St Abbs Head Nature Reserve

The beautiful St Abbs Head Nature Reserve is the very definition of urban wilderness, with stunning and extensive natural features just 4 miles away from the M1! Formed by an extinct volcano on the magnificent Berwickshire coast, the Head is a vital site for cliff-nesting seabirds so it's a utopia for your little twitchers from May to August: bring your binoculars! Your family can watch guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills, shags, fulmars, puffins and herring gulls wheeling and diving in countless numbers below the 90m high cliffs, where they also nest from April to August.

Off shore you can also sometimes see (emphasisingif you're lucky) seals, whales and dolphins, so multiple pairs of binoculars will come in handy if you've got them! You can always book a Ranger Guided Walk through the visitor centre and tap into their expert knowledge of the area to visit the absolute top spots for scenery and wildlife. There are pleasing and family suitable exhibitions within the Number Four art gallery for your cultural fix plus hot and cold snacks and drinks are on hand at the Old Smiddy Coffee Shop.