Cove

About Cove

Cove is a picturesque village situated 18 miles northwest of the Scottish border with England. Famously Cove was home to “The Glasgow Boys” artists’ colony between 1883-1888 due to its unique beauty. This informal group comprised several influential painters of the time including Sir James Guthrie. Cove harbour is entered by a 180ft/55m tunnel, not seen from the village. It dates from the 1750’s and once contained cellars which were used to store fresh salmon and herring, as well as cured and barrelled white fish. Cove village and harbour has a long fishing history and due to its hidden nature, and tunnels ideally suited to storing contraband, it has often been associated with smuggling. Used as a landing place since at least the 17th century, the present harbour dates from 1831 and was built by the Hall family of Dunglass to facilitate the transport of coal mined inland.