Walk: St Abb’s Head – sensational seabird city

📌 St Abbs, Scottish Borders
★★★★

The shattered volcanic cliffs of St Abbs Head are the ruggedest part and finest jewel of the Borders coastline, and this energetic circuit from the pretty fishing village of St Abbs explores them fully. Cliffs in the area approach 150 metres in height, with narrow ledges and spiky sea stacks stained white with guano from tens of thousands of noisy, smelly seabirds – kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, shags, gulls and a handful of puffins – which nest here from April to July (the guano can create quite a stink). Whatever the season, the fascinating geology, cliffs, sea stacks and shingle bays are worth lingering for, while tranquil Mire Loch is visited on the return leg and has its own catalogue of flora and fauna. A wonderful day out for walkers and wildlife lovers alike.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at St Abbs harbour

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 919673

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.899118,-2.130788

🚌 Bus to St Abbs

🚗 Car park (charge) – or free options nearby

📝 Key info

▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 150 m | ⌛ 2 hr

Features: 🏠 St Abbs ★★; 🏠 St Abbs Visitor Centre ★; 🌊 St Abb’s Head ★★★★; 💧 Mire Loch; 🦢 St Abb’s Head nature centre

⬤ Moderate | Clear but often steep or rough paths for the coastal section (easier options further from the cliff edge) with unguarded drops next to the path – a fair amount of ascent and descent if sticking rigidly to the coast. Narrow, clear path for return along Mire Loch, then minor roads and pavements.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – St Abbs – St Abbs Visitor Centre – coast path to St Abb’s Head – West Hurker – southwest side of Mire Loch – nature centre – St Abbs Visitor Centre – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Seabirds: kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills; a few shags, fulmars, gulls, rock doves, corvids. On / around Mire Loch: mute swans, mallards, coots, moorhens, little grebes, reed buntings & sedge warblers. Sheep and lambs on return section. Horseflies and lots of other flying insects.

Weather: Fairly thin cloud sheets and a little hazy sunshine. 16°C in the middle of the day with variable winds: quite gusty at times.

April 2025 (some photos less recent)

St Abb’s Head ★★★★