East Coast Accommodation

Historic Tourist Publicity poster for the North Berwick Coast

Eyemouth, North Berwick, St Abbs, Dunbar, John Muir

The Berwickshire coast path running along the Scottish Borders east coast is a major attraction for walkers, with the central focus at the St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve owned by the National Trust for Scotland. From the sublime vantage point of the St Abb's Head cliffs birdwatchers can expect to see nesting puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and shags from April to August particularly. The pretty centres of St Abbs Village and fishing harbour Eyemouth are popular bases on the coast.

Historic Dunbar, actually just sneaking into the Lothians, is particularly popular with American visitors coming to visit the birthplace of American legend John Muir. Famous botanist, campaigner and botanist Muir was responsible for establishing national parks like Yosemite in the States. One of the all time greats of motor racing also heralds from the East Border area near Duns. Visit the Jim Clark Rooms at Duns to find out more about Jim Clark's numerous achivements in motor racing including two time world champion. He died tragically in a motor racing accident in 1968.

The Berwickshire Coastal Path

The Scottish Borders are well known for their Abbey tours and trails, but less known for the striking cliff coastal walking along the Berwickshire Coast which stretches for 15 miles from Berwick Upon Tweed through Burnmouth, Eyemouth, St Abbs and inland slightly down to Coldingham.

Further along the coast from St Abbs you can extend the walk, arriving at St Abbs Head Nature Reserve (see weblink right). You're in for a mix of dramatic cliff scenery and farmland. Between Burnmouth and Eyemouth at Fancove Head the cliffs reach a height of 340 feet. The path runs near to the cliff edge in places, so children will need to be supervised and dogs need to be kept on leads. Take care also crossing Eyemouth Golf Course to the south of Eyemouth town, and likewise care is need on the path just south of Burnmouth where the east coast main rail line running close to the trail often has Intercity fast trains speeding past at 100mph.

The Berwickshire coastal path winds through a number of Border towns, but it commences in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Just sneaking into the England over the Border, Berwick-upon-Tweed has changed hands 14 times. The town however feels distinctly Scottish, and the local football team play in the Scottish League. Berwick's defensive town walls hint at its 'changing hands' history, and date from the 16th century, with later reinforcing in the 1760s. The River Tweed meets the sea at Berwick (note the historic old Berwick Bridge dating from 1611 with its 15 sandstone arches across the Tweed).

Telephone the Berwickshire Coastl Path on 0870 608 0404 for a free Berwickshire Coastla Path leaflet.

Dunbar & Summary of th Life of John Muir Naturalist

Dunbar has strong connections with the US, namely through its link as the birthplace of John Muir. A conservationist, campaigner and botanist, John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838 and emigrated with his parent to the US. His various struggles is the US to protect the environment and establish National Parks, for example Yosemite, are legendary and many American visitors to Scotland make a point of visiting his birthplace here in Dunbar (see weblink right for details on John Muir's Birthplace, which is now a museum).

John Muir Birthplace Trust, 126 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian. Tel International 00 44 1368 865899. UK. 01368 865899. Admission is free, and the museum explores in full the Muir's work, with extracts from his journal and a selection of his sketeches on display. Checkout the John Muir Birthplace Trust's website right for further US links outlining his campaigning work in the US. His importance within the protection of the natural environment in the US is unfounded earning him the nickname 'The Father of our National Parks'.

See also The Dunbar Town House Museum, High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian with its local history focus displaying photography of old Dunbar.

Old Motor vehicle and motor bike enthusiasts will enjoy the privately owned Myreton Motor Museum, Aberlady, East Lothian, EH32 0PZ, which houses over 50 vintage cars and motor cycles including World War II military vehicles, an Arnold Benz dating from 1897 and a Rolls Royce dating from 1927. For more details on this and the Dunbar Town House Museum see the Dunbar Community weblink right which also has directions.

Eyemouth Attractions Scottish Borders Coast & Nearby Duns/Edwardian Country House

Bustling fishing port Eyemouth has a long history, it was a Burgh of Barony as far back as 1597. Taking its name from the River Eye which flows into the town to meet the sea, making it a perfect spot for a harbour, Eyemouth was a centre for smuggling during the 18th and 19th centuries. For more on Eyemouth's smuggling, farming, fishing, witch burning and shipwreck history - notably the October 1881 disaster when 129 local men lost their lives in a devastating storm, head to the Eyemouth Museum on the Auld Kirk Manse Road.

Eyemouth's tourist information centre is within the museum. It's well worth picking up an Eyemouth Town Trail booklet from the TIC which guies you round the headland to the remains of a 16th century fort once garrisoned by French troops. Fishing still thrives here in Eyemouth, alongside some choice sandy beaches. Victorian red sandstone Ayton Castle at Eyemouth is as impressive as the more famous Glamis Castle to the north in Perthshire, and is well worth a look Contact Ayton Castle, Eymouth, Berwickshire TD14 5RD, Scotland. Tel. 01890 781212.

Duns & Scottish Hero Jim Clark Motor Racing Champion

Moving inland from Eyemouth, beautifully set within the gentle Berwickshire countryside is Duns which offers a number of historic attractions. Manderston House (2 miles to the east of Duns) is a striking huge Edwardian Country House and open to the public (see weblink right for details. Channel Four's recent Edwardian Country House series was filmed here. You won't find a better example of Edwardian extravagance than here at Manderston House, built by architect John Kinross for Sir James Miller. No expense was spared on the house, which includes a silver staircase! The upstairs/downstairs contrast is of particular interest in the house, which is surrounded by 56 acres of formal gardens. Tel. 01361 882010.

Celebrated Paxton House, which is part of the National Galleries of Scotland network, is located on the coast at Berwick Upon Tweed. Paxton is a superb example of Palladian Country houses dating from the 18th century in Britain and is home to Scotland's largest collection of Chippendale furniture.

After Jim Clark (1936-1968) died in a motor racing accident on 7th April 1968, Jackie Stewart paid tribute to his firend, "Jimmy's death is probably the most tragic thing in my experience of motor-racing, probably in the history of motor-racing Jimmy was not only a famous driver, he was an international personality, loved by all his fiercest rivals". Jimmy's funeral was held in Chirnside near Duns, his home town since the age of six. (he was born in Fife). Jim Clark was one of the great of motor racing, who by 1963 had won 7 Gand Prix for Lotus Cars. He was twice world champion motor racing driver in 1963 and 1965. Well known in the Borders as a local hero, Jim Clark was one of motor racings' greats. To find out more about his long list of great achievements and to see numerous photographs and memorabilia visit the Jim Clark Room in Duns.

The Jim Clark Room, 44 Newtown Street, Duns, TD11 3AU. Tel. 01361 883960. Open late March to September, Mondays to Saturdays 10.30am to 1pm/2pm to 4.30pm. Sundays 2pm to 4pm. October Mondays to Saturdays 1pm to 4pm.

St Abbs & St Abbs Head Nature Reserve - Walking th Scottish Borders Coast

A highlight on the Berwickshire coast path, and site at nearby St Abb's Head of a National Nature Reserve, St Abbs is a charming Border Coast village. Dating from 640 when St Ebba, sister of King Oswy of Northumbria first set up a religious foundation here, St Abbs takes its name from St Ebba.

St Abbs is a natural stopping off point along the Berwickshire Coast path, and a hotspot for not just birdwatchers coming particularly to visit the St Abb's Head reserve to view puffins, herring gulls, kittiwakes and gullemots to mention a few, but also for diving around the off-shore marine reserve. (checkout the St Abb's Marine Reserve's weblink right for details on Scuba Diving off-shore. The Marine Reserve stretches for 8km along the coastline from Hairy Ness at Eyemouth to Thrummie Carr to the north. Along the stretch are crystal clear waters and some stunning dive sites off this rocky reef shoreline).

The St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and a visitor centre with coffee shop, gallery, textiles shop and information point for local cliff top walks and birdwatching is here. The cliffs at St Abbs offer a natural vantage point from which to view nesting birds.

St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve, Northfield, Eyemouth, Scottish Borders, TD14 5QF. Tel. 0844 4932256. (see National Trust for Scotland weblink right for details). The St Abbs Head Visitor Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm from the end of March to end of October.

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