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Overview
A bay on the Scottish coast of the North Sea, Coldingham Bay sits within the St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve which in turn is part of the Berwichshire & North Northunberland Coast Special Area of Conversation.
There is a sandy beach here, but it also offers a rocky shore around it which is said to contain a variety of marine life. For those with a more adventurous spirit, there is a walking path around the bay and a hill on the southern side from which to view the area. [2]
Birds
Notable Species
The area offers good opportunities for spotting shorebirds.
St Abb's Bay, approximately 5 minutes away from Coldingham Bay, is reputed to be a very accessible location to spot seabirds. Some of the significant species there include guillemots, kittiwakes, and razorbills. The cliffs in the area offer them safe nesting spots in May to July, while also offering good locations for birders looking to see them. [5]
There is a move afoot to have the Golden Eagle declared as the National Bird of Scotland. That was approximately 7 years ago in 2013.
Rarities
Area species reported as rare in the past[6] have included the King Eider, Red-footed Falcon, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and the Little Bunting.
Other less seen species could include the Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Skylark, Common Eider, Gray Wagtail.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, European Starling, Common Murre, Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin, European Shag, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Great Cormorant, European Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barn Swallow.
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
History and Use
This area has a history dating back to at least 660AD when it was the site of the Abbey of Coldingham. The Abbey described in 679AD as the "Monastery of Virgins" was burned, but was rebuilt. Raiders burned it again in 870 and it wasn't rebuilt until approximately 1098. It suffered various situations causing a degree of ruin, with the remains recorded as being used today as the parish church. [2]
Areas of Interest
St Abbs Head Nature Reserve which is noted as one of the most accessible seabird colonies.
Eyemouth – A small town located nearby on the coast.
Access and Facilities
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the closest commercial airport to Coldingham Bay.
Consult a trusted travel professional for specific, up-to-date information.
References
- Visit Scotland – Coldingham Bay - https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/coldingham-bay-p315511
- Coldingham Information - https://www.coldingham.info/countryside/coldingham-bay.shtml
- Official Website of Scotland - https://www.gov.scot/
- Scottish Wildlife Trust - https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/
- National Trust for Scotland – St Abb's Head - https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/st-abbs-head
- Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) - https://www.the-soc.org.uk/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Coldingham Bay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Coldingham_Bay
Maps
