Fife Coastal Path 8: Crail to Kingsbarns

Summary

This is the remotest part of the Fife Coast Path, heading from picturesque Crail and around the headland of Fife Ness. Some sections are impassable at high tide. This is a one-way walk; return is possible by bus. Keen walkers can double the length of the walk by continuing from Kingsbarns to St Andrews.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Signed coastal path. The route is rough going at times, on rocky shore or alongside. NOTE: tidal route, some sections cannot be walked at high tide so it is worth checking tide times before setting out.

Getting there

Start

Crail.

Public Transport

Regular bus service linking to both Crail and Kingsbarns.

Start Grid Ref

NO611075

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Time: 3 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 65m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

Crail is perhaps the most picturesque of the East Neuk fishing villages. Historically it was the most important of them, being made a Royal Burgh by Robert the Bruce in 1310. If arriving by bus, begin the walk by heading down Shoregate off the west end of the High Street; if using a car, there is car parking off to the left of Shoregate. The walk branches left onto the walkway of Castle Terrace, but if you haven't visited it before don't miss the chance to detour down to the harbour first - it must be one of the most photographed in Scotland.

Stage 2

Head along the walkway of Castle Terrace, soon curving left and giving different views over the gardens of some of Crail's cottages. After passing the high stone wall and a house take a path which heads down to the right towards the sea, passing the site of The King's Mills. A good path continues alond the coastline, crossing a bridge over a small burn and passing below a whitewashed sixteenth century doocot (used to harvest doves for meat) and then a playground. At the far end of the grassy area the path turns left and heads up steps. Here go straight ahead between two fences (to avoid an old eroded section of path) then turning right when the fence permits.

Stage 3

The path passes through a gap in a stone wall and then curves left to reach a caravan park. Continue through this on the tarmac road met straight ahead. Near the far end a 'Coastal walk' sign indicates where the path branches off to pass the front of the last few holiday cabins and then follow the wilder grassy shoreline beyond. Soon it passes through a wooden gate to enter the Kilminning Coast Nature Reserve. The upstanding rock formation on the right is known as Kiminning Castle. When the path forks, keep on the main coastal path. It passes through another gate and then the going becomes a little rougher, with a large agricultural barn seen ahead.

Stage 4

Pass this on the right hand side and follow the path as it leads on to Fife Ness. The lighthouse here is disappointing as a spectacle - being housed in a squat building; behind it is a coastguard station. Nonetheless, this is the most easterly corner of Fife. The path passes in front of the light and next to a wooden bird hide owned by the Fife Bird Club - it is usually locked. Continue past an old war emplacement and join a tarmac lane beyond. An information board on the right gives some the history of Fife Ness harbour - still visible amongst the rocks here. The harbour dates from the sixteenth century and was used for fishing until the end of the eighteenth; before being converted into a sea beacon construction yard. Lightships were built here that were used to guide shipping before the present lighthouse was constructed in 1975. The last of the lightships can be seen in Anstruther. A loop path passes the harbour before returning to the tarred lane. A waymarker post then indicates where the coast path turns right once more, following the coast between a golf course and the sea.

Stage 5

The path soon reaches Constantine's Cave - seen on the left. Local legend has it that King Constantine I (one of the early Pictish Kings) was killed in this cave following a battle with the Danes in 874. Beyond, the route rounds a fine little sandy beach. Continue between the Balconie Links and the sea until a sign indicates where it is necessary to take to the shore itself. On the following section of the walk there are several parts which are impassable at high tide, without climbing barbed wire fences and steep banks; it may be better to wait for the tide. After a short distance a path climbs up from the shore but it soon descends once more and crosses a stile before taking to the beach again to pass beneath some crags. Beyond these it is possible to continue along the grassy shore beside the sea once more.

Stage 6

A stile leads over a substantial stone wall. The route turns left here away from the sea, leading through the Kingsbarns Links golf course. Follow the markers as they onto a track and then back towards the sea, passing through a gate in a stone wall at the edge of a strip decidious woodland that lines the Cambo burn. Head down to cross a footbridge and then follow a track that swings right. Soon the coast path leads off onto a grassy track across the back of Cambo Sands. At the far end of the beach there is a car park. If catching a bus back to Crail, Kingbarns village is along the lane to the left. Another option is to continue the coast walk by following the next Kingsbarns to St Andrews section of the Fife Coastal Path.

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