St Abb's Head, St Abbs

Summary

St Abb's Head is a dramatic coastal headland, ringed by cliffs and famed for its seabird colonies. This walk takes you around the Mire Loch and up around the cliffs of the Head, a National Nature Reserve. It is a straightforward route and provides good views of the highly populated bird nesting areas and a lighthouse that has been in service since 1862. There is a tea room and toilets adjacent to the car park.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Tarmaced road and grassy paths alongside high cliffs with some short steep inclines. Some of the paths can be muddy and care is needed near the cliff edges.

Public Transport

Bus to St Abbs.

Start

NTS Car Park above St Abbs. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.25km / 4 miles
Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 110m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NT913674

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (7)

Stage 1

The starting point for this route is in the National Trust for Scotland Car Park just off the main road before St Abb's; there is a charge for non members. There is some basic information about the walk here and also details about the various flora and fauna that inhabit the National Nature Reserve. The reserve is home to thousands of nesting sea birds and provides a habitat at various times of the year for wild fowl and other migrating birds. Leave the car park by the entrance and turn immediately right onto the road that carries on by Northfield Farm on the right and some houses on the left. The tarmaced road continues on through a gate and rises gently. Ignore the various farm tracks off to the right and left and stay on the road passing over cattle grids and coming to a stretch with Mire Loch below you on your right.

Stage 2

Stay on the road as it descends to another cattle grid with a finger post for the Berwickshire Coastal Path and Westerside Dene. Across the cattle grid is a sign welcoming you to St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve. You can see the remains of a jetty that was built to land supplies for the lighthouse, when it was manned. Just after the cattle grid there is a small car park for disabled visitors. At this point, where the road turns up the hill to the right, it is possible carry on straight ahead up the short, steep grassy slope towards the cliff tops. Take great care once you reach the cliffs, stay well away from the edges as they are unfenced and dangerous. The views are excellent without having to go close to the edge. Alternatively this rougher stretch can be avoided by keeping to the road.

Stage 3

Continue to walk all the way round until you reach the road again at the lighthouse. Cross the road and climb the short set of steps to arrive above and behind the lighthouse. The lighthouse, which marks the southern entrance to the Firth of Forth, was designed and built by David and Thomas Stevenson and came into use in 1862. Originally it was manned by 3 keepers but is now fully automated.

Stage 4

Carry on following the well walked paths around the cliffs. There are a couple of benches along the way and excellent coastal scenery, with a great view to St Abb's village ahead as well as back along the coastline.

Stage 5

Go through a gate and follow the track which brings you out on the road to St Abb's. At this point you can decide whether to include a visit to the harbour of this fishing village, by heading down the road to the left (cafes and seasonal visitor centre in the village). Otherwise, just before reaching the road turn right on the path that runs between the woods and the wall. This path takes you back to the tea room, gallery and play park; continue on past these to return to the car park.

Route: Paul Jess

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