Fife Coastal Path

The Fife Coastal Path is a Scottish long distance footpath that runs from Kincardine to Newburgh. The path was created in 2002, originally running from North Queensferry to Tayport. It was extended in 2011 with a new section running from Kincardine to North Queensferry,^[1] then again in 2012 from Newburgh to Tayport.^[2] It runs for 117 miles (190 km) along the coastline of Fife and passes through many seaside villages. The path would take around one week to walk completely from end to end.

Places of historic interest along the route include Aberdour Castle, Macduff's Castle near East Wemyss, Wemyss Castle, and Pitmilly, a former estate associated with the Moneypenny family. On the southern bank of the river Tay between the historic rail bridge, scene of one of the greatest rail disasters in Britain and the 1960s road bridge, lies the historic town of Newport. Here you will pass the ferry terminal built by Telford^[3] before passing the historic posting house building(1806), which now houses the Tatha gallery, named after the Gaelic for the river Tay. Along the way a range of diverse wildlife such as porpoises, dolphins and puffins may also be seen. The Fife Coastal Path is managed and maintained by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, which is a registered environmental charity.

The focal point of the Fife Coastal Path is the Harbourmaster's House, in Dysart.

The path includes a short but difficult optional section known as the Chain Walk, between Kincraig Point and Earlsferry on the Firth of Forth.^[4] Apparently created in the 1920s, and best accessed at low tide, this route has chains fixed to the cliffs and rocks of the shore to assist progress. At times, short vertical climbs are necessary, although most of the chains are positioned to provide support while walking. The chains were renewed in 2007. An alternative, more straightforward route runs along the clifftop above.

On 5th October 2013, a team of 6 runners from Carnethy Hill Running Club in Edinburgh set a mark of 15 hours and 10 minutes running continuously in stages along the 117 mile length, starting at Kincardine at 3am and finishing in Newburgh at 6.10pm. This mark has subsequently been ratified by the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

References

External links

Official Fife Coastal Path Web Site
Route and description of Fife Coastal Path
Fife Coastal Path description and mapping on Walkhighlands
Report of record from Carnethy Hill Running Club

Footpaths in Scotland

Highlands and northern Scotland	Ca na Catanach Clachlet Traverse Cape Wrath Trail Cateran Trail Coast to Coast Cowal Way East Highland Way Great Glen Way Gordon Way Moray Way Rob Roy Way Scottish National Trail Speyside Way West Highland Way

Southern Uplands	Annandale Way Borders Abbeys Way Clyde walkway John Buchan Way Southern Upland Way

Coastal paths	Arran Coastal Way Ayrshire Coastal Path Fife Coastal Path John Muir Way Moray Coast trail Scottish Coastal Way

Trans-border (partly in England)	Central Scottish Way Northumberland Coast Path North Sea Trail Pennine Way Roman Heritage Way St Cuthbert's Way

Canal towpaths, rail trails etc	Caledonian Canal Crinan Canal Dava Way Deeside Way Devon Way Dingwall Canal Drovers' road Formartine and Buchan Way Forth and Clyde Canal (Pathway) Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal Hillend Loch Railway Path Monkland Canal Old military roads of Scotland Penicuik–Dalkeith Walkway Stevenston Canal Strathkelvin Railway Path Union Canal Water of Leith Walkway

Coastal paths of Great Britain

England:	Bournemouth Coast Path Cleveland Way Cumbria Coastal Way Lancashire Coastal Way Norfolk Coast Path Saxon Shore Way Solent Way South West Coast Path Suffolk Coast Path West Somerset Coast Path

Scotland:	Arran Coastal Way Ayrshire Coastal Path Fife Coastal Path John Muir Way Moray Coast trail Scottish Coastal Way

Wales:	Anglesey Coastal Path Ceredigion Coast Path Llŷn Coastal Path Millennium Coastal Path North Wales Path Pembrokeshire Coast Path Wales Coast Path

Non-Mainland:	Isle of Wight Coastal Path

Fife Coastal Path

See also

References

External links