Long distance
Berwickshire Coastal Path
Cliff-top walking along the Berwickshire coast with sea arches, stacks, harbour villages and nesting seabirds, from Cockburnspath (the eastern end of the Southern Upland Way) to Berwick-upon-Tweed. 48 km (30 mi) with 1,060 m of climbing — surprisingly strenuous for its length. Three days is the usual plan; strong walkers do it in two. Traditionally walked north to south.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 48 km/ 30 mi
- Typical days
- 3
- Total ascent
- 1060 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start → Finish
- Cockburnspath → Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Best direction
- North to South
- Water sources
- Refill at Cockburnspath, Coldingham, St Abbs, Eyemouth, Burnmouth and Berwick. Nothing between Cockburnspath and St Abbs — carry enough for that stretch.
- Mobile signal
- Signal in the villages and towns; it can drop on the cliff sections between Cockburnspath and St Abbs.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Berwickshire Coastal Path packs more drama per mile than routes twice its length. Fast Castle on its sea rock, Tun Law (150 m, the highest cliff on the Berwickshire coast), and in spring and summer many thousands of nesting seabirds at St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve, a short detour from the path. Take care on the unprotected cliff edges. You will want to linger.
Highlights
- Fast Castle ruins
- St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve (short detour) — many thousands of nesting seabirds
- Eyemouth harbour
- Cliff-top walking throughout
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Cockburnspath to Dowlaw12km
From the eastern end of the Southern Upland Way past Pease Bay, St Helen's Church and the detour to Siccar Point, where James Hutton saw his famous unconformity in 1788.
- Terrain
- Coastal paths and farm tracks, some steep sections.
- Overnight
- None at Dowlaw, which has no bus — continue to St Abbs or arrange a taxi.
- Stats
- Cockburnspath → Dowlaw · 12km
2Dowlaw to St Abbs10km
Past Fast Castle (view it from the landward side — the cliffs are unguarded) and the Admiralty distance poles to Tun Law, at 150 m the highest cliff on the Berwickshire coast, then Pettico Wick and the St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve.
- Terrain
- Cliff-top paths, steep climbs and descents, unprotected edges.
- Overnight
- Around St Abbs and Coldingham.
- Stats
- Dowlaw → St Abbs · 10km
3St Abbs to Eyemouth6km
A short, popular section by Coldingham Bay to Eyemouth, the largest town in Berwickshire.
- Terrain
- Coastal paths and beach.
- Overnight
- Eyemouth has a range of accommodation.
- Stats
- St Abbs → Eyemouth · 6km
4Eyemouth to Berwick-upon-Tweed20km
By the harbour at Burnmouth (6 km) and across the border into England to Berwick-upon-Tweed and its ramparts. Waymarking gives out as you enter Berwick.
- Terrain
- Cliff paths, some road walking, town streets.
- Overnight
- Berwick-upon-Tweed has a wide range of accommodation.
- Stats
- Eyemouth → Berwick-upon-Tweed · 20km
Transport
To start (Cockburnspath)
From finish (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Train · LNER
Berwick-upon-Tweed station, East Coast Main Line, ~15 direct trains daily to Edinburgh (~41 min); also CrossCountry and TransPennine Express
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
There is no accommodation in Cockburnspath. A range around Coldingham and Eyemouth and a wide range in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dowlaw, the end of the first section, has no bus and no overnight parking, so most walkers go straight through from Cockburnspath to St Abbs or use the frequent coastal buses to return to a base.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Cockburnspath has a shop and post office; Coldingham, St Abbs and Eyemouth have shops and cafes; full shops in Berwick. There is nothing between Cockburnspath and St Abbs, the longest stretch (22 km).
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Berwickshire Coastal Path + John Muir Way
Cockburnspath is the southern end of the 16 km John Muir Link to the John Muir Way
Walk the John Muir Link north from Cockburnspath to join the John Muir Way at Dunbar.
Berwickshire Coastal Path + Southern Upland Way
Both start / finish at Cockburnspath
Walk the Southern Upland Way west across Scotland to Portpatrick, having warmed up on the Berwickshire coast from Berwick to Cockburnspath.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Cockburnspath)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:07
- Sunset
- 16:40
- Civil dawn
- 06:28
- Civil dusk
- 17:19
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
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Getting to and from the Berwickshire Coastal Path
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.