This part of the Fife Coastal Path has a fascinating start by the Wemyss Caves and a grand finish along a fine sandy beach. However the middle section through Buckhaven, Methil and Leven is heavily built up amongst streets and industry.
Bog Factor
Waymarked coastal path, town pavements, sandy beach
East Wemyss.
Buses serve all the settlements on the route; there is a rail station at Leven.
NT340967
There is a small parking area on Main Street by the church on the seafront in East Wemyss. Follow the path eastwards by the seawall, soon reaching the red cliffs containing the renowned Wemyss caves. This series of sea caves - now above the usual high tides - contain carvings from as far back as the Neolithic (5,000 years ago) up to the modern day. The main caves are gated but there are tours you can book on to get a closer look and an information board. The path now leads along the coast, passing the Court Cave - which has several entrances. The next cave is the Doo Cave, the nestboxes for the doves can still be seen carved into the walls.
Soon after, the coastal path curves inland and climbs a flight of steps before heading right to reach Macduff's Castle. The first castle here was built in the 11th century at the time of King MacBeth, but the earliest part of the current structure is from the 14th century; the ruins are unsafe. At the castle you can detour down a path to the right to visit the rest of the Wemyss Caves (mostly left along the shore). Otherwise follow the coast path as it keeps to the left of the castle and runs beside a fence heading inland next to a cemetery. Turn right just before the path emerges on a road to follow a track which was once the line of a railway.
After a stretch above the sea the route descends a few steps. Keep left at a fork below these and continue until the path reaches a brightly painted corrugated iron fence. Turn right here and descend to join the road on the edge of Buckhaven. Follow the road ahead for a short distance until opposite the first road on the left cross the grass on the right to follow a path through a wooden arch down steps turn left at the bottom. Continue through a gateway keeping to the inland side of the angling club sheds and then keep right through another wooden sign to follow a path across the grassy foreshore heading towards the prominent wind turbine. Before the end of the road turn left up Lady Wynd, then right onto Rising Sun Road to Buckhaven Primary School. Turn right and soon College St curves left and reaches a small roundabout; keep right here. Pass the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital and after a further 500m turn right onto High Street.
Continue along the road with the housing estate on your left and a tall block of flats ahead. When the main road bends to the right in front of a sandstone building, keep straight ahead - signed for the coast path and town centre car parks. Keep straight ahead along High Street through the housing of Methil. Eventually the road curves right to join the busier thoroughfare of South Street; follow this to the left, crossing to the far side, going straight ahead at the roundabout to climb up another roundabout where you turn right to cross the River Leven. Keep straight ahead at another roundabout, passing the leisure centre. After a car park the route continues as a path beside the seawall, with views across the Firth to North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock. At low tide you can walk along the sands. The path joins the road to cross a bridge over a burn and passes a skateboard and exercise park to reach the entrance to Leven Beach Holiday Park.
Here the coast path divides: at the highest tides it is necessary to turn left and pass the holiday park on the inland side, but usually it is perfectly possible to turn right and instead follow the route along the fine sandy beach. After almost 1.5km along the sands, look out for a footpath signpost on the left where a burn flows out across the beach. Head up to the signpost and cross the plank footbridge before turning left and following the burn across the golf course - keeping a sharp lookout for golfers playing their shots across the route. At the far side of the golf course the route turns right along a track and then through a gate to join a road on the edge of Lundin Links.
Links Road has houses on the left and the golf course on the right. Take the next right into Golf Road and follow this as it curves round to pass to the left of the clubhouse. Go through a gate and along a path between two fences before turning right down towards the shore (waymarked). Follow the shore path until it joins a lane and then the road. Cross the bridge over a burn that divides Lundin Links and Lower Largo. Buses are available from here; otherwise the coast path continues along Main Street to reach Temple Car park and the onward path.
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