Cove is a village in theScottish Borders area ofScotland,18 mi (29 km) northwest of theScotland/England border. It is about 36 miles (58 kilometres) southeast of Edinburgh and 8 mi (13 km) from Dunbar. Cove is close toCockburnspath,Dunglass,Innerwick,Oldhamstocks,Bilsdean, and, further afield,Dunbar andEyemouth. The climate is typical for Scotland, with cold, wet winters and variable summer weather, with days of rain and days of temperatures over 20 °C (68 °F).
The nearest railway station is Dunbar, which is on the main East Coast line from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh. There are regular trains both from Dunbar to Edinburgh and southwards toBerwick-upon-Tweed. The nearest bus station is in Cockburnspath which takes passengers north to Edinburgh terminating atSt Andrews Square, and southwards, terminating in Berwick.
The rocks that form the approach to the harbour are limestones and sandstones ofCarboniferous age. They dip sharply to the N/NW due to the downthrust of the Covefault about1⁄2 mi (800 m) southeast. Beyond the fault, olderstrata of theOld Red Sandstone ofDevonian age can be seen.[1]
The natural harbour was improved in 1831 by the building of abreakwater. Access is via an unusual tunnel. As of Summer 2024 funding is being raised for repairs to the breakwater, which has suffered storm damage on one end.
Eleven men from Cove died in the greatEyemouth disaster of 1881. There is a memorial at the top of the cliffs.
The village has been described byThe AA Guide to the British Coast as having more of a Cornish than Scottish air about it.[citation needed] It has no school, shops or post office, although it was knocked down to build new holiday homes. There is a shop and post office nearby in the village of Cockburnspath which also has a school. For amenities, such as a pool or a gym, people need to travel to Dunbar, which is also has an ASDA supermarket.
The nearby beaches ofPease Bay (1.4 mi or 2.3 km) andThorntonloch (3 mi or 5 km) are used forsurfing.
Cove is privately owned by the architect Ben Tindall and the Cove Harbour Conservation Ltd.
TheSouthern Upland Way passes through Cove along the headland and the road in Cove. TheJohn Muir Way passes through Dunbar, about 8 mi (13 km) away.
55°56′13″N2°21′08″W / 55.9369°N 2.3521°W /55.9369; -2.3521