A one-way walk along the coastline from Broughty Ferry on the edge of Dundee to the golf town of Carnoustie. The coastline is flat and the route can be done on a cyclepath, but our variant keeps closer to the coast at some points where possible.
Surfaced cycle path, track, sandy beach, grass
Bus or train to Broughty Ferry and Carnoustie.
Broughty Ferry rail station or Brook Street.
The walk begins from Brook Street - the main shopping street in Broughty Ferry; the railway station is just around the corner on Gray Street, whilst buses stop on Queen Street which is the next street to the north. Begin by heading down Gray Street all the way to the coast, then turning left along it. Pass around the harbour towards Broughty Ferry Castle, an impressive structure that dates back to 1495. Today the castle operates as a local history museum. Turn left at the castle, then bear right to reach the seafront beyond.
From here you can either walk along the sandy beach, or follow the pavement which soon runs alongside the road next to the dunes; there are steps at various points enabling you to switch between the two. If avoiding the beach, when the road curves left away from the coast you can continue across the grass alongside the dunes, keeping to the right of the football pitches on a faint path. The road comes alongside again just beyond this - from here follow the track signed as a cycleway alongside the coast.
Pass to the right of the water treatment pumping station. Beyond this the cycleway crosses a bridge over the Dighty Water and continues along the waterfront of Monifieth. When a caravan and campsite is reached the cyclepath swings right to keep on the seaward side of it, and then joins a pavement beside a tarmac road.
Fork right off this onto a footpath on the coastal side of some static caravans; there are wooden steps enabling access to the beach on the right. The path leads out onto some playing fields - turn left along the edge of these to reach a car park, and continue along the tarmac lane that leaves this to the right.
Fork left off the tarmac lane onto a cyclepath. This runs alongside the railway, with the Barry Buddon military camp and live firing ranges over to your right - the route avoids this area which is usually off limits. After a long straight section of around 3.5km the cyclepath reaches the far end of the firing ranges and there is a pedestrian bridge over the railway - don't cross this. The quickest way to Carnoustie from here is to continue straight ahead on the cycleway, but our route turns right onto a track that crosses the edge of a golf practice area - signed for Carnoustie Beach via the links.
Keep straight ahead on the track, which soon swings left and right to pass alongside some attractive wildlife ponds. Beyond these it swings left to continue with the golf course on your left, and the Barry Buddon ranges on your right.
When the track reaches the dunes at the seafront it swings left to continue behind the dunes. Keep straight ahead on a path beside the dunes when the track curves left onto the golf course. Soon the dunes relent and there is a view along the coast to Carnoustie ahead. Cross a bridge over the Barry Burn and then bear right to continue along the front into Carnoustie and the end of the walk. If looking for public transport for the return, the railway station is close by the front near a car park but has an infrequent service to Broughty Ferry; the more regular buses pass along the main street which can be reached by crossing the footbridge over the railway and continuing up Station Road for one block.
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