For the best experience, I recommend starting your journey from the car parks at either St. Abbs Harbour or the nature reserve visitors' center at Northfield. Once parked, take the coastal path that leads north along the cliff tops. This route offers stunning views of the village of St. Abbs and the coastline to the south. You can then continue along the cliff path either toward the lighthouse or through the picturesque valley of Mire Loch. Both routes will eventually lead you to Petticowick, a small bay with a beach and pier. The towering cliffs that dominate this cove mark the dramatic meeting point of the Lammermuir Hills and the North Sea.
Although it’s possible to drive up onto St. Abbs Head and park closer to the cache site, I encourage you to take the scenic route on foot to fully appreciate the breathtaking landscape. Don’t miss out on the journey!
When approaching Petticowick, be cautious, as the path leading to the beach and pier has suffered some erosion. After successfully descending, you can traverse the shoreline to reach the cache site. As a bonus, consider taking a small detour on your way from Petticowick to Broadhaven. Along the foreshore, you’ll pass some intriguing sea caves. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a torch and explore the third cave. It has a cross passage that leads you through to the back of the first cave.
Please note that the cache cannot be easily accessed via the shore at or near high tide, so it’s best to time your visit close to low tide. While you won’t need climbing equipment, some rock scrambling is involved. Alternatively, you can approach the cache from above, but it’s not as much fun as the shoreline route.
During October and November, please avoid visiting the cache, as seals will be pupping on the beaches at Broadhaven and Petticowick. If you do explore the sea caves near the cache, bring a torch. The first cave is guarded by a rockpool, the second is a short recess, but the third goes all the way in and across, offering a bit of adventure.
This cache has been placed with the kind permission of the National Trust for Scotland.