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St Abbs, Berwickshire

Summary

Linear walk along Berwickshire Coastal Path from St Abbs to Burnmouth, looping north to St Abbs Head first before heading south past Eyemouth. High cliffs at St Abbs Head and well-signed coastal path from St Abbs to Burnmouth.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
10.7 miles (17.3 km)
Walking time:
06h 00m
Type:
Linear

Start location

St Abbs harbour, Berwickshire

lat: 55.8994097

lon: -2.1306867

Map

Elevation

Route

1 of 0

Getting there

Perryman’s Bus 235 runs between Berwick and St Abbs, via Burnmouth and Eyemouth – a daily and hourly service. Mainline trains stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed (0871 200 2233, www.traveline.org.uk). 

Waypoints

1

From the harbour, head up the road past the church and onto a clearly marked path on your right signed for St Abbs Head. Having emerged from the trees onto the open cliffs, you’ll find a notice board showing the trails around the St Abbs Head Nature Reserve. Follow the coast path round Starney Bay and past Kirk Hill to the lighthouse (not open to the public). (A) St Abbs Head Lighthouse began service in 1872 and was finally automated in 1993. Climb the small hillock nearby, on top of which there is a directional disc and several information panels. It’s a fine viewpoint.

2

Descend the north side to the lighthouse access road and turn left along this down to Pettico Wick. Alternatively you can keep closer to the high cliff edges – home to thousands of screeching seabirds (the nesting season for most of these is between April and late July) – but this will involve a very steep descent down a grassy gully to Pettico Wick. There are excellent views from here. Pettico Wick marks a line of weakness between two very different types of rock, as described on one of the nearby information panels.

3

Leave the road and turn south to Mire Loch, following the path along its west side (there’s one on the other side too). At the end of the loch, turn left and rejoin your outward route to return to St Abbs and the harbour. From the harbour it is now simply a matter of keeping the sea on your left and following the Coast Path signs. (B) About 1.5km/1 mile from the village is Coldingham Bay, a wide sweep of sand popular with holidaymakers in summer. Approaching Eyemouth the path goes round a caravan park, then drops down to the town and busy fishing port, passing some information panels on the way – one of which describes the great storm of 1881 in which many local men lost their lives.

4

Continue around the harbour – crossed by a footbridge - to join a road on the other side. Follow this road (the current OS Explorer map shows a slightly different route here), then turn left as signed across the golf course back to the coast and go right. There’s some fine cliff-top walking now with splendid views all the way to Burnmouth.

4

Continue around the harbour – crossed by a footbridge - to join a road on the other side. Follow this road (the current OS Explorer map shows a slightly different route here), then turn left as signed across the golf course back to the coast and go right. There’s some fine cliff-top walking now with splendid views all the way to Burnmouth.

5

The Coast Path reaches the road at Burnmouth (the upper part; the lower is at the foot of the cliff) by a phone box and bus stop. You can catch a bus here back to St Abbs.

Notes

Terrain: High cliffs at St Abbs Head and well-signed coastal path from St Abbs to Burnmouth.

Maps: OS Explorer 346; Landrangers 67 & 75.

Visitor Information: Eyemouth TIC (seasonal opening) and Kelso TIC (0870 608 0404, www.visitscottishborders.com; Berwick-upon-Tweed TIC (01289 301780, www.visitnortheastengland.com).

Local Ramblers Area: Lothian & Borders Ramblers (01506 880980, www.lothian-borders-ramblers.org.uk); North Berwick Ramblers (01620 893657); East Berwickshire Ramblers (018907 51048).

Eating & drinking: In St Abbs there’s a coffee shop at the National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre, a café at the harbour; Eyemouth has a good selection of places to eat and drink; and there’s a pub in Burnmouth.  

Sleeping: A good choice of accommodation – hotels, B&Bs & self-catering – is along the coast at St Abbs, Coldingham, Eyemouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Contact TICs or see websites. 

Problem with this route?

If you encounter a problem on this walk, please let us know by emailing volunteersupport@ramblers.zendesk.com. If the issue is with a public path or access please also contact the local highways authority directly, or find out more about solving problems on public paths on our website.

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Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our quarterly Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking
Join now for just £3.42 per month
Register for an account for FREE