St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve in the Scottish Borders offers a coastal walk that has been described as a "real life nature documentary", with cliff-top views, wildlife, and a connection to Harry Styles. The former One Direction star filmed the video for his 2019 hit Adore You at the reserve, which is less than an hour and a half's drive from Edinburgh.
Walk details and accessibility
The main walk covers 6km of breathtaking sights, taking between two to three hours to complete. There is also a short accessible path for people of all abilities. The route includes cliff tops, lighthouses, and grassland covered in wildflowers, with a variety of wildlife finding homes on the cliffs.
Wildlife and historical landmarks
During late November and December, visitors can look down on Horsecastle Bay, home to a grey seal colony. The charity positions binoculars along the walk during these months, offering a chance to spot a seal cub. The walk also passes the Mire Loch and leads to a lighthouse, which was built in 1862 and was the first in Scotland to have a fog horn. It was manned by three full-time keepers until 1994, when it became fully automated.
In the summer, tens of thousands of seabirds nest on the cliffs, including guillemots, kittiwakes, and razorbills. Guillemots, which are penguin-like birds with white fronts and brownish-black backs, are most likely to be found north of the lighthouse.
Visitor information and nearby attractions
The nature walk is free to explore, but parking at the Nature Centre costs £5. The walk is dog-friendly, though dogs must be kept on a lead. The nearby village of St Abbs, a 10-minute walk from the reserve, offers views of colourful buildings and was transformed into New Asgard for the 2019 Marvel film Avengers: Endgame. The village is also home to Britain's first Voluntary Marine Reserve, established in 1984, and offers activities such as scuba diving and sea angling.
