Walks from Crail – Fife Ness Circular

This is a circular walk starting at Sandcastle Cottage in Nethergate North and is one of the more popular walks from Crail. The route follows the Fife Coastal Path to Roome Bay, Kilminning Nature Reserve, past the former Coast Guard Station (now a private house) at Fife Ness, Crail Golfing Society and back to Crail via Wormiston Farm. The route offers you superb views across the Firth of Forth.

Walks Crail
The start of the beach path from Sandcastle Cottage to Roome Bay

One of my favourite walks from Crail

This walk is all on the flat and along well trodden paths and farm tracks. Although I would always recommend a stout pair of walking shoes for walks, trainers are perfectly ok for some of our younger walkers. This is a walk that will take you at least two hours to complete. Although the shortened version can be completed in an hour. 

I would also recommend taking a pair of binoculars and a camera as I do on all my walks as there are lots of things to see on the way.  You can spot diving Gannets, Cormorants, Heron’s, Arctic Terns, Oyster Catchers, Kestrel’s and smaller birds such as Yellow Hammers, Goldfinches and Stonechats. Pods of dolphins are often spotted in this area of the Firth of Forth.

Some walkers may of course prefer to watch the many ships which cruise the Forth on a daily basis.

Roome Bay from the Coastal Path

The Route

From Sandcastle Cottage in the Nethergate take the beach path towards Roome Bay. On the path half way down you will find the 16th Century Doocot recently restored by Crail Preservation Trust. Why not stop and take some time to explore.

The recently restored Proiry Doocot at Roome Bay and the beach path leading down from Nethergate and Sandcastle Cottage.

The Doocot at Roome Bay

The Doocot is owned by the Crail Preservation Society. It has recently been restored and is open during the summer months. It dates back to the 16th century when doves provided fresh meat during the winter months. Inside boxes line the walls. There is also an information board outside.

Follow the signs for the Fife Coastal Path out to Fife Ness and Balcomie Links

On the path at Roome Bay you will find a number of seats to sit and admire the view over Crail or out towards the Isle of May. Proceed along the path toward Sauchope Links Caravan Park.

Sauchope Links

Sauchope was the site of the first golf course in Crail. Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786. The course and club were moved to its present location at Balcomie in 1896.

Walk through the park following the markers for the Fife Coastal Path. The land behind the caravan park was the site of Crail Airfield or HMS Jackdaw as it was known in World War 2. It was a base for the Fleet Air Arm and extended as far as Kilminning Nature Reserve. The small hamlet of Goats was removed to make way for the airfield.

Shortly after you leave the caravan and chalet park you will reach a style and the entry to Kilwinning Nature Reserve. Look out for local and migrating birds.

You also spot a large rock on the seashore (see picture below). this is known as Kilminning Castle.

The large rock known as Kilminning Castle

Follow the path towards the lighthouse and Fife Ness. Here you will be able to spot diving Gannets and maybe the odd pod of dolphins. This is where that pair of binoculars comes in handy. You will also find a pillbox build by Polish soldiers who were stationed here during World War II.

This part of the walk runs through one of the few remaining stretches of undisturbed coastal grassland in Fife. All kinds of plants such as thrift, sea campion, scots lovage, and scurvy-grass grow here along with rarer plants such as sea wormwood. Sea kale can be found among the shingle as well as sea sandwort. Look out for terns feeding on sandeels just offshore.

The short version of this walk!

If you find at this point you don’t want to walk all the way to Fife Ness one of my other walks takes me up the path on the left to the car park at Kilminning. You can then follow the road past the old airfield on the left (see our Airfield Walk) until you reach the main road. Turn left and walk back along the pavement to Crail. The short version is one of the walks I have enjoyed in the evening.

Kilminning Nature Reserve the large rock in the foregraound is known as Kilminning Castle. (Unfortunately I noticed the last itme I did this walk the sign had been removed).
Fife Ness Circular
The Lighthouse at Fife Ness

Fife Ness and Balcomie Links

As you round the point the path skirts round the Balcomie Golf Course so beware of flying golf balls. You will also find an information board on the history of Fife Ness harbour. The clubhouse for Crail Golfing Society overlooks the final four holes of the Balcomie Course which was designed by Old Tom Morris.

Crail Golfing Society Clubhouse offers superb views out to sea from the lounge.

As you pass the 17th green on the golf course you will find Constantines Cave. tucked in on your left hand side. . This is the site where the Danes put Constantine 11 to death in 875. The walls of the cave are sculptured with crosses.

Constantines Cave
Constantines Cave

At this point I would recommend walking along Fife Ness Beach. It is a lovely stretch of sand and even in summer it is quiet. Up on the left you will find the old lifeboat station which is now a storage shed for Crail Golfing Society.

Walks from crail
Old Lifeboat Shed and Fife Ness Beach
The beach at Balcomie is always quiet even in summer

Head Back to Crail

From Fife Ness beach follow the path along the side of the golf course keeping to the marker posts for the Fife Coastal Path. At the end of the golf course take the path in the photograph below up the slight incline leading to a farm road.

Fife Ness Circular Walk
At the end of the golf course follow the path up the slight incline and join a farm road at the top.
Follow the farm road towards Wormistoun Farm

Follow the road towards Wormistoun Farm. Continue past Wormistoun Farm until you come to a metal gate. Go through the metal gate and follow the path along the back of the airfield and the old accommodation block.

Fife Ness Circular Walk
Go through the gate and continue along the farm track at the back of the airfield
Continue down the path until you come to a rusty fuel tank on the left.

Continue down the path until you see a large rusty fuel tank. This was the accommodation blocks for the airfield. The Black Watch were billeted there in the early 1950’s before they left for Korea. There are some pictures in another of my blogs Crail Circular Walk of the troops outside the accommodation blocks.

Take a right turn and the follow the path toward the caravan park and the graveyard extension.

At the car park for the main graveyard you will find a small woodland path on your left leading down towards Denburn Wood. Follow the path through the wood leading to the main road. Cross the road and proceed down Kirk Wynd back to Sandcastle Cottage.

Walks Crail
Crail Church
Walks Crail
Denburn Wood

I hope you enjoy this walk as much as I do and you have found some interesting things along the way.

If you would like to know more about what there is to see and do in Crail then please do read more of my blogs or why not stay with us for a weekend or midweek break at Sandcastle Cottage. You will find details of availability and prices by clicking on the book now button at the bottom of this page.

More walks from Crail, the East Neuk of Fife and St Andrews

Here are some links to more of the walks I have enjoyed in and around Crail and the East Neuk of Fife.

Elie to Crail on the Fife Coastal Path

Anstruther to Crail and Crail to Cambo Sands

Kingsbarns to St Andrews

Crail to West Ness

Walk the Lade Braes St Andrews

Airfield Circular Walk

St Andrews South Walk

Crail Circular Walk

Crail Heritage Walk and the History of Crail

For a short walk around Crail see my blog entitled Lazy Day in Crail

Stay at Sandcastle Cottage Crail

If you would like to find out more about staying at Sandcastle Cottage. Check out our website at www.2crail.com. Take a look inside by clicking www.2crail.com/look or check out our availability and prices by clicking the book now button below.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sandcastle Cottage.

Blog updated January 2024

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