Campsites in St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve with horseback riding

Set on stunning coastal headland, St Abb’s boasts dramatic cliffs, colorful wildflowers and thousands of seabirds.

100% (2 reviews)

United Kingdom
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Scotland
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St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve

100% (2 reviews)

Popular camping styles for St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve

Stories from the community

Tim

May 2025

2 nights at Bamburgh Under Canvas

Beautiful quiet site. The tent felt entirely private/separate from the few others on the site. Well equipped and comfortable. Perfectly located for exploring the North East coast. Campbell was really helpful and made our stay great. Couldn't recommend more!

2 top campsites in St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve with horseback riding

90%

(5)

Bamburgh Under Canvas

5 units · Glamping7 acres · Northumberland, North East England

Luxury Lotus Belle tent glamping with sweeping views, within walking distance of Bamburgh town and castle (and beach)

Hedgehope Retreat | Sleeps 6

1 unit · Glamping1 acre · Swarland, England

Hedgehope gains its namesake from one of the beautiful mountains within the cheviots, just a short journey away from where this luxury caravan is situated. Nestled within woodland that has stood for hundreds of years, this beautiful caravan offers the chance for a Northumbrian escape. We also pride ourselves in being as environmentally-friendly as possible so offset our carbon as a business! Hedgehope is encapsulated by a small area of woodland, allowing for beautiful scenery to be seen through the patio doors to the front of the caravan and running alongside also. Through the trees to the front of the retreat, views of the Cheviots can be seen, alongside the private golf course which can be used at your leisure throughout your stay at no extra cost, the course is 18 hole, par 72 and can be booked through the park reception. Also included within your stay is free access to the sports court, which can be used for tennis, 5-a-side or any other sports you can think of, a fantastic children’s adventure playground, situated next to the park’s reception and picnic tables, and of course the beautiful woods that surrounds Percy Wood holiday park. There is also a launderette on site, allowing for washing to be done easily one your longer stays. This retreat is situated on the edge of the idyllic village of Swarland, which boasts a well-kept sports centre with multiple facilities, a large children’s playground and many walks to chose from, as well as being in an excellent location with the A1 being only a 5-minute drive away, providing easy access to other parts of Northumberland. Within your stay, we will provide advice and guidance for the best places to visit whilst in this stunning part of the UK, but if you’re wondering what there is to do in Northumberland whilst booking your stay, let us boast about our amazing county. Alnwick is a 15-minute journey up the A1 from your stay, which is the traditional county town of Northumberland, it includes the incredible Alnwick castle and gardens; which you may recognise from movies such as Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, one of Europe’s largest second-hand book stores set in a Victorian train station and Alnwick playhouse; an arts centre, theatre and cinema. If you prefer the beach to towns, Northumberland is host to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, from Alnmouth to Amble, there is a variety of beaches to chose from that you can spend all day at. For more inland activities, you have the entirety of the county to chose from for countryside activities. The observatory in our national park, Cragside in Rothbury; which hosts some of the first ever hydraulic powered machinery, Ingram valley; for picnics in the south cheviots, you will never be bored on your trip to Northumberland.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Campsites in St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve with horseback riding guide

Overview

Just outside the pretty coastal fishing village of St Abbs, the rocky promontory of St Abb’s Head is home to a national nature reserve cared for by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). From the cliff tops you can get close-up views of thousands of nesting seabirds—including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes—during the summer months. Colorful wildflowers, such as sea pinks, rock rose and wild thyme, carpet the grassland behind the cliffs. Three trails allow you to thoroughly explore the coastal path, lighthouse and inland Mire Loch, home to swans, damselflies and butterflies. There is no camping in the reserve, but the Shepherd’s Rest Campsite is just 20 minutes down the coast.

When to go

The reserve is open every day, all year-round. For birdwatching, the best time to visit is definitely spring and summer. As well as experiencing the richest birdlife, this time of years is also your best bet for good weather and daylight hours are long. In the fall you may spot rare birds and geese flying overhead, while winter has the appeal of seal pups lying on the beach.

Know before you go

Despite its wild “edge of the world” feel, the reserve is easily accessible, lying just off the A1 road.
The reserve has an accessible path that people of all abilities can follow.
Take care by keeping back from the cliff edge and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The NTS runs a Nature Centre, which has information about the reserve’s natural and cultural history.
The Old Smiddy Coffee Shop is next to the Nature Center and there are picnic tables outside.