A Hidden Scotland Guide
The Beach Guide named it the most popular beach in the Borders – and when you visit, you’ll see why. Coldingham Bay stretches out for just over a kilometre, sitting at the base of Buskin Burn in Coldingham Village. Surrounded by green space, the beach is popular all year round with those who want to soak up the rays, go for a bracing walk along the water or explore the rock pools, which are home to a significant number of hermit crabs.
Its location near the St Abbs & Eyemouth Marine Reserve and the St Abbs Head Nature Reserve mean it’s a great place to spot local wildlife, including cliff-nesting birds and even butterflies in the surrounding grass.
Photography by @simonhird
A small town in Berwickshire, Eyemouth’s dramatic high cliffs overlook the sandy Eyemouth Beach. The bay is surrounded by black rocks to the west and the famous town harbour to the East and often attracts surfers during the off-season thanks to the consistent surf. This beach can be enjoyed all year round, whether you want to search for crabs, starfish and other marine life or soak up the sun during the warmer months.
Eyemouth Beach is also on the edge of a charming coastal walk. Beginning the nearby village of St Abbs, the pathway follows along the coastline and clifftops, giving you a perfect view over the Borders coastline. It makes for an excellent walk for hikers looking to take in the natural beauty of the area.
Photography by @simonhird
St Abbs is a fishing village and popular tourist destination during the summer months on the Borders – and its central beach is one of the biggest draws of the town.
Particularly popular with scuba divers because of the clear waters and the large variety of marine life found near the shore, the St Abbs Beach – otherwise known as Starney Bay – is great for anyone wanting to walk or explore the many rock pools on the pebbled beachfront.
St Abbs is also quite the hotspot with celebrities – musician Harry Styles filmed the music video for his song ‘Adore You’ on the North cliffside of the village. The area was also featured as ‘New Asgard’ in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Upon entering the village, you’ll find a welcome sign that – since the release of the film – has been changed to say ‘Twinned with New Asgard’.
Photography by @simonhird
With the Pease Bay Leisure Park stretching just beyond the beach, Pease Bay is a popular waterside spot with visitors to the Borders. A tranquil space on the Berwickshire Coast, the beach offers panoramic views of the North Sea, as well as the surrounding cliffside that shelters the bay. The area is also very popular with surfers, who can hit the excellent waves throughout the peak and off-season, as well as walkers looking to explore the coastal paths that connect the towns along the coast.
Pease Bay is also a stop on the east coast section of the mammoth 212-mile-long distance Southern Uplands Way Walk, which stretches from coast to coast across Scotland. If you’re undertaking this feat of long-distance walking – make sure to take a well-deserved break on this beautiful stretch of beach.
Sitting alongside a working harbour, Burnmouth Beach is one of the focal points of the town of Burnmouth, the most Southerly point on Scotland’s Eastern coast. Drive over the border from England and Burnmouth is the first Scottish town you’ll meet.
The harbour, which has been functioning since the 1800s, is home to plenty of rock formations and a dramatic cliffside. However, this is a beach without sand, so it’s not that great for sunbathing! The beach is very popular with walkers as the coastal walk beginning in Berwick passes through the town of Burnmouth.
If you’re an ornithophile, Burnmouth is also worth a visit thanks to its dense variety of sea-birds.
