This excellent walk starts from Coldingham Priory before taking the ancient Creel Path to the sea at St Abbs. A coastal path leads to a sandy beach at Coldingham Bay before a path heads inland to complete the circuit.
Bog Factor
Pavement, paths and tracks, can be muddy and slippery when wet.
Coldingham.
Bus to Coldingham.
NT902659
The starting point for this route is the Priory car park in the centre of Coldingham. Before setting off it is well worth exploring the priory. Founded during the reign of David I of Scotland, the Priory was once one of the most important religious buildings in Scotland. Begin by leaving the car park and following the road towards St Abbs. Ignore the right turn to the sands and caravan park and carry on up the hill out of the village on the pavement. At a lay-by leave the road to the right to join the Creel path, used for over 1,000 years to cut across from what was once Coldingham Shore but is now St Abbs. The path was established by fishermen who carried their catch in creels from the shore to Coldingham.
Much of the path is tree lined and shaded and can be muddy in winter. Approaching St Abbs the view opens out of the coastline. Ignore the various paths that join from the right and offer an alternative route to the sands. The path exits onto a road beside a housing estate. Carry on straight ahead to reach a great view over the harbour at St Abbs. You can detour down the path ahead to explore the fishing port where there is a small seasonal cafe.
To continue the walk bear right onto Seaview Terrace (the shop is one street further back) passing between the houses and their small gardens on the seaward side. At the end of the row of houses turn right around the corner and then across between Castle Rock on your left and a drying green on your right. Follow the clifftop path passing a number of benches. At a fork bear left to descends down into Coldingham Bay. The beach here has a Blue Flag award and it is popular with surfers and is backed by colourful beach huts.
Cross the sands (at high tide there is a footbridge at the back of the beach) and head up to the seasonal Beach Cafe (toilet block to the right) and bear left to continue on the coast path passing the last beach huts. The path climbs up with a good view back over Coldingham Bay.
At the top the coast path descends steeply but this route stays high and turns right at the bench to take the path behind in heading inland. The path climbs passing beneath the imposing Mount House to the right. When a surfaced road is reached turn left and continue ahead through a small development of houses at Milldown.
Keep left when the road forks after the last house (signed footpath) and follow the rougher track passing a house on your right. The track continues along the Milldown Burn until it reaches a minor road. Turn left along this to reach Coldingham. At the next T junction turn left to return to the start.
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