Perhaps one of Fife's best kept secrets is the Fife Costal Path, and it should be no secret! With stunning scenery, historical, ornithological and architectural interest we should all get out there and walk the walk.
The Fife Costal Path stretches 117 miles from the Firth of Forth in the South to the Firth of Tay in the North. The path ranges from easy and level to wild and demanding, walking boots are recommended but not a necessity. The path is one of Scotland's great trails and is part of Fife's core path network.
Neuk Hoose and Tappit Hoose are the ideal place to base yourself from if you are planning on a walking holiday in Fife.
Our self catering holiday accommodation in Crail is only a couple of minutes walk from the Fife Costal Path.
We are going to be staying in our holiday cottage in Crail ourselves in the next couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to walking as many of the sections as I can.
The first section obviously will be from Crail to Anstruther, as a complete novice I'm going to play it safe and start from Crail Harbour and hope to get to Anstruther where I'll have a well earned ice cream then hop on the X95 bus back to Crail (Aplolgies to anyone sitting next to me!)
However if you are a pro and you have the time why not try the whole section.
Elie to Cambo Sands
This section is 16 miles (28.8km) it can be rough in places and there may be muddy bits in winter but it is geographically fascinating with great historical and wildlife interest too.
Allow 5-6 hours, which should give you plenty of time to explore all the hidden gems along the way.
Starting out at Ruby Bay in Elie once famous for Red Garnet gemstones, I'll try and resist the temptation to load up my pockets with them...
Further on there are the ruins of Ardross and Newark Castles, the wonderful Ardross Farm shop has freshly picked veg if your rucksack is big enough. The High tide diversion takes you past the stunning 14th Century St Monans Church. You will go past the restored St Monans windmill, once used to pump seawater into the salt pans. In Pittenweem you will pass the cave used by St Fillan in the 7th Century.
Skirt the golf course past Billow Ness the the four old Burghs which constiture Anstruther. Refuel with some award winning Fish and Chips or delicious ice cream. If you're an Outlander fan you can see the Reaper, a herring drifter buily in the 1900s and used in the famous television series.
Walking through Cellardyke to Crail through open pasture stopping to admire the Caiplie Caves then down the stone steps to the stunnig and historic Crail harbout dating from the 17th Century.
The path to Fife Ness is challenging in places with roughter terrain. It passes through the Scottish Wildlife Trust Kilminning Coast Wildlife Reserve.
Now at the most Easterly point the path passes King Constantine's cave where he was killed in around 874.
Beyond the golf course the route continues along the shore beneath the Randerston Cliffs, wait for low tide. Crossing over the brighe to Cambo burn then continue along the sandy track through the dunes. Alternatively the route follows Kingsbarns beach where you can enjoy a fantastic gourmet cheese toasty!
At the end of this stunning section why not visit the Kingsbarns distillery for a wee dram to restore the soul.
The next section is Cambo sands to Leuchars, by far the wildest section and yet the most cosmoplitan at the same time........
