Fife Coastal Path
Fife Coastal Path signpost near Earlsferry
Length187 km (116 mi)
LocationFife, Scotland
Established2002
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsKincardine
56°03′58″N 3°43′20″W / 56.06623°N 3.72221°W / 56.06623; -3.72221 (Fife Coastal Path (Kincardine trailhead))
Newburgh
56°20′58″N 3°14′57″W / 56.34931°N 3.24905°W / 56.34931; -3.24905 (Fife Coastal Path (Newburgh trailhead))
UseHiking
Elevation gain/loss1,865 metres (6,119 ft) gain[1]
SeasonAll year
Websitehttps://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/walks/fife-coastal-path/

The Fife Coastal Path is a Scottish long distance footpath that runs from Kincardine to Newburgh along the coastline of Fife. 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,[2] then again in 2012 from Tayport to Newburgh.[3] The path, which usually takes between one week and 10 days to walk in full, now runs for 187 kilometres (116 mi).[1] The Fife Coastal Path is managed and maintained by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, a registered environmental charity,[4] and is designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot.[1] About 500,000 people use the path every year, of whom about 35,000 walk the entire route.[5]

Places of Interest

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,[6] before passing the historic posting house building (built 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.[7] The focal point of the Fife Coastal Path is the Harbourmaster's House, in Dysart, which was used as a location during the filming of Outlander. The building now houses a visitor centre and cafe, as well as being the head offices of the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.[8]

The path includes a short (c. 0.5 km) optional section known as the Elie Chain Walk, between Kincraig Point and Earlsferry to the west of Elie. This route, which should only be used during low tides, has chains fixed to the cliffs and rocks of the shore to assist progress, and is sometimes referred to as Scotland’s secret via ferrata.[9] At times, short vertical climbs are necessary, although most of the chains are positioned to provide support while walking. The chains were first installed in the 1920s, and were replaced in 2010. An alternative, more straightforward route runs along the clifftop above.[10]

Carlin Knowes quarry, North Queensferry has a memorial plaque commemorating the halting of the victims of the 1850 Irish Evictions from Dunfermline by quarrymen deputised by the Provost of Inverkeithing.

Running

On 5 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 187-km length, starting at Kincardine at 3am and finishing in Newburgh at 6.10pm.[11] This mark has subsequently been ratified by the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

On the evening of Friday 4th September 2020, at 11.12pm, Carnethy Hill Racing Club member, Nicola Duncan, (Edinburgh based but originally from Galway, Ireland) set off from Kincardine to run the route, finishing at Newburgh 23 hours, 16 minutes, 54 seconds later on the evening of Saturday 5th September to set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for a solo runner to complete the entire Fife Coastal Path.[12]

Towns and villages on the path

Listed from south to north (anti-clockwise):

Approximate map

Approximate map of the Fife Coastal Path

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Trails Archive". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Fife's path just got longer".
  4. ↑ "About Us". Fife Coast and Countryside Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 5. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  6. ↑ Newport-on-Tay
  7. ↑ "Wildlife". Fife Coast and Countryside Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Harbourmaster's House". Fife Coast and Countryside Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Fife Coastal Path". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Elie Chain Walk". Fife Council. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Fife Coastal Path Relay". Carnethy Hill Running Club. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  12. ↑ Fiona Outdoors, 2020/09, Nicola runs Fife Coastal Path to raise funds for paralysed friend.
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