St Abb's, St Abb's Head and Mire Loch

Once in the village of St Abb's (originally called Coldingham Shore until the name change in the 1890s), which is linked to Coldingham inland by road and the Creel Road bridleway, take time to explore the village streets and harbour. The harbour's reduced fishing fleet has diversified to include sea angling and diving opportunities, while some boats still fish for shellfish like prawns.

The harbour cliffs feature different rocks and flora (including the reserve's only bracken, primroses, and early purple orchids). Passing White Heugh, seabirds gather on the south side (guillemots, razorbills, herring gulls, and kittiwakes in cliff crevices). On the ungrazed north slope, rare Scottish lovage and purple milk-vetch thrive.

Skirt the southwest slopes of Kirk Hill (with an optional detour to the summit for excellent views) before heading round the cliffs to St Abb's Head and its 1862 lighthouse. On a clear day you can see Bass Rock. Seabird concentrations are greatest on the cliffs and stacks northwest of the lighthouse (guillemots, kittiwakes, shags, fulmars, herring gulls, razorbills, and puffins).

Continuing past Nunnery Point and Pettico Wick (where twisted 450-million-year-old ocean-bed mud sediments meet younger volcanic rocks along the ancient St Abb's Fault), the route heads inland to Mire Loch — formed by a circa-1900 dam in a valley scoured by meltwater at the end of the last ice age. The crags above host spring sandwort and soft clover, while mute swans, little grebes, and kittiwakes inhabit the loch.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.