📌 Cockburnspath, East Lothian
★★★
The Great North Road and East Coast Main Line railway both come close to the ocean as they pass from East Lothian into the Scottish Borders, with half a dozen parallel bridges spanning the steep sided Dunglass Burn due to successive route upgrades. Sandwiched between these transport arteries and the shoreline are some impressive but neglected landscape features: two natural arches (with a third further west, not visited here) eroded by the North Sea, and a atmospheric waterfall on the Bilsdean Burn. Tides (on approach to the arches) and traffic (crossing the A1) both have to be negotiated carefully – this isn’t an easy walk, despite the short length. The last section is much more straightforward and passes Dunglass Collegiate Church, which is well worth a look inside.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Dunglass Viaduct, off minor road 1 mi north of Cockburnspath
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 770721
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.941764,-2.369829
🚌 Bus to Cockburnspath (1 mi)
🚗 Verge parking
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 80 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr
Features: 🌉 Dunglass bridges; 🌊 Bilsdean arches; 🌊 Bilsdean waterfall; ⛪ Dunglass Collegiate Church ★★
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Stony shoreline, with potentially slippery boulders to negotiate on out-and-back section to Bilsdean arches – which is submerged at high tide. Very steep, mud embankment to reach foot of Bilsdean waterfall (optional – can also be viewed from main path). Clear paths & tracks elsewhere. ⚠️ The very busy A1 road must be crossed with care on the return leg – visibility is good, but the traffic fast, so wait for a long gap (or return by outward route).
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with detours to Bilsdean arches: start – Dunglass bridges – follow coastline northwest to Bilsdean arches – return to foot of Bilsdean Burn – Bilsdean waterfall – cross A9 with care – Dunglass Collegiate Church via Dunglass Estate – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Pair of spotted woodpeckers in Dunglass Estate, plus sheep & a pig in nearby fields. Speckled Wood & Red Admiral butterflies. Nesting sand martins, and remains of lobsters & crab shells by the coast – left by an otter?
Weather: Sunny intervals after overnight rain, 20°C at midday.
June 2023
