Coldingham Bay and St Abbs – Beach Huts and the Creel Path
About 3.5 miles on foot.
Coldingham Bay is a sheltered curve of sand on the Berwickshire coast with a row of painted beach huts along the top, and the fishing village of St Abbs is just round the headland.
An easy circuit joins the two with the old priory village of Coldingham, coming back along the Creel Path that the fishing families once walked. It's three and a half miles, with a beach and a harbour to stop at.
- Time
- About two and a half hours: a circuit of three and a half miles, up to two hours of walking on the council's figures, with time at the bay and the harbour.
- The path
- A fairly steep access road to the beach, a coast path, stiles on the way to Coldingham and village pavements. The Creel Path is for walkers only. Beach wheelchairs can be borrowed at the bay.
- Where to start
- The small car park above Coldingham Bay, at the end of the road from Coldingham village, with a short, fairly steep access road down to the beach. Two bays for disabled visitors at the beach.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. Lifeguards are on the beach in the bathing season only. From November to January set off by 12.30pm.
- Dogs
- Under close control near livestock.
- Children
- A sandy beach with rock pools, and a walk most children can manage.
- Toilets
- At Coldingham Bay; more in St Abbs and Coldingham.
- Before you set out
- Lifeguards are on the beach in the bathing season only. The Red Bridge at Eyemouth harbour, on the coast path to the south, has been closed since 15 June 2026: this walk does not use it.
The walk
Park in the small car park above Coldingham Bay, at the end of the road from Coldingham village, and walk down the short, fairly steep access road to the sand. There are toilets at the bay, and two parking bays for disabled visitors down at the beach itself. The bay is a beauty, with clean sand, rock pools to explore and a line of beach huts in every colour along the grass behind. It holds a Keep Scotland Beautiful Beach Award and sits inside the Berwickshire marine reserve, known for its clear water and sea life. Scottish Borders Council's circular walk takes in the bay, St Abbs and Coldingham, and the council gives the round as three and a half miles and up to two hours, plus time for the sights.
St Abbs is only a kilometre up the coast path from the beach. Its harbour is small and pretty, tucked in below the houses, and there are cafés and a shop in the village. The cliffs of St Abb's Head beyond the village are a walk for another day. The way inland is the Creel Path, the old route the fishing families took to Coldingham, and it's for walkers only. Coldingham has a pub, a shop and the remains of its priory, and from there it's about a kilometre back down to the bay.
Expect stiles and some mud after rain, and keep dogs under close control near livestock. A beach café stands at the bay. The coast path south to Eyemouth is cut at that town's harbour, where the Red Bridge has been closed since 15 June 2026, and this walk doesn't use it. From November to January, set off by 12.30pm.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the beach or the coast path, and the field paths get muddy. On a wet day walk the kilometre to St Abbs and back, and leave the full circuit for a dry one.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Blue Cabin by the Sea in Cockburnspath, 9 miles away. Sleeps 4.
Where to eat
Coldingham Beach Café, a café in Eyemouth.
Ebbcarrs Cafe, a café.
For further reading, before you go.