Berwickshire Coast Path 1: Cockburnspath to Dowlaw

Summary

This first section of the Berwickshire Coastal Path is a gentle introduction with easy walking above the picturesque Cove harbour and through farmland with some sections on minor roads to finish at Dowlaw. Could be combined with the second section to make a longer day finishing at St Abbs.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Farm and coastal paths, tracks and minor road. Some steep ascents and descents and unprotected cliff edges. Grazing animals - dogs to be kept under tight control.

Getting there

Start

Cocksburnpath.

Public Transport

Bus to Cockburnspath, no public transport at Dowlaw; fitter walkers could continue by walking the next stage to St Abbs.

Start Grid Ref

NT775711

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12km / 7.5 miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 271m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

The Berwickshire Coastal Path starts in Cockburnspath and follows the Southern Upland Way for the first few kilometres. On the main road running through the village there is a large information board with details of both routes, just opposite Cockburnspath Garage. From here follow the main road towards the A1 and soon take a path on the right signed with the thistle marker of the Southern Upland Way. Pass the cattle grid and follow the track around to bend left to head under the A1 and then under the railway. Pass a row of cottages and at the road (first waymarker) dog-leg left and then turn immediately right onto a signed path beside a single cottage. Keep straight ahead at a track to soon reach the coast. Here you can detour to the left to visit Cove harbour otherwise turn right to follow the coast path.

Stage 2

Soon the harbour at Cove comes into view below with the pier cottages built from the local sandstone looking across the natural bay. The sandy beach is accessed by a hand-hewn tunnel which is said to have been used by smugglers as well as fishermen since the 1700's - side chambers in the surprisingly roomy tunnel were once used for storing fish, nowadays the harbour is used by a couple of creel fishing boats catching crabs, lobsters and prawns.

Stage 3

Keep following the coast path signed both for the Southern Upland Way and the James Hutton Walk on this section. James Hutton was an 18th century geologist renowned for coming up with the modern day theories of geology and deep time. A natural arch can be seen before the caravans and sandy beaches of Pease Bay hove into view. The first waymarkers for the Berwickshire Coastal Path are also passed - a distinctive blue circle with a white wave. Steps lead down to a bridge before the route climbs up to a minor road, turn left to follow this down to Pease Bay.

Stage 4

At the bottom of the hill the Southern Upland Way leaves to the right. Ignore it to stay on the road and cross the burn on a bridge before climbing away from the caravan parks, soon leaving the road to take a path on the left. This climbs a steep flight of steps with a good view back over the sandy bay; surfers can often be seen catching waves in all weathers. The path soon climbs up to a minor road, turn left along this. After heading through a natural cutting it is possible to detour to the left (at the information board) to visit the ruins of 16th century St Helen's Church and Siccar Point where Hutton found horizontal layers of red sandstone lying between layers of older rock which confirmed Hutton's theory about the age of the earth. Back on the road just before the crest of a small hill turn off to the right along a grassy track soon passing a quarry with industrial units.

Stage 5

Leave the track to head directly uphill to a gate where you turn right to head towards the buildings of Old Cambus West Mains. Just before the gate in front of the barns turn left to follow the edge of the field to reach the minor road just below the houses. Turn left along the road and follow this past Old Cambus East Mains. At Redheugh Farm pass between the grand farmhouse on the right and the cattle barns and then bear right when you are facing the next barns, following the signs to pass just to the right the barn, ignoring the other farm track heading directly uphill.

Stage 6

The grassy track (muddy in winter) curves left and just before the next gateway turn right through a kissing gate to head directly inland uphill alongside a fence to reach another kissing gate. Keep near the fence and continue uphill bearing left to cross a burn and climbing to another gate. Go through this and turn right to head directly uphill keeping to the field edge - take care with dogs as there are often farm animals in these fields. After the next gate turn left to follow the stone wall and then a fence as the route passes through a couple of fields with good views back along the coast. Turn right to follow the path between a fence and a wall heading inland uphill before turning left after a kissing gate before the mast is reached. The route follows the wall and then bears left to run alongside the minor road into Dowlaw, the end of the first stage.

Next stage: Dowlaw to St Abbs

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