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John Muir

Dunbar East Lothian

John Muir Way Dunbar East Lothian

The John Muir Way is a path stretching from coast to coast across Scotland. The route traces his steps from Dunbar on the east coast to Helensburgh on the west coast. Where he embarked on his journey to the new land (America). Follow his route from Edinburgh to Dunbar on the shores of the Firth of Forth ( Edinburgh to Prestonpans 16 km (10 miles) Prestonpans to North Berwick 25 km (16 miles) North Berwick to Dunbar 23 km (15 miles).

John Muir Statue High Street Dunbar East Lothian

John Muir was  born on the 21 April 1838 in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland and died on the 24 December 1914 at the age of 76 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. He became the Father of American national parks and champion of world conservation and was forever a Scot. John Muir was naturalist, environmental philosopher and author. John Muir immigrated with his mother and father and brothers and sisters in 1849 at the age of 11 years. He went on to be a national icon  and was named the "patron saint of the American wilderness".

John Muir Statue High Street Dunbar East

John Muir Plaque Dunbar East Lothian

The plaque on the statue of John Muir as a boy that stands in Dunbar High Street is inscribed; John Muir (1838-1914)

“Around my native town of Dunbar, I loved to wander in the fields, to hear the birds sing and along the seashore to gaze and wonder at the shells and seaweeds, eels and crabs in the pools amongst the rocks when the tide was low; and best of all to watch the waves in awful storms thundering on the black headlands and craggy ruins of the Old Dunbar Castle when the sea and the sky, the waves and the clouds, were mingled together as one”.

John Muir Plaque Dunbar East Lothian

John Muir Brown Bear 

The has been erected in memory of John Muir who was born in Dunbar. Andy Scott the sculptor who came to recognition with the world famous Kelpies Sculptures has created another masterpiece. It stands off the A1 road, take the exit to Asda at the Spott Roundabout Dunbar and the first opening on the left at the garden centre it is 200 yards along a path. The Bear that I have called Dyn after an old spelling of Dunbar (Dynbaer) Dyn Greek meaning power or force. The 5 metre high bear is a powerful sculpture to a great man John Muir.

Dyn The Bear A monument by the sculptor Andy Scott
John Muir Brown Bear (Dyn) Sculpture Andy Scott Dunbar East Lothian

A Tribute to John Muir Dunbar East Lothian.

The plaque on the base of the gigantic Brown Bear reads; This plaque was unveiled by Mrs Brenda McNeil to commemorate the completion of this Brown Bear sculpture, paying tribute to Dunbar-born naturalist John Muir (1838-1914) who plated a key role in the establishment of National Parks in the U.S.A and around the world. Commissioned by Hallhill Developments Ltd Sculptor: Andy Scott 19th November 2019

Bear Plaque.JPG

John Muir Birthplace Museum.

 John Muir was born in Dunbar East Lothian in 1838 and spent most of his childhood exploring the coastline of East Lothian before the Muir family immigrated to USA (Wisconsin) in 1849. He continued exploring and in 1867 walked circa 1000 miles across America to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1894 he published his first book ‘The Mountains of California’. In his life he travelled in every continent on the planet returning to Scotland on several occasions. He was the founder of National Parks in the U.S. and died at the age of 76 years always remembering his routes a true Scot to the end.

John Muir Birthplace and Museum Dunbar East Lothian
John Muir birth House plaque Dunbar East Lothian
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