Tentsmuir Point - forest and dunes, near Leuchars

Explore the dunes of Tentsmuir Point nature reserve, a great place to watch waders and wildfowl and a favourite spot for both grey and common seals. The return is via a 19th century ice-house and through forest inhabited by red squirrels.

Terrain

Woodland paths, dunes, level forestry track.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Tentsmuir Forestry Commission car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 5.5km / 3.5 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 5m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NO498242

Maps / GPS

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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Follow the signs from the B945 for Tentsmuir Forest to reach the car park beyond Kinshaldy. The car park is locked at night, and there is a charge to park. There are toilets (seasonal), picnic tables, BBQ area and a children's play area here. Head to the far left corner of the car park, and take the path into the dunes, keeping the trees on your left at first. The path swings left into the trees; bear right out onto the dune system separating the forest from the sea. Once over the first high dune there is a flatter area before further dunes and the sea.

Stage 2

Turn left after the first dune to follow a wide path along the edge of this flatter area - there are very occastional blue seashell waymarkers but as there are a number of paths it is best to just keep heading north with the forest on your left and the main dunes and sea beyond on your right. You may want detour straight to the beach before turning left (north) to take in the seemingly endless sand and waves. However the layout of sands with flooded lagoons in between is constantly changing and therefore do not continue along the beach for any great distance as a longer lagoon which is linked to the sea cuts off access to the northern part of beach.

Stage 3

Continue northwards keeping between the forest and the sea, passing a world war two pill box, part of defences built by Polish soldiers stationed nearby. Soon a sea water lagoon is reached which is a haven for migrating birds and you may well see eider duck, bar-tailed godwit, pink footed goose and shell duck amongst others. Keep heading north, ignoring any paths into the forest or out onto the beach and keeping straight ahead at a sign post. Eventually a gate leads to the nature reserve itself with an information board at the entrance. Dogs must be kept under tight control because of the danger to both seal pups and nesting birds.

Stage 4

The sands are used by both common and grey seals and during the breeding seaons pups can sometimes be seen on the sands here although they are more common at the point itself (October to Dec for grey seal and June to July for common seal). Female seals can abandon their young if disturbed so do not approach the seals and keep dogs on leads.

Stage 5

Continue through the dunes, and head inland slightly to reaching a green metal WWII observation hut on concrete stilts.

Stage 6

The path heads inland here following a clear grassy path through an area often grazed by cows - and with a metal cow sculpture - to reach a gate. Go through this and straight on to reach a clearing where there is a large barrel-roofed ice house on the right. This was built in the 1880s to store salmon which had been netted from the beach. Originally it would have much nearer the water, but the changing shape of the sands mean it is now inland.

Stage 7

From here turn left onto a wide forestry track and follow the blue pine cone marker posts. Stay on the track, ignoring any turnings to the left and right. Go straight across at a crossroads and continue past a vehicle barrier. This part of the pine forest is home to red squirrels and you may well see them if you listen out for the scratching sound as they run up and down the trees. Soon the track returns to the car park at the start.

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