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The Fife Coastal Path

Linking the Forth and Tay Estuaries, the Fife Coastal Path runs for over 183km though the varied landscapes of Fife. The route links some of Scotland's most picturesque former fishing villages as well as the home of golf - St Andrews with its ancient University. In between are miles of golden beaches, attractive woods and nature reserves but the route also threads its way through industrial towns such as Kirkcaldy and Leven. History is everywhere, from the winding gear of the former coalyards to ruined castles and the pictish and prehistoric carvings in the Wemyss caves.

Stage descriptions Length Time Done
1: Kincardine to North Queensferry 27km 6-8 hourstickbox
2: North Queensferry to Burntisland 18.5km 4½5½ hourstickbox
3: Burntisland to East Wemyss 18.75km 4½-5½ hourstickbox
4: East Wemyss to Lower Largo 11.5km 3-3½ hourstickbox
5: Lower Largo to St Monans 14km 3-4 hourstickbox
6: St Monans - Anstruther 5.75km 1½-2 hourstickbox
7: Anstruther to Crail 6.75km 1½-2 hourstickbox
8: Crail to Kingsbarns 9.5km 3-3½ hourstickbox
9: Kingsbarns to St Andrews 13.5km 3-4 hourstickbox
10: St Andrews - Newport on Tay 29km 6-8 hourstickbox
11: Newport on Tay to Newburgh 28.5km 7-8 hourstickbox

THE CHALLENGE

The route is well waymarked and offers straightforward walking. Some sections can be muddy underfoot. The stretches between Crail and St Andrews (via Kingsbarns), and from Balmerino to Newburgh, are long and relatively remote, giving rougher going than the rest of the route.

Pittenweem

BAGGAGE TRANSFERS AND WALKING PACKAGES

Click to find organised Fife Coastal Path walking holiday packages and baggage transfer providers.

ACCOMMODATION AND SERVICES ALONG THE WAY

The Fife Coastal Path runs around coastline which is decked with towns and villages for most of the way, with good services and accommodation available.

There are hotels and/or bed and breakfast available in the villages at the start and finish of all the stages listed above. There are also hostels at Anstruther and St Andrews.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There are good bus services throughout Fife, with buses available to all the start and end points of the stages listed above.

In addition, there are rail stations at North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy, with a further station at Leuchars late in the route.

Timetables for all the routes can be found on Traveline Scotland.

BOOKS AND MAPS

Users' walk reports for the Fife Coastal Path

There are 421 Walkhighlanders who have completed the Fife Coastal Path. To record if you have completed the route, you must register and be logged in. Our users have contributed 15 public walk reports for the route. These are ordered below with the most popular ones first.

Title AuthorDate walked Likes
Fife Coastal Path - Better Than Expected  Gordie12 14/05/2016  9
Adventuring Along the Fife Coast  lafrances 13/05/2018  8
Fife Coastal Path - Lower Largo to Anstruther  Stretch 21/08/2011  6
Fife Coastal Path section 2 - Ferry Toll to Kinghorn  nigheandonn 04/02/2018  5
Fife Coastal Path section 5 - St Andrews to Newburgh  nigheandonn 17/03/2018  4
Kirkcaldy to Inverkeithing  Dunfie 24/02/2012  3
Crail to Kingsbarns: A moo-ving experience on the coast path  Stretch 22/08/2010  3
Fife Coastal Path section 4 - Elie to St Andrews  nigheandonn 10/03/2018  2
Fife Coastal Path section 1 - Kincardine to Ferry Toll  nigheandonn 05/02/2017  2
Fife Coastal Path - a little bit at a time  Scougs 01/05/2017  2
Leven to St. Andrews - 32 mile (approx) long distance walk  mooy 06/07/2015  2
Tayport to St Andrews - final chunk at last  Sspaterson 30/01/2024  0
Kincardine to North Queensferry  orangebadger 07/06/2014  0
Fife Coastal Path section 3 - Kinghorn to Elie  nigheandonn 24/02/2018  0
Earlsferry to Lower Largo and return  U059361 01/07/2011  0

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Walking can be dangerous and all walkers must take personal responsibility for their own safety. You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walkhighlands strives to provide accurate information but cannot accept responsibility for changes, errors or omissions.