Sunday August 20th,1995 saw a group of about 12 of all ages join Ben Tindall at Cove for a guided walk around the harbour and environs. Ben bought the harbour and cottages from Borders Regional Council in 1991 as a means of saving it from being developed as a marina and holiday resort. Cove Harbour was built in the late 18th century by the enlightened Hall family of Dunglass estate. It was built to facilitate the transportation by boat of the coal which was mined there. The present harbour is the result of the third attempt to construct a harbour, earlier attempts having proved too vulnerable to sea storms.
Traces remain, inscribed in the rocks, evidence of earlier attempts.
The two piers are beautifully built and enclose what appears to be a picturesque fishing port, and it came as a surprise to some of us to learn of its industrial origins. Interesting details include a number of dove-tailed stones set into the harbour walls which originally held timbers which acted as buffers for the boats moored there. We were able to crawl along this tunnel to the bottom of the shaft which rises to come out beside the tarred access path above, now protected by chestnut paling, and obscured by brambles. The harbour and surroundings are designated an area of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique geology. To a lay eye, the sculptured rocks around Cove are indeed unusual and exciting.