With a history that dates back to the Roman invasion of Scotland in AD80, Musselburgh is the largest town in East Lothian and its location, just seven miles east of Edinburgh, ensures its popularity as a base for commuters as well as tourists looking to explore the region’s beautiful coastline.

Place names are often obscure in terms of their origins - but not Musselburgh, a town that derived its name from the mussel industry that was once the mainstay of the local economy. In fact, the Coat of Arms displays three mussels and three anchors, the latter indicative of the town’s fishing traditions.

The Romans left their mark on the town in the form of a stone bridge over the River Esk, which survived for centuries and although it has been extended and rebuilt twice since, is still known locally as the Roman Bridge (and is said to have been used by Edward 11 in his retreat from the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314). There are other bridges, including the so-called New Bridge built in 1806 and the quirky Electric Bridge, built in the 1960s to transport turbines to the power station at Cockenzie, after which the bridge was offered for a nominal sum to the town council, who turned it down. Since then the bridge has been barred by gates that only open on race days to allow access to the racecourse.

Musselburgh Racecourse, a venue for Scottish horse racing since 1816, is one of two major attractions that have made their mark on the sporting world; the other is the nine-hole Old Links golf course, which is believed to be the oldest playing golf course in the world. Originally it had only seven holes - the full nine didn’t come into play until 1870 - and is believed to date back to 1672, however, there’s also speculation that Mary, Queen of Scots may have played here as early as 1567. In a region known to golfers worldwide as the Golf Coast, historic Musselburgh Links is the jewel in the crown.

History is kept alive in the number of landmark buildings that can be found in and around the town. The High Street alone is home to a Mercat Cross, Old Town Hall and Tolbooth, the latter built circa 1590 using stones from Our Lady of Loretto Chapel, which was founded in 1534 and destroyed during the Reformation. Further afield, ancient buildings that keep visitor numbers high include 15th Century Craigmillar Castle, with its fine tower house, courtyard and gardens; and Newhailes Estate, a late 17th Century house standing in 80-acres of magnificent grounds that include a water garden and a tea house. These and other attractions, like Fisherrow Harbour and beach and the landscaped borders on the picturesque banks of the River Esk, ensure year-round demand from visitors for the town’s hotels, guest houses and B&Bs.

It’s equally easy to indulge your senses to the max in Musselburgh’s many outstanding shops, café-bars and restaurants.

Bypassed by the A1 in 1987, a move that took Musselburgh off the main road to Edinburgh for the first time in 1900 years, the town that began life as a Roman fort has grown to become one of the most visited in East Lothian.