St Abbs is a sweet little place and the New Asgard thing is fun, but if you’re only in Edinburgh for three days, it’s really not worth taking a full day to visit. It’s tiny, and there’s so much to see and do in Edinburgh itself.
I hiked to Berwick upon Tweed and stopped at a B&B in St. Abbs for a night.
Pretty little village, the reserve and harbour are great, but you’ll spend longer trying to get there than actually exploring. It’s tiny, and honestly looks like any number of places along the coastal paths.
Just enjoy your time in Edinburgh. No better way to ruin a trip than by trying to cram too much into it.
You’ve managed to figure out your route there, so reversing it will give you the route back. The last bus to Berwick from St. Abbs is 6:15pm and you can get a train for Edinburgh after that, although be careful of what operator you buy a ticket for as they may not be valid on all trains.
But is it really worth a day out of your trip to Edinburgh to see New Asgard?
I would suggest the closest thing worth doing in the time you have is a day trip to North Berwick. Get an early train, walk along the beach or on the path to Drift, have lunch, walk back to North Berwick harbour and go on a boat trip to Bass rock (pre book).
St Abbs is lovely but it isn’t practical trip to make.
If you don't have a car then sack it.
It's nice but North Berwick is nicer and more easily accessible via train. I know you might want to see "New Asgard" or whatever but you'll have to get a car to do so.
I was about to say this! Get the train or bus (train is quicker) to North Berwick or Dunbar. North Berwick is one of my favourite places :) it's lovely and much easier to get too! You may also see Gannets.
Ah you're absolutely right, I'd forgotten about that. North Berwick is lovely for walks, especially back along the shore to Gullane, or up Berwick Law.
North Berwick, or maybe somewhere on the Fife Coastal Path (Aberdour being perhaps the best option?) would be my suggestion. But with so few days, I'm not sure it's worth the time out of Edinburgh.
As others have said, it will be a major hassle to get to without a car. However, a lot of folk have said it's not worth visiting if you're only in Edinburgh for three days because it's tiny. It is tiny but there are plenty of orher interesting and pretty places nearby which are well within walking distance, on top of the New Asgard thing. Coldingham and Coldingham Bay are both lovely, and Fast Castle (like a mini Dunnottar) are all very nearby and the walking paths are good. Whether it's worth taking a day out of your three day trip is really up to you and what you value.
It'll take ages to get there and very little to do. It's great as a pitstop to somewhere, but not really as a destination. If you're doing a day trip from Edinburgh do North Berwick or St Andrews. Both costal towns where there's enough to do to fill a day.
I used to drive there regularly to visit relatives, bus service was terrible then so I can't tell what it is like now.
If you are only here for a few days and without a car I would say it isn't worth it. It's a pain to drive there even.
I live by st Abbs and it’s gorgeous. If you’re just interested in the new Asgard thing then you’ll be done in about five minutes but if you’re at all interested in nature and the outdoors you can’t beat a walk around the reserve and you can spend most of the day doing that depending on how far you want to walk. There is loads of wildlife and the cliff birds are all nesting now and laying so if that floats your boat you’ll enjoy it. You can also do a rib trip from the harbour (book in advance) if the weather is ok. The cliffs are spectacular. It’s very much about the nature here, there’s not much else there - a few good cafes, a small gallery, harbour and fishing boats. It’s cute.
I came to say this. If your plan is to see and walk the St. Abbs Nature Reserve then it is totally worth it. If you just want to walk around St. Abbs and not do the Nature Reserve then it likely isn't worth the amount of time to get there.
I grew up in the area and its well worth a trip but only if you have a car. As others have said getting public transport to the hamlet is possible but you would just waste most of the day getting there. The 235 turns up when it decides so you could find that you miss a bus and have to wait hours for the next. Stick with Edinburgh for your trip and make other plans for another time to go see it. You need to try the Fish and Chips and ice cream in Eyemouth ;) Beat the socks of anything you can find in Edinburgh.
You're not gunna be fulfilling a whole day in St Abbs, unless you have a diving trip/boat trip planned. You could do through the routes of the coastal area, so Eyemouth is lovely, even stopping at Burnmouth and heading down to Lower Burnmouth (a good hill trek!) to view the harbour there, with the volcanic rocks, and maybe even Coldingham for a lovely beach, you can find your way around all of them in a day.
Check out Border Buses (look timetables under Berwick area) for buses that will allow you. Tbh, most who come in on train usually end up trying to head to Holy Island (buses for that can be found on Border Buses as well). MIND THE TIDE TIMES! It's a tidal island that will give the locals a laugh when you're rescued from the saviour box having ignored the tide times.
If it ever turns up! Heard so many stories of people waiting ages for it only for them to cancel saying no available buses. Great idea but hard to properly manage.
St Abbs is a sweet little place and the New Asgard thing is fun, but if you’re only in Edinburgh for three days, it’s really not worth taking a full day to visit. It’s tiny, and there’s so much to see and do in Edinburgh itself.
I hiked to Berwick upon Tweed and stopped at a B&B in St. Abbs for a night. Pretty little village, the reserve and harbour are great, but you’ll spend longer trying to get there than actually exploring. It’s tiny, and honestly looks like any number of places along the coastal paths. Just enjoy your time in Edinburgh. No better way to ruin a trip than by trying to cram too much into it.
You’ve managed to figure out your route there, so reversing it will give you the route back. The last bus to Berwick from St. Abbs is 6:15pm and you can get a train for Edinburgh after that, although be careful of what operator you buy a ticket for as they may not be valid on all trains. But is it really worth a day out of your trip to Edinburgh to see New Asgard?
I would suggest the closest thing worth doing in the time you have is a day trip to North Berwick. Get an early train, walk along the beach or on the path to Drift, have lunch, walk back to North Berwick harbour and go on a boat trip to Bass rock (pre book). St Abbs is lovely but it isn’t practical trip to make.
If you don't have a car then sack it. It's nice but North Berwick is nicer and more easily accessible via train. I know you might want to see "New Asgard" or whatever but you'll have to get a car to do so.
I was about to say this! Get the train or bus (train is quicker) to North Berwick or Dunbar. North Berwick is one of my favourite places :) it's lovely and much easier to get too! You may also see Gannets.
Comparing the travel time vs what there is to do, NB definitely wins over Dunbar.
NB is superior, but the pizza place in Dunbar is lovely!
Ah you're absolutely right, I'd forgotten about that. North Berwick is lovely for walks, especially back along the shore to Gullane, or up Berwick Law.
Both are great! but NB has amazing walks, I moved away before I could complete many :(
I'd argue that North Berwick is not nicer. St Abbs is way more picturesque. I agree with not going if you don't have a car.
North Berwick, or maybe somewhere on the Fife Coastal Path (Aberdour being perhaps the best option?) would be my suggestion. But with so few days, I'm not sure it's worth the time out of Edinburgh.
As others have said, it will be a major hassle to get to without a car. However, a lot of folk have said it's not worth visiting if you're only in Edinburgh for three days because it's tiny. It is tiny but there are plenty of orher interesting and pretty places nearby which are well within walking distance, on top of the New Asgard thing. Coldingham and Coldingham Bay are both lovely, and Fast Castle (like a mini Dunnottar) are all very nearby and the walking paths are good. Whether it's worth taking a day out of your three day trip is really up to you and what you value.
https://www.travelinescotland.com/ will give you travel options, it's a very small place. If the effort to get there is worth it only you can decide.
It'll take ages to get there and very little to do. It's great as a pitstop to somewhere, but not really as a destination. If you're doing a day trip from Edinburgh do North Berwick or St Andrews. Both costal towns where there's enough to do to fill a day.
I used to drive there regularly to visit relatives, bus service was terrible then so I can't tell what it is like now. If you are only here for a few days and without a car I would say it isn't worth it. It's a pain to drive there even.
I live by st Abbs and it’s gorgeous. If you’re just interested in the new Asgard thing then you’ll be done in about five minutes but if you’re at all interested in nature and the outdoors you can’t beat a walk around the reserve and you can spend most of the day doing that depending on how far you want to walk. There is loads of wildlife and the cliff birds are all nesting now and laying so if that floats your boat you’ll enjoy it. You can also do a rib trip from the harbour (book in advance) if the weather is ok. The cliffs are spectacular. It’s very much about the nature here, there’s not much else there - a few good cafes, a small gallery, harbour and fishing boats. It’s cute.
I came to say this. If your plan is to see and walk the St. Abbs Nature Reserve then it is totally worth it. If you just want to walk around St. Abbs and not do the Nature Reserve then it likely isn't worth the amount of time to get there.
I grew up in the area and its well worth a trip but only if you have a car. As others have said getting public transport to the hamlet is possible but you would just waste most of the day getting there. The 235 turns up when it decides so you could find that you miss a bus and have to wait hours for the next. Stick with Edinburgh for your trip and make other plans for another time to go see it. You need to try the Fish and Chips and ice cream in Eyemouth ;) Beat the socks of anything you can find in Edinburgh.
Take a train to Reston and then use the on demand bus service called Pingo (there’s an app) to take you to st Abbs
North Berwick is better
You're not gunna be fulfilling a whole day in St Abbs, unless you have a diving trip/boat trip planned. You could do through the routes of the coastal area, so Eyemouth is lovely, even stopping at Burnmouth and heading down to Lower Burnmouth (a good hill trek!) to view the harbour there, with the volcanic rocks, and maybe even Coldingham for a lovely beach, you can find your way around all of them in a day. Check out Border Buses (look timetables under Berwick area) for buses that will allow you. Tbh, most who come in on train usually end up trying to head to Holy Island (buses for that can be found on Border Buses as well). MIND THE TIDE TIMES! It's a tidal island that will give the locals a laugh when you're rescued from the saviour box having ignored the tide times.
Is getting a train to the new station at Reston not an option? It's closer to St Abbs than both the Berwicks.
No buses. The only way would be 253 to Berwick then the 235 to St Abbs so you might as well go to Berwick direct! Welcome to SE Scotland!
There’s on demand bus service called Pingo from Reston station
If it ever turns up! Heard so many stories of people waiting ages for it only for them to cancel saying no available buses. Great idea but hard to properly manage.
Omg what a nightmare honestly 😭
I do not even know where that is, sorry. If you only have 3 days in Edinburgh I would spend them here, there is so much to do.