St Abb's Head Lighthouse and Mire Loch Circular
Scottish Borders
St Abb's Head is a hard volcanic headland on the Berwickshire coast, left standing as the softer sedimentary rocks around it wore away. Dogs are welcome here but need a lead near the farm stock in the fields and the sheer, unfenced cliff edges. It has been a National Nature Reserve, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, since 1984, and in spring and early summer around 60,000 seabirds nest on its cliffs and stacks, among them guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. This circuit of about 5.6km starts at the Northfield car park, heads to the coast by St Abbs village and follows the cliff path north to the lighthouse, first lit in 1862 and designed by David and Thomas Stevenson. The return drops inland past the Mire Loch, a narrow freshwater loch in the valley of the St Abb's Head fault. There is around 140 metres of climbing on grassy cliff paths.
This dog friendly walk needs a lead for much of the way. The Trust asks for dogs to be under close control at all times and on a lead near farm stock, and the route crosses fields with livestock. The cliff edges are high, sheer and unfenced in places, and during the nesting season the birds are close to the path, so keep your dog clipped on along the clifftop. The Mire Loch gives water on the way back; there is little shade. The car park has toilets, and the Old Smiddy cafe is beside it.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.6 km (3.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic, Lake
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Toilets at Northfield car park; the Old Smiddy cafe beside the car park; more options in St Abbs village.
- Parking
- Northfield car park, National Trust for Scotland, pay and display for non-members, free for NTS members.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to St Abb's Head Lighthouse and Mire Loch Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Green Cottage - Swinton
Sleeps 6 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £839 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in Scottish BordersFrequently Asked Questions
Is St Abb's Head Lighthouse and Mire Loch Circular dog friendly?
St Abb's Head is a great destination for dogs, though it does come with some conditions that earn it a 7/10 rating rather than a perfect score. The National Trust for Scotland, which has managed this National Nature Reserve since 1984, asks that dogs are kept under close control throughout. With stunning cliff scenery, a Victorian lighthouse, and the Mire Loch to drink from on the way back, it's well worth the visit if you're happy to keep your dog leashed for much of the route.
Can dogs be off lead at St Abb's Head Lighthouse and Mire Loch Circular?
Leads are required for much of this walk, and it's important to take that seriously here. The route crosses fields with livestock, the cliff edges are high, sheer and unfenced in places, and during spring and early summer around 60,000 seabirds nest very close to the path. Off-lead time is limited, so this is one to save for dogs who are comfortable and calm on the lead.
What should I know before visiting St Abb's Head Lighthouse and Mire Loch Circular with my dog?
The circuit is around 5.6km with about 140 metres of climbing on grassy cliff paths, so it's a fairly active outing. There's little shade along the route, but the Mire Loch provides a natural drinking spot for dogs on the return leg, so bring water for the outward half. The Northfield car park has toilets and the Old Smiddy cafe right beside it, and there are more facilities in St Abbs village nearby — parking is pay and display for non-members, free for NTS members.
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