Across the Borderline

 Across the Borderline  May 2nd 

It's several years since we walked this beautiful walk. Centred on St. Abbs in Scotland it is a coastal walk especially good for birders and flora fans. Head north up the A1, passing Berwick on Tweed in England, cross the river into Berwickshire as it used to be called and turn off for Coldingham.

St. Abbs was, until 1890 called Coldingham Shore and was a fishing centre. The name comes from St, Aebba, Northumbrian nun who started a religous house here in the 7th century. A home for monks and nuns, but separate I suppose. She opened another in Ebchester, near Prudhoe.

The walk is covered by OS 67 Duns, Dunbar and Eyemouth. There is parking in Coldingham, limited but free.

               Roadside parking in Coldingham. The small car park close to the Priori was full.

We started the walk with a look round the remains of the Priory in Coldingham, the building that remains being considerably less than the outline of the original.

                                 Coldingham Priory.

Leaving the Priory by a path at the back we found the road that leads to the beach of Coldingham Bay, taking a footpath on the right we headed for the sands.

                           Coldingham bay, with beach huts.

                    Steps off the beach.

We left he beach, climbed the steps into St. Abbs and went downhill again to the harbour for breakfast at a cafe, and we had only walked two miles.

                    St Abbs harbour.

Breakfast over we climbed away from the harbour and after a short walk on the B6438 turned right, went through a gate and walked alongside a high wall, soon joining the footpath on the cliff tops.

                   St Abbs from the cliff top walk.

This section of the walk is close to the edge at times  but is well worth it for the views and the names: Black Craighead, Halterem's Loup and Wuddy Rocks to name but three.Flanking Kirk Hill we passed, without noticing the remains of St. Abb's Kirk before climbing the grassy slope towards the lighthouse. Sitting with our backs to the wall of the house we had a Herbie, approximately  four miles in.

                           The lighthouse

                 Herbie time: Bakewell tarts, flapjacks, almond slices and sweet and savoury from Mrs A

Rested and refreshed we continued on the cliff top path, stopping after a few hundred yards to watch the mass of birds nesting on the rocks. (And missing the remains of St Abb's Nunnery)

              There were Guillemots, Fulmars, Gannets possibly Puffins and other birds on the rocks.

Ornithology satisfied we walked on, noting that the path we have taken down to Pettico Wick is now closed to protect the nesting birds and the flowers there. The path we followed took us to the road and after a few hundred yards of tarmac we turned left to take the footpath on the side of Mire Loch,  sedge warblers, reed warblers and swans.

                              Mire Loch.

Soonwe were back on the path we had followed from the village and once there we stopped at the Old School Cafe for an ice cream.

Cooed down we took the Creel Road, really a path, back to Coldingham, enjoyed a well earned pint in the village pub and then went home.

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The walk is about 8 miles, Several short steep climbs but worth the effort for the views and the wild life.