Dramatic cliffs, seabird colonies, fantastic seafood, and a Hollywood connection make St. Abbs a must-visit in the Scottish Borders! There are some incredible things to do in St. Abbs such as seal spotting, scuba diving, birdwatching, and hiking.
The quaint fishing village of St. Abbs is located within the Coldingham parish of Berwickshire. Many of you know it as Thor’s homeland, New Asgard, from Avengers: Endgame, and also from Harry Style’s new ‘Adore You’ video. We visited St. Abbs on a chilly January day to walk a section of the Berwickshire coastal path that runs through the St. Abbs Head Nature Reserve which draws outdoor enthusiasts around the year for its wildlife colonies, clear blue waters, and dramatic views. We walked over the cliffs on the headland looking for seabirds and seals and from our vantage point, St. Abbs appeared bathed in that magical, golden light of late winter afternoon. The sea was calm like a sheet of blue-grey metal. Acres of green fields stretched across the horizon and a whimsical fog slowly sheathed the landscape in a gauzy embrace. We watched as St. Abbs, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Scotland, glowed in the late afternoon sun.
HISTORY OF ST. ABBS: According to NTS, the village of St. Abbs “stretches back to prehistoric times. Traces of an Iron Age fort hint at the long history of human settlement here, as do the remains of an 11th-century kirk and burial ground dedicated to Æbbe, a 7th-century Northumbrian princess. Æbbe, after whom the headland and village are named, was sainted for spreading Christianity through this previously pagan land.”
Because of its easy accessibility from Edinburgh, it is a popular day trip destination for Edinburgh locals. We visited St. Abbs on a chilly but perfectly sunny January afternoon and enjoyed a leisurely walk on the cliffs and some coffee by the harbour.
Where is St. Abbs
St. Abbs is a small coastal village 47 miles from Edinburgh. Located in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, St. Abbs is known for its beautiful nature reserve and as a stop on the Berwickshire Coastal Path.
How to Reach St. Abbs from Edinburgh
St. Abbs can be easily reached by public transport from Edinburgh and makes for an excellent day trip option from Edinburgh.
HOW TO REACH ST. ABBS BY CAR // St. Abbs is 47 miles from Edinburgh. A 1 hr drive on the A1 from Edinburgh will bring you to St. Abbs. The car park at the harbour is £1. The other car park, above the village, is maintained by NTS. It is free for NTS members and £2 for non-members. There is a loo and a shop selling work by local artists.
HOW TO REACH ST. ABBS BY BUS // St Abbs is served by the Borders 235 bus ‘Berwick – St Abbs’. From Edinburgh, the Borders 253 stops at Eyemouth. The bus timetables can be found at https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/timetables.
HOW TO REACH ST. ABBS BY TRAIN // The nearest station is at Reston, 4.5 miles from St. Abbs. From Reston, a DRT service named Pingo by Borders Bus is available. You can also take the train to Berwick-Upon-Tweed, approximately 14 miles away. From there, take bus number 235 to St Abbs.
Things to Do In St. Abbs
St. Abbs is known for its picturesque harbour, rugged cliffs, and marine life, making it a popular destination for divers, walkers, and nature enthusiasts. The village is part of the St. Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve, which is recognized for its diverse marine habitats and wildlife.
Explore St. Abbs Head National Nature Reserve
Our favourite thing to do at St. Abbs is to walk over the cliffs in the St. Abbs Head National Nature Reserve. The cliffside walk is spectacular (& the drop dizzying)! A circular 4-mile/6.25-km path will take you to the St Abbs Lighthouse and Foghorn which marks the southern entrance to the Firth of Forth and was built in 1862 following the sinking of the ship, “Martello”, in 1857, and onwards to Mire Loch and back. In summer, the landscape is a profusion of sea pinks, rock rose, wild thyme, and purple milk-vetch hemmed by clear blue skies and crystal waters. Bring a picnic hamper and settle down on a patch of grass for a scenic lunch. Beware the wind though, and of course, the gulls!
Also Read: Planning a move to Scotland? Read Moving to Scotland on the Skilled Worker Visa: A Complete Guide.
Spot Seabirds
Birdwatching is another top thing to do at St. Abbs! Over 50,000 seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, puffins, cormorants, kittiwakes, and herring gulls, call these cliffs their home and you are never too far from birdsong or bird-spotting!
Do some Seal Spotting
If you are bowled over by the cuteness of seals, St. Abbs is the place to be! Seal spotting is a popular activity in St. Abbs. The beaches around St. Abbs are home to grey seals. They pup over winter and barriers are placed around the beaches to keep visitors away. Be careful to not disturb them or scare them. Visit the NTS website for the Seal Code of Conduct for the reserve.
Try Scuba Diving
I always relate diving to tropical waters but the clear waters around St. Abbs have made scuba diving one of the top activities at St. Abbs. Divers are drawn to the rich marine life and fantastic underwater scenery. It is also home to Scotland’s only Voluntary Marine Reserve. Dives here generally involve circumnavigating the rocky outcrops, Broad Craig, Big and Little Green Carrs, and renowned Cathedral Rock.
Visit the Village of St. Abbs
The pretty houses and the scenic harbour of St. Abbs are worth a stroll on a day trip to St. Abbs village. Above the harbour, you can see Jill Watson’s memorial to the one hundred and eighty-nine fishermen, most from the village of Eyemouth who lost their lives off the coast of Berwickshire in a severe storm in October 1881. We stopped for coffee and some homemade bakes at Ebb Carr’s cafe. In summer, they serve lunch and you can treat yourself to sandwiches and clam chowder just like you would at the best restaurants in the East Neuk of Fife.
Continue along the Berwickshire Coastal Path
British people love a good walk and the country is crisscrossed by walking paths. The Berwickshire Coastal Path is a 30-mile path that runs from Cockburnspath to Berwick upon Tweed. From St. Abbs, you can walk south along the clifftop to Eyemouth via Coldingham Bay. In Eyemouth, you can explore the Smuggler’s Trail and visit Gunsgreen’s House which is nicknamed “the Smuggler’s Palace” due to its owner, John Nisbet, being at the centre of smuggling operations in Eyemouth in the 1750s. If you are headed north, walk to Cockburnspath via Dowlaw.
Have you visited St. Abbs? What are your favourite things to do in St. Abbs? Share your stories with us!
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