Fife Coastal Path 11: Newport-on-Tay to Newburgh

Summary

The final stage of the Fife Coastal Path contrasts sharply with the rest of the route, soon leaving the coast to climb through the fields, woods and hills of northern Fife via farm and forestry tracks and old paths. This long stretch eventually descends to the small town of Newburgh.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Farm and forest tracks, minor roads, some rougher sections of path. A fair amount of ascent and descent.

Getting there

Start

Newport on Tay.

Public Transport

Buses serve both Newport-on-Tay and Newburgh.

Start Grid Ref

NO420279

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 28.5km / 17.75 miles
Time: 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 641m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (5)

Stage 1

Head west along the High Street in Newport-on-Tay, keeping right at a roundabout past the no-entry sign to follow the one-way street nearest to the river. Pass a slipway and continue until the two roads join once more; keep straight on to head into Wormit. After a couple of kilometres take a right turn onto Bay Road, passing beneath the Tay rail bridge. The previous rail bridge here was the longest in the world when it was completed in 1878. Just over a year later it was the scene of Britain's worst rail disasterwhen it collapsed, plunging a train and 75 passengers into the Tay - all died. Construction on the new bridge began from both ends and met in the middle and its appearance is such as to suggest that the engineers on each side of the Tay had different plans! The road ends at a parking area beyond the houses on Wormit Bay.

Stage 2

Head along the shore track, signed for Balmerino. The built path ends at a wooden seal sculpture; continue from here on the obvious path which climbs up through the blackthorn bushes, passing through an iron kissing gate part way up. When the path emerges at green pastures the route generally follows the fence line above the drop to the Tay. Dundee can look beautiful across the water, backed by Dundee Law. Pass another sculpture, heading through a gate to continue above the drop to the shore. After another kissing gate the path descends to the left to cross a burn before climbing wooden steps back up on the far side. Pass through another kissing gate above a second burn and then continue across the field edge, soon reaching woodland. Pass through a gate here and follow the path which now leads alongside a fence. Eventually a flight of steps leads down to some attractive white cottages. Pass between these and the shore. Beyond them the shore path continues, passing some more cottages and eventually becoming a track which heads inland past the Old Mill into Balmerino.

Stage 3

As you head up into Balmerino, look out for a waymarker post indicating the improved path turning right - this is the new route of the Fife Coastal Path. If you wish, the ruins of Balmerino Abbey can be accessed by a detour straight up the road and through a gate on the left; otherwise, turn right and follow the path that soon leads to the shores. Continue across the pebbles until the path leads up steps into the woods. The route now undulates through the woods just above the Tay Estuary, crossing numerous footbridges. After around 2km the path curves left up to the edge of the woods and then heads inland along the edge of a field. At another signpost it reaches a track - turn right here. When the track forks around 300m further on take the left branch. Turn left when a t-junction is reached turn left and follow the track up to a minor road at Muir Dens.

Stage 4

The route now follows minor roads for the next 4km. Turn right along the road, then keep straight ahead at the cross-roads at Hazelton Wells. At the next road junction turn right, passing near the ruins of Creich Castle. Ignore the next turning on the left (to Brunton), and at the next t-junction turn right. The road now curves past some houses; after 1km leave the road, turning left onto a track with a cattle grid (signed). Keep right at a fork to follow the main track as it curves right and heads through a gate into forestry plantations. The rugged summit in view closeby to the left is Norman's Law. Remain on the track as it climbs, giving good views over the Tay before plunging back amongst the trees. Ignore two further tracks off to the left to eventually leave the forest at a gate. The route now leads downhill, with another track soon joining in from the right.

Stage 5

At another track junction turn sharp right (signed). Follow the track past several cottages, then fork left onto a muddy footpath amongst trees. After a short distance turn left (signed) down the left edge of a field, then curving right onto a track at the bottom, passing the stone barn. Pass through another gate then turn right, following a track uphill once more. Pass through another gate, remaining on the main track as it begins to descend. At the bottom of the slope keep straight ahead onto a track which immediately curves left. A locked gate is reached at the edge of woodland, but there is a smaller gate to the right for walkers. The route now curves round the northern flanks of Glenduckie Hill, with views across the Tay to Angus featuring once more.

Stage 6

At a signed junction leave the grass track, turning right onto a footpath through a newly planted area. The path soon turns left and heads through two metal gates. Continue along the field edge until a third metal gate leads onto a path between fences. The fenced path soon swings left; after yet another gate, turn right, keeping a fence on your right side this time. Ignore a first wide metal gate on the right but go through a second one. A grassy track now descends, with a glorious view of the Tay and Newburgh seen ahead. When the track reaches another gate leave it, instead forking left through a smaller gate beneath the Scots pines.

Stage 7

The path continues through the pines to another gate, then continuing as a grassy path / track across the open livestock pastures. Head through a further gate and join a track sloping downhill. As this swings towards Old Parkhill, watch out for the waymarker indicating where you should leave the track and head left alongside the fence at the edge of the wood. Almost immediately turn right through a gate and head down the field edge to meet a track. Cross this, and then turn left onto a path on the far side, running along the edge of another field. Turn right at the end of the field, then right again at another track. The route emerges past a pond at Parkhill. Turn left along the road here, and just after the Mill cottage turn right onto a signed path. This runs parallel to the stream until it bears left to run along beside the River Tay.

Stage 8

The path continues upriver by the Tay for this final stretch, keeping beside the river through the fringes of Newburgh (the facilities and town centre can be reached quickly with a left turn). The official coast path continues by the Tay until the route is barred by a fence, then turns left then right into a park. At the far end of the park turn left by a boarded-up house, right at the top of the street then right again into another area of park. Take the left fork in the path, then pass to the right of an exit gate to follow the path up to the car park at the western edge of Newburgh. This is the end of the Fife Coastal Path - to reach the heart of this attractive old town turn left along the main road.

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