[3] The layered sedimentary rocks of greywacke and siltstone which lie to the north and south of the Head were laid down at the bottom of the sea between 460 and 410 million years ago.

The Head itself is made from hard volcanic rock which formed as lava flowed from volcanoes around 400 million years ago.

The harder rocks of the Head are separated from the sedimentary rock to the southwest by the northwest slanting St Abb's Head Fault, which is marked by a low lying valley which contains the man made Mire Loch and at times of higher sea level would have been flooded, cutting off the headland from the mainland.

The butterflies drink nectar from the flowers of the wild thyme and the caterpillars eat the leaves of rock rose, the areas in which these two plants grow are protected from sheep grazing by fencing.

[citation needed] On the north side of the Head is Pettico Wick Bay this provides a natural trap for salmon as they swim down the coast.

[citation needed] A signal station was established on the cliffs before 1820 and the facilities were shared by Trinity House and Her Majesty's Coastguard.

The crew was rescued ship was beached on rocks but the stern was successfully separated and salvaged, eventually towed to the Netherlands where it was rebuilt with a new front section.

Royal Navy Scout Cruiser HMS Pathfinder, the first vessel to be destroyed by a self-propelled torpedo, sunk off St Abbs Head on 5 September 1914 with the loss of 259 lives, having been attacked by German U-boat, SM U-21.

The explosion that destroyed the ship was witnessed by author Aldous Huxley who was staying in St Abbs at the time.

Built as a resource for both visitors and locals, the centre offers free admission, interactive exhibits, library area, web access, photographs and historical artefacts.

[citation needed] As well as being an NNR, St Abb's Head forms part of several other national and international conservation designations as an important site for wildlife: