Walk No. 221 Burntisland to Kirkcaldy on the Fife Coastal Path
Distance: 5 miles (if using buses) or up to 6.8 miles (if only using train)
Eighteen Strollers met up at Burntisland Links to walk
the Fife Coastal Path to Kirkcaldy. Some came by car and some by train, though
a couple of those on the train were too busy talking and ignored the
announcement for Burntisland. They had to get off at Kinghorn and come back
again. Luckily one of them had bought a ticket to Kinghorn anyway, though it
was supposed to be to Kirkcaldy to allow for the journey home!
Having timed the walk to allow for the tide being out, we set off underneath
the railway and on to the beach at the end of the esplanade to walk along the rather
rocky section at the end of Burntisland. Wellington boots would have been an
idea as
us tail enders could have gone out a little further and just walked over the
sand, even though there were still some pockets of water in dips. Passing the
large Pettycur Caravan site where many people from Edinburgh used to holiday,
we made our way along the beach to Pettycur Harbour, which at one time was a
ferry link to Leith and Newhaven before a deeper harbour was built at
Burntisland. Working our way up the hill from the harbour and on to Kinghorn,
where we stopped at some picnic tables for a bite of lunch. Wilson however went
the whole hog and decided on the healthy walker’s option of chips and beans
followed by a scone at a local cafe! We passed the lifeboat station, where SL’s
Mr Tulloch followed a long tradition of his sailing family by starting off
manning the lifeboat to becoming Chairman and getting an MBE for his services.
Leaving Kinghorn we worked our way along the path towards Kirkcaldy seeing butterflies and gold Finches, then managing to
see about 20 seals sunning themselves on the rocks below, as well as a few
herons and cormorants in addition to the seagulls. Heading on past the ruins of
Seafield Tower, built in the 16th century and believed to have been 5 stories
high, we made our way along to Seafield. Passing the remains of the World War 2
sea wall where Mr Sharp used to spend time in his youth we finished our walk
and headed for trains or buses.
Thanks to Alistair for ensuring
the tide was out, the weather was good and for arranging a lovely walk. Can we
be that lucky next time in October?
