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Mahound Rock

Island in Berwickshire

Scotland

Mahound Rock

Dowlaw Dean
Dowlaw Dean Credit: Rob Wallace

Mahound Rock is a small, uninhabited island located off the coast of Berwickshire, Scotland. Situated in the North Sea, the island is part of the Berwickshire and Northumberland National Scenic Area, renowned for its stunning natural beauty. Mahound Rock measures approximately 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width, with its highest point reaching around 15 meters above sea level.

The island is predominantly composed of rugged cliffs, formed by millennia of relentless wave erosion. These cliffs provide an ideal habitat for a variety of seabird species, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, making it an attractive location for divers and snorkelers.

Access to Mahound Rock is limited and challenging due to its remote location and treacherous sea conditions. Visitors are advised to approach the island with caution and respect the fragile ecosystem. The island is not suitable for overnight stays or camping due to its lack of amenities and steep rocky terrain.

Although the island lacks human habitation, it holds historical significance. Local folklore suggests that the name "Mahound" may have originated from the Arabic term for the Islamic prophet Muhammad. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.

For those seeking solitude and a glimpse of untamed natural beauty, Mahound Rock offers a unique and captivating destination. Its rugged cliffs, diverse wildlife, and remote location make it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

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Mahound Rock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.921565/-2.1863874 or Grid Reference NT8869. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Dowlaw Dean
Dowlaw Dean
Small pond with derelict building near Brander Heugh The small derelict building is the remains of a WW2 marker shelter for an aircraft firing range - more detail here: <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1762799" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1762799">Link</a>
Small pond with derelict building near Brander Heugh
The small derelict building is the remains of a WW2 marker shelter for an aircraft firing range - more detail here: Link
Looking down from Brander Heugh towards Lumsdaine Shore
Looking down from Brander Heugh towards Lumsdaine Shore
A snoozing grey seal pup at Lumsdaine Shore The seal was photographed with a telephoto lens from the hillside above the shore. Most of the grey seal pups were wiped out last year by Storm Arwen, but they were back to normal numbers this year.
A snoozing grey seal pup at Lumsdaine Shore
The seal was photographed with a telephoto lens from the hillside above the shore. Most of the grey seal pups were wiped out last year by Storm Arwen, but they were back to normal numbers this year.
Dowlaw Dean The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea.
Dowlaw Dean
The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea.
A roe deer in Dowlaw Dean As I carefully descended into the steep-sided ravine I disturbed two roe deer grazing by the Dowlaw Burn. This is a male deer looking defiantly up towards me.
A roe deer in Dowlaw Dean
As I carefully descended into the steep-sided ravine I disturbed two roe deer grazing by the Dowlaw Burn. This is a male deer looking defiantly up towards me.
Dowlaw Dean The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea. There has been a lot of rock fall from the southeast side of the ravine and the two sheep carcases in the foreground are proof of the treacherous nature of the unstable sides of the ravine.
Dowlaw Dean
The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea. There has been a lot of rock fall from the southeast side of the ravine and the two sheep carcases in the foreground are proof of the treacherous nature of the unstable sides of the ravine.
Roe deer in Dowlaw Dean As I carefully descended into the steep-sided ravine I disturbed a couple of roe deer grazing by the Dowlaw Burn. They watched me for a while and then climbed up the southeast side of the ravine. A female is on the left with a male on the right.
Roe deer in Dowlaw Dean
As I carefully descended into the steep-sided ravine I disturbed a couple of roe deer grazing by the Dowlaw Burn. They watched me for a while and then climbed up the southeast side of the ravine. A female is on the left with a male on the right.
Dowlaw Dean The Dowlaw Burn runs through this rocky ravine into the North Sea. There has been a lot of rock fall on the southeast side of the ravine.
Dowlaw Dean
The Dowlaw Burn runs through this rocky ravine into the North Sea. There has been a lot of rock fall on the southeast side of the ravine.
Dowlaw Dean The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea.
Dowlaw Dean
The Dowlaw Burn runs through this ravine into the North Sea.
The Souter This 30m high sea stack is on the Berwickshire Coast near Dowlaw Dean. The ordinary climbing route up this small stack is graded HVS/E1 5a while another route called Squid Vicious is graded E5 6a. The first ascent was by Robin Campbell and Dave Bathgate in 1965.
The Souter
This 30m high sea stack is on the Berwickshire Coast near Dowlaw Dean. The ordinary climbing route up this small stack is graded HVS/E1 5a while another route called Squid Vicious is graded E5 6a. The first ascent was by Robin Campbell and Dave Bathgate in 1965.
The Berwickshire coast This is a view from the headland on the northwest side of Dowlaw Dean towards Brander in the middle ground and St Abb’s Head in the background.
The Berwickshire coast
This is a view from the headland on the northwest side of Dowlaw Dean towards Brander in the middle ground and St Abb’s Head in the background.
The coastline near the Souter Waves crash over the rocks near the Souter <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2549020">NT8670 : The Souter</a>.
The coastline near the Souter
Waves crash over the rocks near the Souter NT8670 : The Souter.
The Souter The sea stack at the upper left of the photo, a 25m pinnacle requiring a difficult rock climb to reach the top.
The Souter
The sea stack at the upper left of the photo, a 25m pinnacle requiring a difficult rock climb to reach the top.
The Brander An impressive sharp ridge running 100m into the sea.
The Brander
An impressive sharp ridge running 100m into the sea.
The Souter, near Fast Castle Sea stack with a number of routes including 'Squid Vicious'.
The Souter, near Fast Castle
Sea stack with a number of routes including 'Squid Vicious'.
Soay Sheep on the Wheat Stack Headland, near Fast Castle The Soay sheep is a small, primitive domestic sheep that is naturally a very hardy animal and ideal for organic farming.
Soay Sheep on the Wheat Stack Headland, near Fast Castle
The Soay sheep is a small, primitive domestic sheep that is naturally a very hardy animal and ideal for organic farming.
Brander, near Fast Castle Berwickshire coast at Brander, 1.3 km. east of Fast Castle. Anticline in Silurian rocks.
Brander, near Fast Castle
Berwickshire coast at Brander, 1.3 km. east of Fast Castle. Anticline in Silurian rocks.
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Mahound Rock is located at Grid Ref: NT8869 (Lat: 55.921565, Lng: -2.1863874)

Unitary Authority: The Scottish Borders

Police Authority: The Lothians and Scottish Borders

What 3 Words

///immediate.slime.heat. Near Eyemouth, Scottish Borders

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 55.921565,-2.1863874
Oatlee Hill
Ele: 162
Natural: peak
Lat/Long: 55.9179443/-2.1875002
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: kissing_gate
Lat/Long: 55.9185051/-2.1851583
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: kissing_gate
Lat/Long: 55.9205674/-2.19276
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Admiralty Distance Pole
Man Made: tower
Lat/Long: 55.919158/-2.1880337
OpenStreetMap
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Admiralty Distance Pole
Man Made: tower
Lat/Long: 55.917711/-2.1890228
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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