Fife Coastal Path - Day 1 - Shell Bay to Pittenweem.

3 July 2013

When I am out running at lunchtime at Cramond I could always see the coast line of Fife on the other side of the Forth Estuary. There is a direct route on view from the Forth Rail Bridge to the East Neuk of Fife. We also have relatives who live along the East Neuk of Fife so I knew it was a lovely route to run. So for the past year a plan to run the Fife Coastal Path (or at least bits of it) has been brewing in my head.

The chance to check out a few sections of it arose with the wedding of our niece, Vicky to James in July this year. We had rented a flat for the few days surrounding the wedding in Pittenweem, giving me the perfect base to explore the path.

A few days before Andrew asked if he could come with me. I had planned to start at Lower Largo which would have made the distance around 15 miles but as Andrew decided he wanted to come I dropped the distance to 9 miles (as he hadn't done any training to take him up to 15 miles). It wasn't so much about the distance I just wanted to run the path and reckie it for a future longer run.

We decided on a starting point of Shell Bay Caravan Site. Alistair and Rhona dropped Andy and I off at the caravan site and we set off in search of the path. The path was really well marked and although I had a map with me we hardly needed it as there were clear signs for the Coastal Path.

The first challenge we faced was a short, steep climb up Kincraig Hill to a viewpoint over Shell Bay, Earlsferry and Elie.

Earlsferry with Elie in the background.

We passed some wartime buildings which took us to the very top of the hill. Beyond this there was a huge set of steps which took us down to the beach at Earlsferry. When you pass the sign for Earlsferry on the road you don't imagine this beautiful beach. It was absolutely stunning and quite remote. Andy and I took the actual coastal path which went down onto the beach rather than the re-route along the golf club.

We then ran around the edge of the golf course which led us into the town of Earlsferry. We ran through the high street in Earlsferry which leads into Elie. We ran past the Elie Golf Course and down towards the beach.

A quick toilet stop and then a wee look at the beach and harbour and we were off on the next part of the path heading for Ardross.

We followed the coastal path signs which led us to Wood Haven (locally known as Ruby Bay). We ran past the lighthouse built in 1908 and then stopped for a quick photo shoot at Lady Tower built in 1760 by Lady Janet Anstruther who liked ot have a tower and a grotto to change in when she came to the beach.

Moving on we headed around the coast to Ardross. The beaches are just stunning. We ran along the sand dunes which was quite tough as it was fairly undulating.

At this point I could feel Andrew champing at the bit to go scampering off at his own pace as he could see St Monans in the distance (where Granny lives - food!). So I let him go off at his own pace and watched him disappear to a wee dot on the landscape. I was quite happy though, nice to have time to explore on my own for a bit. Next stop along the path was Newark Castle. 

The path up the side of the Castle was quite steep and it was quite warm so it was quite a tough bit. I could see Andy waiting on me at the top, but by the time I got there he had scampered off again. As I got around the corner I could see St Monans church in the near distance. It is quite an unusual shape of a church and stands by the Inweary Burn which you have to cross to get up into St Monans.

After a quick pit stop at Granny's, bit to hot and sweaty to stop for long. Andy and I headed off onto the last section of our journey for day one. The path heads off to Pittenweem. This is a section of the path which I have run many times but normally it is a short 3 mile run there and back to St Monans but today it was at the end of a longer run and felt just a bit tougher to run along.  Still good views all the way to Pittenweem.

Our holiday flat.

So that was our first day on the Fife Coastal Path. It was quite challenging at parts but on the whole it was a really well maintained path which had easy to follow signs and great view points along the way.

I am doing day two myself (one day was enough for Andy). I had planned to run to Crail but wedding plans have meant that I can only go as far as Cellardyke. So the plan for day two is to run to Anstruther, Cellardyke, back to Anstruther, Pittenweem and then back to St Monans to Granny's for lunch and wedding stuff. 

Day two blog to follow....