Fife Coastal Path Walk - Ruby Bay to Crail

Join us for day 8 of the journey along the Fife Coastal Path towards St Andrews. On this stage we will walk 11 miles, starting from Elie Ruby Bay.

It is full of geological, historical and wildlife interest. The Elie to St Monans section begins at Ruby Bay, once a site famous for Red Garnet gemstones. It passes Lady’s Tower, built for Lady Janet Anstruther as a summer house in the 1760s.

Further on are the ruins of Ardross and Newark Castles and the stunning 14th century St Monans Church.

Pass the restored St Monans Windmill, once used to pump seawater into the adjacent salt pans. The limestone beds here are rich in fossils. The next village of Pittenweem is Fife’s only working fishing harbour and is the site of a cave used by St Fillan in the 7th century.

We then skirt the golf course and the rocky shore past Billow Ness to the four old Royal Burghs which constitute Anstruther. This village is noted for its award-winning fish and chips and Scottish Fisheries Museum. From Anstruther, there are boat trips during the summer to the Isle of May National Nature Reserve. It is also home of Beach of Dreams member organisation, Anstruther Improvements Association and Gallery 495 Cellardyke Trust.

Through Cellardyke, with its picturesque harbour, we will pass Julie Brook’s Beach of Dream’s sculptural commission, ‘Tide Line’. Caiplie Caves are a prominent weathered sandstone feature situated almost halfway between Cellardyke and Crail. The route continues past an old salt works before reaching Crail, a traditional fishing village with a 17th-century harbour.

Dates & Times

Thu 22 May, 10:30—17:30

Ruby Bay car parks, Leven, KY9 1EA

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