St Abb's Head

St Abb's Head is a National Nature Reserve of sheer cliffs on the Berwickshire coast where the National Trust for Scotland cares for a great seabird city: tens of thousands of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars on the ledges from April to July, watched from grassy cliff tops. A loop of about four miles runs from the reserve car park at Northfield over the cliffs to the lighthouse and back inland past the Mire Loch, through grassland of sea pinks and wild thyme. The Nature Centre by the car park explains the wildlife and geology. Reviewers call it one of the finest coastal walks in Britain and warn that the path is uneven and exposed. Tips from visitors: the car park is £5, free for members, with an accessible toilet and a cafe next door; the private road to the lighthouse stays open for those who cannot walk far; and dogs are welcome on leads.