St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve

The St. Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve may be the best known destination along the Berwickshire coast of Scotland. Formed by a series of volcanic eruptions, it features dramatic cliffs, a rugged coastline and crystal clear waters. The reserve is especially popular with bird watchers, who flock to see some of the 30,000 guillemots, 3,600 kittiwakes and 1800 razorbills that call the area home. Visitors can also spot seals, dolphins and even whales at times. Traces of an Iron Age settlement have been found within the reserve, as have remnants of a 7th century Christian community founded by a Northumbrian princess.
Three walking trails are available around the reserve and it is fairly easy to cover all three in a day’s visit. The main trail is the Discovery Trail and two loops (the Lighthouse Loop and the Mire Loch Loop) start from the trail. A stroll along all three should take around three hours. Guided walks with park rangers are also available and a nature center showcases the history of the area, nature and wildlife and has leaflets for self-guided tours.

Practical Info

The St. Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve is open daily all year round and the nature center is open April 1 to October 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is only accessible by car. From the A1, take the A1107 to Coldingham, turn right onto Coldingham high street and drive one mile to the entrance.