This easy 5 mile walk can be started from either Coaltown of Balgonie or Milton of Balgonie. The description below assumes starting from Coaltown. The walk takes you around arable farmland and through a section of pleasant woodland alongside the River Leven. The route is on reasonable paths and tracks with all but one short section having some form of surface. However, as these are working farm tracks they can get muddy at times.
- Distance: 8 km / 5 miles (options to shorten)
- Ascent: 70m / 230 feet
- Terrain: farm tracks and paths (can be muddy). One section of path is unsurfaced.
- Start/finish: Coatltown of Balgonie
Route Map
From the centre of Coaltown of Balgone where there is ample on street parking, follow the green signposted route for Thornton and Lochtybank. At the end of the public road is a Fife Coast and Countryside Trust marker post indicating the start of a dirt path. This path quickly joins a farm track where you turn left.This next section of the walk has open views across fields to Largo Law in the distance.
Keep straight on when you reach the junction with Queen Mary’s Road, cross the railway bridge and go right when you reach the surfaced farm road. Follow this road past cottages and a farm, round to the left to reach a purple arrow marker post. Turn right at this post. Follow this track until you reach a cottage where you turn left onto the main track and pass a barn on your right. During this section you will notice some signs regarding the area being managed for the conservation of the grey partridge.
The track now starts to enter a more wooded area with shelter belt trees. The next junction you encounter is at the entrance to a small woodland. Go left here at the purple arrow marker (the main track will take you to Milton of Balgonie. Then go right on a path between a purple arrow marker post and a Fife Coast and Countryside Trust marker post. Soon you will be walking alongside the river through deciduous woodland. A bench seat is located mid-way along this path section.
At the end of the woods you emerge onto a public road which would make a good access point if you wished to start the walk from Milton of Balgonie. However, go sharp left onto another path rather than out on to the road. This next path goes gently uphill for a while. Look back behind you for a view of Balgonie Castle with the Lomond Hills behind it.
Go right at the next junction onto a wide track which leads to a large farm. Keep to the left to walk around the outside of the farm. Continue onwards along the track which now has a concrete surface. Just before you reach Coaltown of Balgonie is a new hedgerow on your left that has been planted by the local primary school. The farm track meets up with the main road through Coaltown at its east end.
Fife Walking 