Episode 71: ‘One Mile Magic’ – Coldingham Bay on the Berwickshire Coast
Join me on a multi-adventure day trip to the Berwickshire Coast, going hiking, snorkelling and swimming in Coldingham Bay and St Abbs.
Covering great distances isn’t necessarily the best way to see as much as possible when you travel.
‘One Mile Magic’ is a story about picking a mile-long stretch on the Berwickshire Coast and exploring it in depth. We’ll enjoy a slow morning on the beach of Coldingham Bay, go snorkelling and swimming on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail, and follow the coastal path to the charming fishing village of St Abbs.
None of the places we visit in this story are further than a 30-minute walk apart – let me convince you that mileage isn’t everything!
At the end of the episode, I share my top tips for a slow adventure on the Berwickshire Coast.
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
Resources
Here’s the leaflet for the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail
Berwickshire Marine Reserve – Check out their volunteer opportunities!
Book a guided snorkel lesson with Snorkel Wild
Hire snorkel equipment or book a surf lesson with St Vedas Surf Shop at Coldingham Bay
Get in touch with Sea the Change to book a beach wheelchair
Do a wildlife cruise with In Your Nature
Join this Facebook group for wild swimming meet-ups
Hire an e-bike from Sea the Change
Go for a walk at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve
5 Travel Tips for the Berwickshire Coast
1) Make time for more activities
There are many options to join guided group activities in Coldingham and St Abbs. There are boat rides along the coast and regular wild swimming meet-ups. You can book surf lessons, join a snorkel session or hire e-bikes. Check the resources above for links to local organisations and tour companies.
2) Avoid parking in St Abbs
While there is some parking available around the harbour of St Abbs, the streets are narrow and there really isn’t a lot of space. The car park at Coldingham Bay, on the other hand, is very generous and the walk to St Abbs takes only about 20 minutes.
3) Check out the other sites on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail
In addition to the beaches at Coldingham Bay there are three more sites on this snorkel trail. One is Starney Bay near St Abbs and then there are two more near Eyemouth. The Scottish Wildlife Trust has produced a handy leaflet with maps, the surf shop in Coldingham has snorkel equipment for hire and local company Snorkel Wild offers guided sessions and snorkel training.
4) Get seafood from Ebbcarrs Cafe
Ebbcarrs Cafe at the harbour of St Abbs is a great place to try fresh and locally-sourced seafood. There’s usually a line, especially on a sunny day, but it really is worth the wait.
5) Volunteer with the Berwickshire Marine Reserve
You don’t have to be a local resident to volunteer with the Berwickshire Marine Reserve. Anyone can join their regular events, which include Beach Clean-ups, Shorewatch sessions to look for marine mammals and Intertidal sessions to monitor wildlife found in rockpools. You’ll find all upcoming opportunities in their events calendar.
Pictures from Coldingham on the Berwickshire Coast
