have a deep respect and appreciation for the environment and a love for adventure and silent human-powered sports.

More about us

What is Coasteering?

It’s a journey into the intertidal zone, swimming, climbing, jumping and exploring nature over rock and water.

It’s a unique way to explore an inaccessible environment between land and ocean.

Coasteering: There really is nothing like it!

We are often asked What is Coasteering? Coasteering is fun, adventurous and exhilarating giving a totally new perspective of your natural environment.

Explore rocky headlands and inlets, scramble over inaccessible tidal islands and learn to jump from height safely with our professional guides.

You will be in a marine wilderness with beautiful wildlife such as puffins, gannets, seals and even the occasional dolphin. All experienced in the natural ebb and flow of the ocean swell. There really is nothing like it.

We will supply all the equipment you need including transport. We use super warm and sustainable limestone based wetsuits, robust coasteering boots, gloves, helmets, buoyancy aids and rash vests made from recycled fishing nets! You can read more About Coasteering in Scotland here.

As a Professional Adventure Company we also train other instructors who are looking to start an exciting career in the outdoors. We are passionate about sharing our love for the mountains and ocean, and you can read about our National Coasteering Charter Coasteering Guide Award here.

Recent Coasteering Trips

coasteering adventures with ocean vertical north berwick east lothian scotland

Taking the leap into clear Scottish waters with the Bass Rock on the horizon

coasteering adventure in east lothian with ocean vertical

What is coasteering? A seriously incredible adventure experience!

Coasteering North Berwick east lothian Scotland

Coasteering by Dunbar in beautiful East Lothian

coasteering adventure with ocean vertical dunbar east lothian

Coasteering impact into beautiful clear waters by North Berwick in East Lothian

best outdoor water activities near to edinburgh scotland

Coasteering: exploring, scrambling, climbing and jumping in East Lothian

coasteering by Dunbar and North Berwick in East Lothian by Edinburgh Scotland

Coasteering: what goes down must come up! Adventures by Dunbar and North Berwick

Customer Reviews

I had 10-days trip around the UK and I can easily say that Coasteering with Ocean Vertical was the highlight of the trip!
Not only I had a really fun time and adventure, but I also gained a lot of knowledge about the marine life and ecosystem as well as a deeper appreciation for the sea. Our world is beautiful and this experience really demonstrates that. Huge thanks to Stevie and Jacob they’ve been generous and kind!

Ali | India

My son and 4 friends went coasteering with Ocean Vertical for his 12th birthday. What a trip! He described it as the best thing he’s ever done – and for those of us that missed out his instructor, Jacob, sent us heaps of photos and videos of the action. It looked amazing. I was worried he might have been be a bit nervous but they were expertly guided and all absolutely loved it. Thank you Ocean Vertical!

Louise | Edinburgh

Went coasteering as group of 4 girls and we had the best morning! The guide Jacob was so welcoming and knowledgeable and made us all feel comfortable. The route we took was challenging but a lot of fun and we always felt safe. Jumping off the rocks was scary and our guide was there every step to encourage anyone that was struggling, but if anyone chose to skip a part there was always an alternative. No one felt pressured to do any of the big jumps. Thanks OV!

Laura | Livingstone

Would thoroughly recommend this experience. My group ( 4 friends) all really enjoyed the trip, our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and gave us confidence to jump off high rocks etc that we would not have done otherwise. Thanks Jacob and thanks Ocean Vertical.

DRK Scotland | Edinburghurgh

Amazing fun! Lots of support from very experienced, patient and knowledgeable guides. Great to get out of my comfort zone. Highly recommend this experience with Ocean Vertical!

Sarah | Edinburgh

This was so much fun! Wasn’t too cold, wasn’t too hot. The team kit you out with everything you need. They are clear in explaining what’s happening. The experience was extremely fun and I wanted to do it all again as soon as it was over!

Caitlin | Glasgow

Great way to spend an afternoon – jumping off cliffs and diving through rocks with a bit of fascinating education about the sea environment thrown in. Excellent guiding, top quality all round.

James | England

Took my dad who turned 63 as a birthday treat and we absolutely loved it! Our guides, Jacob and Chris were awesome. Clear in explaining what was happening/coming next. Very encouraging and informative about all things sea related. We had such a fun time. It was exhilarating!

Caitlin | Glasgow

Celebrated my 60th Birthday Coasteering, was nervous but Jacob our guide explained everything & encouraged us all the way. I had an amazing time & would thoroughly recommend this experience 😁

Yvonne | Newcastle

What a hidden wee gem. A company a stone throw away from where I live and hadn’t heard of but deserves so much more recognition. A friend and myself went coasteering and had a great time from start to finish. The team were super friendly and professional and conducted the afternoon superbly. For anyone on the fence I would say get booking, it’s worth every penny and you will love it.

Chris | Haddington

We had the most amazing day going coasteering with OceanVertical! Stevie and Mollie were great guides making sure everyone felt safe and had fun. It was so much fun to jump into the water and climb out and explore the coast. We also saw seals, which was awesome 🙂 would definitely recommend this activity for anyone who enjoys being outdoors and wants to explore a beautiful coast!

Giulia | Spain

Awesome day coasteering with Jacob & Mollie from the ocean virtual team. Everything was great, the head quarters, wetsuits, transport, knowledge and lots of fun! Thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a Sunday. Would definitely recommend. Thank you!

Sarah | North Berwick

Fantastic day coasteering with Ocean Vertical, guides Stevie and Mollie were experts and the route was loads of fun. Great size group and well planned route, lots of laughs! Will be back for other adventure activities.

James | London

Brilliant time coasteering and paddle-boarding for our three young adults in the family – aged 18,22 & 24. Fantastic instruction, and plenty of time in the water. Great organisation, and coffee and chocolate after in Ocean Vertical’s chilled out base a nice touch.

Maxine | Surrey

We had an amazing day out coasteering with friends. Our guide, Jacob, was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. The kit provided was well fitted and kept us warm and safe from the elements. While it was a physically exerting activity, I would highly recommend this for anybody, as at no point did we feel unsafe, and I cannot think of a better way to experience the wild coast line of Scotland!

Lindsey | Edinburgh

Wow- have never experienced anything like it. From learning about our beautiful coast, sea-life and seeing seals to the amazing feeling of exploring this all from the sea and jumping off rocks. Our guide was amazing and made the whole experience a lot of fun. Would definitely recommend and will be doing it again.

Shona | Yorkshire

Stevie and the team were brilliant from start to finish. Our coasteering trip was perfect and we were still talking about it days afterwards. Will definitely be visiting again and recommending to friends. Awesome.

William | Fife

Very enjoyable, we really enjoyed seeing the coastline from another perspective Coasteering in East Lothian, as well as meeting some of the local sea faring residents (sea urchins, starfish and seals). The session was great fun mixed with a good kick of adrenaline; Stevie is a skilled and experienced guide and we felt safe and informed throughout our experience.Thanks Ocean Vertical!

Gingal and friends | England

I spent a brilliant afternoon Coasteering with Ocean Vertical; climbing, swimming, scrambling and jumping off rocks into the sea by Dunbar in East lothian. I was able to disconnect from the busyness of normal life and enjoy a magical couple of hours exploring a totally new environment, scrambling over inaccessible tidal islands, connecting with local marine wildlife and having serious fun. Adrian and Stevie nudge you safely out of your comfort zone, jumping 25 feet into the water or going through underwater passes is not normal for me!  After playing rugby professionally nothing provides a buzz quite the same but this came very close.

Jason White - Former Scottish Rugby Captain and British Lion | North Berwick

Brilliant day out coasteering with my family last weekend! Thanks Stevie and Chris for being such knowledgeable and fun guides. We hope to be back for more adventures 🙂

Nicky | Glasgow

Brilliant time coasteering along the Dunbar coastline in East Lothian! Jacob was a great instructor & the whole ethos of Ocean Vertical shines through everything – from the more eco choice of kit, to the friendly staff & welcoming newly opened centre at Hedderwick Hill Stables. Thanks for a great day out. Highly recommend :]

Tilly | Edinburgh

Unbelievable afternoon with Jacob and Adrian Coasteering. Great instructor, wonderful experience with good quality kit. Felt supported and challenged and had the most amazing time. Thoroughly recommend and will be back!!!!

Eleanor | Edinburgh

Had a great time coasteering with Ocean Vertical last week, with a gang of friends. All equipment was provided and Kirsty and Stevie were great instructors, full confidence in them. This was a great way to see and learn more about the coast with a big dollop of adventure chucked in! Will definitely be back for more scrambling, exploring, swimming and cliff jumping. Thanks guys 💙

Mella Bella | Edinburgh

Thanks very much to Stevie and Jacob for today’s Coasteering trip in East Lothian. Amazing couple of hours on the rocks and in the water, and always felt safe with these professional instructors. Spotted many pods of Dolphins while we were jumping which was awesome to see! Great kit to keep you safe too. I would highly recommend giving this a shot, you won’t be disappointed!

Scott | Wales

Ocean Vertical –  Thank you!
Yesterday I went coasteering with Ocean Vertical in East Lothian. Not only was the ratio of instructor to client perfect at 1 : 3 [1 : 10 is usual in my experience], the kit was also first class as were the instructors
The experience was by far the best out of more than 20 coasteering trips I have done.
It wasn’t all about the jumps – Learning about the evolution of sea urchins, the life and needs of seals, the biodiversity in rock pools and so much more like the effects of plastics in the sea was inspiring.

James | Wales

Had a fantastic time Coasteering with Stevie and Sally a few weeks ago by Dunbar in East Lothian. The boys and I loved it. Highly recommend Ocean Vertical if you want an adventure in the ocean – like nothing you’ve experienced before! Thanks guys.

Nick | London

Our Coasteering experience was very professionally run, friendly, challenging and safe. The location by Dunbar in East Lothian was stunning. The experiences we had were beyond anything we thought we could do. It was wonderful to feel so connected with others and ourselves in similar situations, giving team bonding experience and the chance for overcoming personal barriers. Huge thanks to all involved, thanks for the amazing photos and amazing team. 5 stars!

Emma Josh Quinn | Leeds

I went on a coasteering session in East Lothian yesterday and absolutely loved it!!

I would recommend this to anyone who has a sense of adventure… it’s definitely an experience you won’t forget and Stevie, Adrian and Gavin were super experienced and knowledgeable. What an amazing thing to do in East Lothian.
5 stars

Steph | North Berwick

Exhilarating, Stunning, Nerve-wracking, Challenging, Body rush…
What an adventure…

Spent Sunday afternoon coasteering in East Lothian with the fantastic team from Ocean Vertical round the craggy cliffs at Dunbar.

Stevie, Gav and Adrian were so knowledgeable about the area and they and made you feel very safe whilst encouraging you to push yourself. We jumped off rocks and dived through the swell increasing the difficulty as we went.

If you haven’t done it before, go for it, you will love it.
Thanks, guys for an amazing day.

Bev | Edinburgh

A fantastic and memorable experience! Three friends and I tried coasteering in North Berwick, East Lothian and absolutely loved it. The guides were great we felt really safe and surprisingly warm in the winter wetsuits.

Freya | Edinburgh

Sunday Funday!! Coasteering in East Lothian today with the incredible Ocean Vertical.

Didn’t even realize an experience like this was possible and it’s right at our doorstep! Embarked on this adventure today with the amazing Lizzy – Stevie Boyle and Adrian Boot coached us through it and led the way – they are top class! Highly, highly recommend this! Check out Ocean Vertical and get yourself out there!

Sarah | Haddingon

Scotland you saucy devil; climbing, coasteering, sea swimming, dolphin spotting and seals bobbing.

There really is nothing like taking a leap of faith off a big old rock into the sweet, sweet (and awfully salty) Scottish sea to blow away the cobwebs. Talk about plunging oneself into the deep end – thanks Ocean Vertical – awesome coasteering in East lothian.

Lucy | Edinburgh

Fantastic fun coasteering in East Lothian, really well organised before the event.
Felt very safe coasteering with Stevie & Adrian. Great experience worth doing, tailored to individuals. Amazing location by Dunbar. Go do it Enjoy – 5 stars!

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We had an amazing experience with the Ocean Vertical team coasteering in Dunbar, East Lothian. Adrian and Stevie are very professional and know their stuff well making the whole experience awesome. We got the chance to explore the coastline that we wouldn’t ordinarily see; we climbed, jumped, and slid off rocks into the open sea giving us a real adrenaline rush. We even saw seals! The guys made us feel really safe and took us through the different types of jumps so we felt more confident with each one. We would definitely recommend them to anyone who likes an adventure in Scotland!

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We went coasteering in Dunbar with a group of friends and had an amazing time! Swimming, climbing and jumping off cliffs in impressive and wild scenery.
We were with a small group and were impressed by the quality of the equipment and excellent guides. I would definitely recommend this activity to everyone who’s looking for a memorable outdoor activity in East Lothian, Scotland!

Guido | The Netherlands

That was unbelievable! We didn’t really know what coasteering was. I booked in with a bunch of girlfriends for one of their birthdays and it was just epic. Never thought I would do something like that! The guys at Ocean Vertical kept us safe as we climber rocks, swam and did some pretty big jumps. We even saw seals! We will be doing this again for sure :]

Beth | Glasgow

Wowza, that was amazing! Never really understood what coasteering was until now. We were close to Dunbar in East Lothian. Get ready to go where you have never been before. Coasteering is exploring, climbing and jumping when the tide is way out. Ocean Vertical took us on a “journey” into the sea, literally [and often under]. We saw so much wildlife. We even saw a distant pod of dolphins! Awesome time, thanks Ocean Vertical

Brian | Edinburgh

With Ocean Vertical we knew immediately that we were in good hands. Stevie was an excellent and encouraging coach who had us standing, turning and well balanced pretty quickly. Not a wet wetsuit in sight.

Time slowed right down as we paddled down a long lake taking in the stunning views with plenty of encouragement from Adrian. If you are interested in paddle boarding in East Lothian give it a try, you won’t find better!

Emma | Edinburgh

We booked a corporate day for a summer social. Really can’t recommend it highly enough. We had different teams of people doing the coasteering, paddle boarding and a Wellbeing Experience so there was something for everyone. I tried the paddle boarding and the quality of the tuition and the gear was great.The facility has a great set up and the after-activity BBQ in the courtyard was a great way for everyone to catch up before sitting down to a very nice dinner. Everyone had a blast and the OV team are obviously genuinely passionate about what they do.

Gordon - Partner 10 Design | Edinburgh

Trip Overview

Trip Overview

Availability

April - December

Trip Overview

Duration

3 hours [meet 20 minutes before session]

Trip Overview

Difficulty

Moderate [full submersion]

Trip Overview

Language

English

Trip Overview

Meeting Point

Hedderwick Hill Stables, By Belhaven, Dunbar, EH42 1XF [Signposted Hedderwick Hill Farm off the A1087]

Trip Overview

Minimum Age

12 [younger with private groups]

Trip Overview

Time on water and rocks

2 hours

Trip Overview

Group Size

Maximum 12 [This will be increased for private groups]

Trip Overview

Minimum Number

3

Trip Overview

Weather

If the weather is unsafe we will reschedule or refund or offer a 12 month voucher

What’s included (and not)

Included

  • Experienced & qualified instructor
  • Wetsuit
  • Coasteering boots
  • Helmet
  • Gloves
  • Ground transportation at the beginning & end of the trip
  • Buoyancy Aid
  • Rash vest
  • Toilets and changing facilities

Not Included

  • Towel
  • Lunch

What to bring with you

Towel

Lunch / snacks and liquid

Sun screen

Wear a swim costume for under your wetsuit

Coasteering meeting point

Hedderwick Hill Stables By Belhaven, Dunbar, East Lothian. EH42 1XF (Take turnoff to Hedderwick Hill Farm on A1087)

Accreditations
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority ASI Accredited School - Stand Up Paddle ASI Academy of Surfing Instructors NCC Promoting Safe Coasteering