Best Parts of the Fife Coastal Path | Hiking Route & Tips
Thinking about walking the Fife Coastal Path? I’ve recently completed the walk and I’m sharing the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path. In this guide I’ll cover everything you need to know, including where to stay, the best restaurants, and what to wear.
Hiking the Fife Coastal Path in Scotland is something that really should be on everyone’s bucket list. The endless coastal views and cute harbour villages along Scotland’s east coast make this walk the most incredible adventure. Probably the most popular way to experience the trail is to walk the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path, stunning small sections that take less time but are just as rewarding.
Last spring, I walked the entire Fife Coastal Path in 10 days.
And whilst I loved every moment, there was one section that stood out as the absolute most stunning - the East Neuk, where picture-perfect fishing villages and dramatic cliffs meet hidden coves and sandy beaches.
Fife Coastal Path Made Easy | Where to eat, stay & walk
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A firm favourite amongst locals, this is the part of the Fife Coastal Path I would genuinely recommend doing the most.
This section of the path has the least amount of urban walking and maximises your time along the coast.
So, in this guide, I’ll show you where to find best parts of the Fife Coastal Path. Plus, everything you need to plan the best day of walking, like essential information on finding your way, what to wear, and where to eat.
What is the Fife Coastal Path?
The Fife Coastal Path is a 183km official waymarked walk along the coastline of Fife, on the east of Scotland. It follows Fife’s east coast and passes through some of Fife’s most beautiful landscapes. Along the way it connects the villages and towns, from Kincardine to Newburgh.
It is also Scotland’s longest continuous coastal path.
If you’re thinking about walking the entire trail, then check out my guide to route planning for everything you need to know about the coastal path Fife.
Things to know before walking the Fife Coastal Path
You can find the entire 183km route here.
The best parts of the Fife Coastal Path listed below are end-to-end, but a local bus will return you to the start point. These services run regularly, and you can plan your journey here.
There’s also car parking in every village listed.
The walk is listed south to north, but you can switch up the direction.
You’ll find approximate walking times below, but the villages listed are all lovely destinations in their own right. So give yourself extra time to explore and enjoy the Fife foodie scene.
The path is easy to follow and well signposted, but having OS maps on your phone is helpful.
Most stages of the Fife Coastal Path are manageable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
Find out what to wear in my Fife Coastal Path packing list (coming soon).
Best parts of the Fife Coastal Path
Everyone who walks the trail will have a favourite, but I think the best part of the Fife Coastal Path is the stretch between Lower Largo and St Andrews. This is where you’ll find the historic whitewashed harbour villages of the East Neuk, gorgeous sandy beaches, seafood cafes, and those endless coastal views all along the trail.
You’ll want to spend time in the villages along this section, like St Monans, Pittenweem, and Crail. These are the perfect places to stop off and get lunch, ice cream, or a cold drink.
Best part of the Fife Coastal Path – Multi Day
If you can, I’d recommend walking this long section of the Fife Coastal Path. It’s so beautiful and just challenging enough for a long weekend. On its way to St Andrews, this section passes through the East Neuk harbour villages, in my opinion, the prettiest and most charming part of the trail.
Lower Largo to St Andrews
Distance | 50km
Days | 3 to 4
Route | Lower Largo - Elie - St Monans - Pittenweem - Anstruther - Crail - Kingsbarns - St Andrews
The route along the best part of the Fife Coastal Path starts in pretty Lower Largo and finishes in the historic university town of St Andrews. Along the way visit the pretty East Neuk villages, experience wonderful coastal views, and end your walk with a celebratory dinner in St Andrews.
This section of the Fife Coastal Path takes around three to four days and it’s a fairly easy walk along a clifftop path. The trail is marked with signposts, and they’ll let you know if you’re going in the right direction.
There is a tidal section after Kingsbarns and you’ll find the route gets rockier towards St Andrews, but its only for a short distance. Plus, this tide chart will let you know the best time to cross the beach. Trust me, it’s much less difficult than it sounds.
Best part of the Fife Coastal Path – day trips
Alternatively, you can walk the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path as day trips. I’ve shared the best sections below, with their distances and times:
1. Lower Largo to Elie
Distance | 10km
Walk time | 2 – 3 hours
If you love the beach and only have a morning or afternoon free, then the Lower Largo to Elie section of the Fife Coastal Path is one of the most glorious smaller sections.
Between the two villages is a stretch of pristine beach backed by rolling sand dunes and a designated wildlife reserve. With no car access, this beach is one of the lesser-visited sandy havens along the coast and makes a perfect short walk. Plus it leads to Shell Bay, a hidden cove tucked between two rocky peninsulas. And then further over the cliffs into the lovely town of Elie.
Give yourself extra time to explore both Lower Largo and Elie, both small but incredibly beautiful places with plenty of options for food.
From Elie, hop on the 95 bus to return to Lower Largo.
2. Elie to Crail
Distance | 17km or 10km
Walk time | 3 – 5 hours
The route between Elie and Crail is considered to be the best part of the Fife Coastal Path, where the trail passes through the prettiest villages in the East Neuk.
This section is the East Neuk, a place of historic harbours and fishing villages, seafood cafes and ice cream. If you want to see the best of the Fife Coastal Path, this is the section I would recommend the most.
Start in the charming town of Elie, before visiting St Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther & Cellardyke, and finishing in Crail. Though if you want a shorter walk, simply finish this section in the town of Anstruther (10km).
This section of the Fife Coastal Path is a straightforward walk over gently rolling cliffs, with the path leaving the coast to meander through each village. Allow extra time to explore the villages and indulge in some of Fife’s best foodie treats.
For a 2-day walk, combine with the above section and start in Lower Largo, and stay in one of the area’s boutique hotels.
From Crail, hop on the 95 bus to return to Elie.
3. Kingsbarns to St Andrews
Distance | 15km
Walk time | 3 – 4 hours
This is one of the most beautiful parts of the Fife Coastal Path – and probably the most challenging section.
Firstly, there’s a tidal section to contend with. Then there’s the numerous ups and downs over the cliffs. Plus, at 19km, it’s a long and incredibly remote walk with no cafes or amenities. With all that in mind, the Kingsbarns to St Andrews stage should only be undertaken with some extra preparation, like checking the tide times.
But it’s entirely worth the effort for the breathtaking coastal views and glorious sandy beaches, the solitude and sea stacks. At iconic Buddo Rock the cathedral at St Andrews beckons in the distance, the trail meandering over rocky beaches and onto the crags above. A final walk over the sea cliffs drops gently into the historic town.
Once in St Andrews you can recover in one of the many cafes and restaurants, plus there’s heaps of accommodation if you want to stay over and explore the town.
From St Andrews, hop on the 95 bus to return to Kingsbarns.
Where to stay if you’re walking the Fife Coastal Path
When I walked the Fife Coastal Path, I stayed in some hotels but mainly Airbnbs. As handy as the Airbnbs were, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this option. After a day of walking, I didn’t want to hang around waiting for the host to appear with a key. Plus, frequently the best restaurants on the Fife coast were inside gorgeous hotels, and every time I wished I was staying!
If I was to walk the Fife Coastal Path again, I’d always stay in hotels or self-serviced apartments – there are incredible options along the best parts of the trail. If you’re thinking of staying over, here are some hotels along the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path:
What to wear on the Fife Coastal Path
Given the path is a straight-forward trail, you don’t need any special equipment to walk the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path.
However, there are some items that will make the path easier. I’ve covered all the essentials you need in this Fife Coastal Path packing list post (coming soon).
Walking shoes
One thing that is absolutely necessary are walking shoes. Although the trail along the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path is easy going, it is a clifftop trail, and you’ll want good grip. Plus, there can be muddy bits. On the trail, I wore these Merrell Moab 3 GTX shoes which were perfect.
Rucksack
Bring a rucksack for layers, snacks, water, cameras, and other essentials. Choose either a small daypack for a day trip, or this much bigger option for multiple days on the trail.
Wear + Pack
Waterproofs are always a sensible item to have in your bag.
Being on the coast Fife can be blustery, so pack a warm jacket.
For the same reason, pack a woolly hat.
As sweat wicking base layer on top.
These walking leggings are incredibly comfortable, flattering, and rain proof.
Always pack sun cream.
A power pack and charging cable for your phone.
Fife Coastal Path Map
Firstly, there’s heaps of signposts along the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path. Yet I still found having a map was helpful. Personally, I’d recommend having a map on your phone because you can see how far you still have to go. Plus, if you’re ever not sure about the route it’ll of course help you find your way back onto the Fife Coastal Path trail.
There’re three options if you want a map of the best parts of the Fife Coastal Path:
OS App| Download OS Maps onto your phone and save the route. This is my favourite option, as it’s incredibly easy to use. Download here.
Coastal Trail paper map | Buy a dedicated Coastal Trail map. Not a necessity, but this map is more like a helpful and small leaflet, with tips about where to visit. Buy it here.
Google Maps | Some of the coastal path is shown here, but not in nearly enough detail so I don’t recommend this option. But Google Maps is helpful for finding your hotel, cafes, and beaches so definitely have it ready.
OS Maps | Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this option because you’ll need to jump between three big paper maps and its a lot to carry around.
