We’re delighted to see Macs Adventure featured in The New York Times, in a beautifully written piece that follows an independent traveller hiking one of our self-guided trips along Scotland’s east coast. 

In “An Inn-to-Inn Walk on Scotland’s Idyllic East Coast”, Frugal Traveller columnist Elaine Glusac explores the Fife Coastal Path on a four-night self-guided itinerary planned by Macs Adventure - putting our approach to the test so she could focus less on logistics and more on the experience itself. 

Read The New York Times article here >

A walk shaped by sea, villages, and freedom 

Stretching 117 miles from Kincardine to Newburgh, the Fife Coastal Path is one of Scotland’s most scenic long-distance trails. Elaine’s journey focuses on one of its most rewarding sections - a relaxed, inn-to-inn walk through fishing villages, castle ruins, golf-course edges, and wide, wave-lashed beaches. 

With accommodation, luggage transfers, route notes, and digital maps taken care of by yours truly, she hikes unencumbered - carrying only a daypack - and leans into the details that make this coast so memorable. Shore birds wheel overhead, waves crash against basalt cliffs, and centuries of history appear in the form of Pictish caves, medieval castles, and harbour walls stacked with lobster traps. 

Letting go of the planning - and gaining more from the walk 

As a seasoned independent traveller and meticulous planner, Elaine is candid about her initial hesitation to “surrender control” to a tour company. But along the trail, that decision pays off. Without the burden of organising each overnight stop or hauling a full pack, she finds herself wandering into cafés, lingering in harbours, detouring for ice cream, and soaking up local advice from innkeepers and pub regulars. 

The carefully chosen stays - from historic guesthouses to coastal inns spotlighting local produce - become part of the story, offering warmth, comfort, and a deeper connection to place at the end of each hiking day. 

A coast best savoured slowly 

From the cliff paths of the East Neuk to the golden sands of Elie and Earlsferry, the article captures what makes this hike so special: its variety, its gentleness, and its sense of space. There are dolphin sightings, sauna plunges into the North Sea, world-class fish and chips, and long, quiet miles where the sea does most of the talking. 

By the end, Elaine reflects on two “priceless outcomes” of hiking with Macs Adventure: seeing more, and aching less - a sentiment many of our hikers will recognise. 

Read the full New York Times article for the complete story and stunning photography of this unforgettable coastal walk. 

And if it’s sparked your curiosity, discover our self-guided Fife Coastal Path walking holidays and experience Scotland’s east coast for yourself - one inn, one village, and one wave-lined mile at a time.