6 Days & 5 Nights

4.6

Highlights of the Fife Coastal Path | 6 Days

Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Fife's coastal communities
Enjoy an award-winning fish supper in Anstruther
Look out for basking seals and dolphins as you walk along the coast
Stroll along white sandy beaches on the coast path
Visit the famous town of St Andrews, complete with castle and 3 beaches

Walk the most scenic sections of the coastal path on this 'Highlights' itinerary from Burntisland to St Andrews, passing through charming fishing villages en route. This itinerary takes in dramatic coastal scenery and long sandy beaches, as well as historic castles, caves, and an abundance of fresh local seafood. Take a scenic stroll along the golden beaches of Kinghorn and step back in time at the famous prehistoric caves of East Wemyss. Follow this breathtaking coastline northward, where dramatic cliffs, historic lighthouses, iconic golf courses, and charming fishing villages define Scotland’s east coast. Indulge in fresh local seafood along the way—don’t miss the award-winning fish and chips at Anstruther Harbour, best enjoyed with the salty sea breeze and the call of seabirds overhead. Upon arrival in St Andrews, explore the cliffside castle ruins, wander the vast West Sands Beach, and marvel at the legendary Old Course, the birthplace of golf.

From £699.00

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Gallery

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive in Burntisland

Just 40 minutes from Edinburgh by train, Burntisland is very accessible from the Capital City. Marvel at the views of the Forth Road Bridge before your walking journey begins.

Overnight Burntisland

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Kingswood Hotel | Hotel

The Kingswood has been owned by the same family for over 30 years. Beauty abounds on the property with over two acres of gardens and woodland, and panoramic views of the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh. All the rooms are equipped with a range of toiletries, modern LCD flat screen TV, hairdryer and tea & coffee making facilities. Enjoy a selection of delicious dishes at their Sew View resturant, which uses the best local produce.

The Bay Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

The Bay Hotel is a family run hotel located on the coast between Burntisland and Kinghorn. All 28 bedrooms are tastefully designed to a high standard in a contemporary style. Enjoy complimentary access to the swimming pool (including sauna and steam room) during your stay, with a nominal charge for all other services chargeable to the room. The beautifully appointed Horizons Restaurant offers elegant dining in a superb environment complete with stunning panoramic views across the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh.

Day 2 Burntisland to Leven 16.5 miles / 27 km

From Pettycur Bay in Kinghorn you follow the path up to Kircaldy through areas of volcanic activity from over 300 million years ago. You can see limestone containing marine fossils aswell as basking seals on the rocks if you are lucky. Ravenscraig Castle follows as you reach Dysart where the Harbourmaster’ House lives with its popular bistro and visitors centre. From Dysart, the path climbs over Blair Point to the walled chapel garden which is the private burial ground of the Wymess family. The caves of Wemyss are reached as you head up to the town of Leven.

Ascent: 99m (325ft) / Descent: 93m (305ft)

Overnight Leven

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Lomond Guest House | Guest House

Lomond Guest House provides comfortable accommodation and a friendly relaxed atmosphere. It has recently been renovated and all rooms are tastefully decorated to include digital TV, hospitality tray, hairdryer and toiletries.

Dunclutha | Guest House

From the moment you approach their door, you can feel the welcome that is in store for you. It is a spacious house and has brought comfort to its residents for over a hundred years. The house was originally the Rectory for the nearby Scottish Episcopal Church. The Victorian house has been well cared for and was recently refurbished with emphasis on preserving the grace and elegance of that period. A hot tub in the secluded rear garden is even available for your use to help after a long day's walking!

The Old Manor House | Hotel

The Old Manor is set in a fantastic location enjoying panoramic views overlooking Largo Bay and the Firth of Forth. It has 23 bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities and all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. Unwind after a day of hiking in their comfy lounge. Perhaps dine at their restaurant, which offers a seasonal menu where you can enjoy whatever abundant delicacy the local area has to offer.

Day 3 Leven to Elie 9 miles / 14 km

From Leven the main route leads to Lunden Links along glorious sandy beaches. There is an alternative route at high tide up into the sand dunes which are a haven for wild flowers and butterflies. Soon the path begins to round the headland passing inlets, Shell Bay Beach and Earlsferry Golf Course before reaching the beautiful little fishing village of Elie. On the spit of land that juts out to sea from Elie you'll see Elie Ness Lighthouse, build in 1908, and designed by David Stevenson, cousin to the famous Robert Louis Stevenson.

Please note that occassionally we encounter availability issues in the small village of Elie due to limited accommodation options. If this is the case for your booking you will have two nights in Leven with complimentary transfers collecting you from Elie and taking back to Leven for your overnight. The following morning you will be dropped off at the trailhead in Elie to continue your walk.

Ascent: 74m (243ft) / Descent: 47m (154ft)

Optional: Elie Chainwalk: 1,5 km (1 miles); Ascent: 25m (82ft) / Descent: 5m (16ft)

Overnight Elie

Overnight Leven

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Ship Inn | Inn

The Ship Inn is perched on Elie's fishing harbor and offers a terrace with views of the sea. Each of the 6 beautiful rooms has complimentary bathroom products from Laura Thomas, Nespresso machines and a tea selection from The Tea Lovers’ Company, Egyptian cotton bed linen and thick large towels. They also have flat screen freeview TVs, free wi-fi and docking stations. Select from delicious cuisine at their restaurant The Ship's Cabin, grab a pint at their bar or when the weather's inviting enjoy their Beach Bar & BBQ.

Day 4 Elie to Crail 11 miles / 17 km

Pass Elie Ness Lighthouse as you hike north to St Monans where you'll reach an old Windmill that used to pump seawater into the fossil rich limestone beds below. Continue along the coastal path to Anstruther passing the quaint fishing harbour of Pittenweem - a photogenic stop. Anstruther is a popular tourist town with daily boat trips to the Isle of May nature reserve where thousands of birdlife can be seen. Finally, walk through fields and past an old salmon fisherman's bothy to arrive in the charming village of Crail.

Ascent: 34m (112ft) / Descent: 20m (66ft)

Overnight Crail

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Honeypot Guest House | Guest House

This cafe and licensed B&B is located in the centre of historic Crail. All rooms are en-suite and located on the upper floor. Their little cafe creates a friendly buzz when the doors open at 10.30am, from a cooked breakfast to delicious Crail crab there is something for everyone on their menu, especially their cheese scones have attracted a fair number of supporters. With sustainability a priority, wherever possible they use local ingredients.

The Golf Hotel | Hotel

The Golf Hotel is situated in the heart of the historic town of Crail in the East Neuk of Fife. It is a grade A listed coaching inn and is said to be one of the oldest licensed inns in Scotland. Mr Guthrie is only the fourth owner since 1928 and plans to stay host at this charming hotel for the long term. It offers newly refurbished en-suite bedrooms, resident’s sitting room, lounge bar, dining room, public bar and garden restaurant.

Balcomie Links Hotel

Recently renovated in 2021, the hotel is on the verge of celebrating 120 years of welcoming guests to the East Neuk of Fife. Along with its freshly renovated rooms, the hotel boasts a Bar & Lounge, as well as an outdoors patio area for you to enjoy a well earned drink after your day's walk.

Day 5 Crail to St Andrews 13.5 miles / 21 km

This day is the toughest days walking and can be very challenging in parts. Once you reach Fife Ness, the most eastern point in Fife, you pass through many golf courses and walk along the stunning shoreline. Make sure and wait for low tide while walking the path to St Andrews.

During busy events and over some weekends, an additional supplement my be added to your booking to secure a room in St Andrews. If there is no accommodation available in St Andrews, you will overnight in Newport on Tay or Dundee with included transfers back and forth from St Andrews.

Ascent: 108m (354ft) / Descent: 130m (427ft)

Overnight St Andrews

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Doune House | 4 Star | Bed and breakfast

Doune House is a carefully maintained Victorian townhouse with many original features and modern comforts. The accommodation has been completely modernised to offer the highest quality of comfort and the rooms have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay.

Albany Hotel | Hotel

You can be assured a warm welcome at this small and friendly 3-star hotel, the first in St Andrews to be awarded the prestigious title ‘Townhouse Hotel’ by the Scottish Tourist Board. The quaint old building has a warm personality all of its own boasting many original features and 22 en-suite rooms. This is the perfect location for exploring the glorious town of St Andrews.

Greyfriars Inn | Hotel, Inn

The Greyfriars Hotel is a vibrant accommodation with 20 rooms located in the hustle and bustle of St Andrews. Enjoy friendly service with an inviting atmosphere, where each room features modern comforts. Centrally located, it is in a perfect spot for exploring all St Andrews has to offer. Head downstairs to the Greyfriars' Bellhaven Pub to grab a bit to eat where you'll be greeted with a warm Scottish welcome and the wonderful aroma of a home cooked meal.

Day 6 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

Reviews

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

If you are a fan of stunning sea views, delightful coastal villages and an abundance of wildlife, then the Fife Coastal Path could just be the right trip for you. This trip doesn't follow the entire length of the coast path but is a great way to see the highlights of the trail between Burntisland and St Andrews. You'll walk alongside beautiful beaches, experience welcoming hospitality and enjoy great food along the way.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

Coastal Walking

Accessible by Rail

Grade & Terrain

This holiday is graded moderate overall with individual itineraries varying from easy to moderate through to moderate to strenuous. Daily walking distances vary between 10 - 18 miles. Some days will be more challenging than others and the terrain will be varied with some rough and rugged footpaths. There are ascents and descents involved so a good level of fitness will be required.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
Hand-picked B&Bs, guesthouses & small hotels
Breakfasts
Baggage transfer
Access to maps, GPX tracks & daily route info with the award-winning Macs Adventure smartphone navigation App
All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”

Excluded

Travel to the start / from the finish of the walk
Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

Burntisland can be easily accessed from Edinburgh by train and is a 30-40 minute journey. Alternatively, you can reach the start from Glasgow (1 hr 30mins) with a change in Edinburgh. You can also reach Burntisland from Dundee (1h) with a change in Kirkcaldy. Please use the following website to get up-to-date timetables and prices: Traveline and National Rail.

If you are planning to drive to Burntisland there are some car parks which are free to park but please check these are possible for long stay before you leave your car. (http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/burntisland/)

Getting from the End

St Andrews has many transport links to the rest of Scotland. The quickest route back to Edinburgh is to take a bus to Leuchars train station (10mins) followed by a train (1hr 10mins).

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Most itineraries on the coastal path include a stop in the small fishing village of Elie. However, as the village is so small accommodation options are limited meaning availability issues are often encountered. If this is the case for your booking you will have two nights in Leven with complimentary transfers collecting you from Elie and taking back to Leven for your overnight. The following morning you will be dropped off at the trailhead in Elie to continue your walk.

Online Documents

At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.

On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.