Suggested circular routes along the coastal path with inland returns using old railways and woodlands. Other variations of these routes are of course possible
- Terrain: Mostly unsurfaced paths which can be a bit muddy at times.
- Start / finish: West Wemyss Harbour, KY1 4SL. Other start points are possible.
- Facilities: Free car park, refreshments available in West Wemyss.
- Distance / Ascent: 7 mile route – Distance: 12km / 7.3 miles – Ascent: 130m / 420 feet
- Distance / Ascent: 6 mile route – Distance: 9.5km / 5.9 miles – Ascent: 110m / 350 feet
- Distance / Ascent: 5 mile route – Distance: 8km / 5 miles – Ascent: 90m / 300 feet
- Distance / Ascent: 3 mile route – Distance: 5.9km / 3.2 miles – Ascent: 80m / 290 feet
Route Map
7 mile route (shown in red on route map)
The walk starts from the harbour car park at the west end of West Wemyss. Follow the path along the seafront to reach the east end of the village at St Adrian’s Church. The well-made path now passes in front of the church and Wemyss Castle (a private residence). The castle above you looks somewhat forbidding from this angle. The next section of the walk, along the coastal path, is just over 1.5km from West Wemyss to East Wemyss, with woods to your left and the sea to your right. As you start to approach East Wemyss, the path goes slightly inland and into some woods to avoid a scrap yard. After the scrap yard, at the edge of the village, the coastal path turns right to return to the sea.
The 3 and 5 mile routes branch off from the full route at this point.
Continue along the coastal path through East Wemyss passing a memorial to musician Jimmy Shand, a more recent memorial to three men who lost their lives in a tragic boating accident and a wooden model of Macduff’s Castle..
Immediately after the village are the first of the renowned Wemyss Caves, the Court Cave and Doo Cave. Guided tours are available on Sunday afternoons if you are interested in seeing the Pictish carvings within the caves. The path now turns inland and goes up a flight of steps to reach the ruin of Macduff’s Castle. Another flight of steps going down the cliff from the castle offers a diversion to the Well Cave and Jonathan’s Cave. However, our walk along the coastal path continues inland alongside the cemetery to almost meet the main road but turns to the right before doing so.
The 6 mile route branches off from the full route at this point
Continue on the coastal path route crossing farmland. After going up a few steps a signpost is reached. Leave the coastal path turning left, signed for East Wemyss and Wellsgreen, along a grassy path across the field. On reaching the main road, turn left, cross over and turn first right into Alexander Street and Summer Road. Follow the green sign for Summer Road and Wellsgreen.
The road becomes a farm track and after about 500m from the main road when the main track turns right our walk turns left onto a rough field track. The track soon becomes a path following the field edge with the woods of Wemyss Den to your left.
Follow the path into the broadleaf woodland with a small burn to your left. When you reach a junction with a choice of 3 paths choose the middle one (the main route through the woods) staying close to the burn (the left one just goes to the burn). Soon you will emerge from the woods onto grass park land. Walk over the grass to the right hand side to find a path in the far corner (there are one or two paths but they all go pretty much in the same direction). You will then meet a constructed path where you should turn right and up a few steps.
The 6 mile route re-joins the full route at this point.
This next section is along the route of an old mineral railway line on a grassy, and sometimes muddy, path at the back of houses with fields to your right. Keep going straight on passing two green signposts for Coaltown of Wemyss. About 700m after joining the path you will reach a point where a farm access road crosses the path with a sign for Coaltown of Wemyss.
The 5 mile route rejoins the full route at this point.
Continue straight on along the railway with trees to your left and fields to your right. After about 1.25km you will reach a wooden signpost. Go left crossing over the burn and immediately turn left again at a second wooden signpost for Coaltown of Wemyss. You are now walking in the opposite direction but on the opposite side of the burn.
The path enters some woodland and swings right. At a muddy bit the path becomes a track and starts heading towards Coaltown of Wemyss which you can see ahead of you. However, when you reach a green sign post turn right for The Red Ash Trail across unfenced fields (keep dogs to the path). When you reach a muddy bit just before the farm there is a path on your left avoiding the mud. There is a signpost at this point although it seems to be designed for people walking in the opposite direction! This next path is constructed from red ash!
At the end of the path you will reach an information board just before the main road where you turn left. Cross over the road and turn into the driveway of Wemyss Castle on your right, opposite the bowling club. There is a small car park just inside the gate which could be used as alternative start point for the walk.
The 3 mile route rejoins the full route at this point.
The walk is all downhill now, along the tree lined avenue to Wemyss Castle. When you reach a split in the road at a stand of beech trees bear right (there is a small wooden marker post with an arrow). At the other side of the beech trees there is another marker post pointing to a grassy path to your right away from the castle grounds. The path heads into woods and swings right becoming a wider path before turning left. Go through a doorway in the wall to emerge on to a on old wynd. Turn left down the hill to reach the main street and turn right to finish your walk with a wander along the main street with its picturesque buildings, tolbooth and community run heritage centre / cafe / pub.
6 Mile Route
This is very similar to the 7 mile route described above. However, it shortens the route by missing out the Wemyss Den woodland. The magenta line on the route map shows this short cut.
Follow the 7 mile route along the coastal path as far as MacDuff’s Castle. After the castle the coastal path turns inland alongside the cemetery towards the main road. Walk out to the main road leaving the coastal path. Almost immediately opposite is the start of the line of an old railway which is walkable. The grassy path runs at the back of some houses and will bring you to an area with lots of steps. Go up the left hand set of steps keeping a grass park area to your right and pick up the railway line again through the trees. Go up a few steps to rejoin the 7 mile route along the railway line.
5 Mile route
Again, this is a shortened version of the full 7 mile route and the short cut is shown in green on the above route map. This time the village of East Wemyss is omitted by heading inland when the west end of the village is reached.
On approaching East Wemyss, cross a grassy area and walk up either St Mary’s Terrace or Randolph Street to reach the main road. Turn left and walk along the pavement until you reach a farm track on the right hand side at the very edge of the village. Walk up the farm track for 270m to the point where the old railway line crosses it and turn left onto the railway to re-join the full route.
3 Mile route
The 3 mile route is a shorter version of the 5 mile route which misses out East Wemyss. The 3 mile route uses core paths through mixed woodland for the return as opposed to the old railway line described above. This return route is shown in blue on the route map.
When you reach East Wemyss turn left off the coastal path, past a play area and up some steps to a road. Cross a grassy area and go left along Randolph Street until a path bears left over grass. Pass behind the houses and into the woodland. The path meets a track at a marker post where you should turn left. The next junction is indicated by a signpost where you should turn right for Coaltown of Wemyss. Follow this core path to the outskirts of Coaltown of Wemyss where you re-join the longer routes by turning left on to the Wemyss Castle driveway after reaching a small parking area.
Fife Walking 