Days Out For The FamilySt Abb's Head National Nature Reserve
Scottish Borders, Scotland
Headland in Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK
The experience
About this day out
St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve is a cliff-top coastal headland in the Scottish Borders with dramatic cliffs overlooking crystal-clear waters, famed for its seabird colonies — in summer over 60,000 seabirds inhabit the rugged cliff edges. Visitors can watch seabirds from cliff-top vantage points, head inland to the Mire Loch in search of swans, ducks, damselflies and butterflies, and see wildflowers such as sea pinks, rock rose, wild thyme and purple milk vetch. The Nature Centre offers more information about the wildlife, geology and history of St Abb's Head.
When to go
Opening calendar
Nature Reserve: open all year, daily. Nature Centre: 1 Apr–30 Nov, daily, 09.00–17.00.
Check the venue calendar ↗What it costs
Prices at a glance
- Admission
- Adult: free; Concession: see all entry prices; Car park: £5.00 per day (free to members).
Prices can change. Confirm ticket terms with the venue before booking.
Practical details
Facilities & accessibility
At a glance
- Accessibility
- There are disabled parking spaces at the reserve car park and an accessible toilet next to the Nature Centre. The Nature Centre is wheelchair accessible, with wheelchair-accessible picnic benches outside. Access to the cliffs and many seabird viewpoints is not likely to be possible for wheelchairs and likely difficult for buggies. A short, all-ability path leads from the Nature Centre to a viewpoint at the start of the coastal path, and the private road to the lighthouse is kept open for those with walking difficulties.
- Parking
- Reserve car park located at NT 913 674, well signposted from the B6438; £5 per day parking fee (free to members). Unsuitable for coaches (contact nearby Borders Pottery for coach parking). Disabled parking spaces available, plus small parking areas at Pettico Wick and the lighthouse.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome. Please keep them under close control, or on a lead near farm stock, and clear up after them. Dog waste bins are at the car park and near the start of the walks but none on the reserve.
Getting there
Where you'll find it
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