Fife Coastal Path

The Fife Coastal Path is perfect for regular hikers and fit first-timers. To get ready, we suggest hiking regularly and tackling a few hills before your trip. Keep in mind the daily mileage and elevation changes listed in your day-by-day itinerary.

On most days, you’ll be hiking on good terrain, including dirt trails, footpaths and stretches of beach. At Kincraig Point, just before the village of Elie, you can try the Elie Chain Walk if you’re feeling brave. It’s Scotland’s 100-year-old mini via ferrata, a scramble along the cliffs using fixed chains. Not your thing? No problem. Our app follows the main trail, so you can easily skip it.

This route ranges from easy to moderate, though some itineraries include individual days rated moderate to strenuous, depending on the distance. Each tour option has an overall grade, but individual days may vary – some might be a bit tougher or easier than the rating suggests.

Accommodation is in hand-picked hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&Bs, chosen to ensure a warm welcome, traditional hospitality and delicious local food throughout your stay.

Most itineraries on the coastal path include a stop in the small fishing village of Elie. Because the village is so small, accommodation there can be limited, so availability issues do come up from time to time. If that's the case for your booking, you'll spend two nights in nearby Leven instead, with complimentary transfers taking you from Elie to Leven for your overnight stay and back to the trailhead in Elie the following morning.

St Andrews is a popular overnight stop throughout the year, and room rates there can vary quite a bit during peak months, since most accommodations work on a dynamic pricing model. If demand is high on your chosen dates, we may need to add a small supplement to your booking to cover the extra cost - we'll always discuss this with you before confirming anything.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will be happy to provide a packed lunch on request, which you can book on arrival, and dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs or restaurants.

This walking holiday is best enjoyed between March and October, and you can start on any date that suits your travel plans. The Fife Coastal Path is popular, so it's best to book as far in advance as you're able to.

Our Fife Coastal tours are unavailable to book on certain dates in July 2027 due to the British Open Golf Championship taking place in St Andrews. St Andrews is generally very busy throughout the season, so if we can't find availability there on your chosen dates, you may overnight in Newport-on-Tay or Dundee instead, with included transfers to and from St Andrews.

Traditionally, April and May have been the most popular months to travel, as the weather is thought to be better, though any time between late March and October offers a great experience.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

The route is well waymarked throughout and easy to follow.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading

If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:

Fife Coastal Path (Rucksack Reader)

Getting to the Start

Edinburgh (EDI) is the easiest gateway for this tour, with nonstop flights from several North American cities and regular trains along the Fife coast. United, Delta and American Airlines all fly direct to Edinburgh, with year-round service from the New York area (EWR and JFK) and seasonal flights from cities such as Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS) and Atlanta (ATL). Flight times are roughly 6 to 8 hours, depending on where you’re flying from.

From Edinburgh Airport (EDI), you can take the tram (approx. 35 mins), the airport shuttle bus (approx. 25 mins) or a taxi (approx. 20 mins) into the city center. Heading straight to Fife? Take the tram to Edinburgh Gateway (approx. 5 mins), where you can catch trains across the Forth without going into the city.

Your route to the start depends on which tour you choose.

Fife Coastal Path (8 days), starting in North Queensferry

Take the train from Edinburgh to North Queensferry (approx. 20 mins). There’s also a direct bus from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to North Queensferry. If you’re coming from elsewhere in Scotland, you can reach the start by train from Glasgow (approx. 1 hr 15 mins) or Dundee (approx. 1 hr 20 mins).

Highlights of the Fife Coastal Path (6 days), starting in Burntisland

Burntisland has its own train station and is easy to reach from Edinburgh (approx. 30–40 mins). Your first night’s accommodation may be on the outskirts of town, so you can arrange a taxi when you arrive at Burntisland Station.

Fife Coastal Path Short Break, starting in Kirkcaldy

Take the train from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy (approx. 30–40 mins).

Planning Your Trip

Need help planning your trip by bus or train? The Traveline Scotland website is the best place to check routes and schedules.

Getting from the End

Your route home depends on where your trip finishes.

Fife Coastal Path (8 days)

Your hike finishes in Newport-on-Tay or Dundee, which has direct trains back to Edinburgh. Want a little more time on the coast? Take a taxi back to St Andrews and spend an extra day or two exploring the home of golf.

Tours finishing in Crail

Crail doesn’t have a train station, but there are plenty of buses to St Andrews, the rest of Fife and beyond. From St Andrews, it’s a short bus ride to Leuchars, the nearest station, with direct trains to Edinburgh and easy connections back to Edinburgh Airport (EDI).

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation