Crail to St. Andrews – Fife Coastal Trail

Date/Time

Date(s) - 20/08/2023
8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: If Time Permits
O/S Map Sheet No.: 59
Grid Ref. Start: 615 076
Grid Ref. Finish 502 173
Walk (Miles): 15
Walk Hours: 7.5
Bus Time to Walk:2.5 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 2 hrs
Departure time from walk: 6:30 pm

Walk Notes

Bus departs Aberdeen at 8.00am

O.S.Map 59 (St. Andrews)

Walk 1 – Crail to St Andrews

The walk today takes us south from Aberdeen to the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife.

N.B. The logo for the Fife Coastal Trail is a blue and green disc with wiggly dark and white lines running from bottom left to top right.

This walk is a through one, so members who require a shorter, or different walk, please indicate your intentions with your committee member in charge today.

We commence the walk in the village of Crail (NGR 615 079). From the church, turn right down Kirk Wynd towards the sea and follow a footpath past a whitewashed dovecot. This leads to Roome Bay.  Turn left onto the Fife Coastal Path towards Sauchope Links Caravan Park and onwards past the site of an old wartime airfield, followed by an ancient fortification “Dane’s Dyke”. Continue NE’wards to the coastguard station and lighthouse at Fife Ness (NGR 637 097). Our route then continues NW to Balcomie Golf Course with its sandy bay, followed by a craggy section leading to Cambo Glen, where the burn is crossed by a bridge. The path now leads round the headland to Cambo Sands and its picnic area (NGR 602 124). Continue to the next headland of Babbet Ness passing a ruined harbour and an old salmon fishing bothy. At NGR 581 143 the track reaches the inlet of Kenly Water. Here, the coastal path swings W’wards inland passing Hillend and crossing a metal bridge near Burnside Farm. Our route now passes near Boarhills and at NGR 565 145 heads back towards the coast at Buddo Rock with its natural arch. Continue past Buddo Ness to reach Kittook’s Den, a glen running inland. Here a wall is crossed and a rocky bluff has to be traversed. The path now leads past the “Rock and Spindle” (NGR 544 154) – a rock pinnacle, to soon reach Kinkell Ness. Continue past the caravan park to reach the Leisure Centre and East Sands of St. Andrews. Follow the sands for a short distance, cross the bridge at the harbour then take the right turn to follow the path past the cathedral and on to West Sands Beach coach park at the other end of town next the Old Course (NGR 502 173).

Walking distance approx. 15 miles/23 kms   Ascent 140m

Download file: Crail to St Andrews.gpx

Walk 2 – Kingsbarns to St Andrews

The walk starts at NGR 593 119 in Kingsbarns village at the junction of the A917 and the road to the car park/picnic site.  From NGR 602 124 continue NWards on the path as in Walk 1.  PLEASE TAKE CARE WALKING FROM KINGSBARNS VILLAGE TO THE CAR PARK/PICNIC SITE AS IT IS NARROW WITH PASSING PLACES.

Walking distance approx. 8.5 miles/13.5 kms   Ascent 65m

Download file: Kingsbarns to St Andrews.gpx

Walk 3 – St Andrews town walk

 

From the coach park when follow the route around the interesting parts of St Andrews (cathedral etc).

Walking distance approx. 3 miles/5 kms

Download file: St Andrews town walk.gpx

Bus departs at 6.30pm for Aberdeen at 8.30pm

The above notes are for guidance only and are intended as an aid to be used along with a map and compass and/or a GPS device with OS maps.

 

In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge today should be notified, if possible, before the emergency services are contacted on 999.

Committee member in charge of today’s walk is Alastair Condie Mobile No. 07733143042

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