Kinghorn Kirkcaldy Circular

The section of coastal path between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy, although short is quite different in character from the previous sections of coastal path. Much more rocky and hugging the coastline alongside the railway. There are different options suggested for this walk.

Start / finish: Kinghorn
Distance (shorter route): 6.5 miles / 10.4 km
Ascent (shorter route): 640 feet / 200 m
Distance (via Grangehill): 7.5 miles / 12 km
Ascent (via Grangehill): 785 feet / 240 m
Distance (via Binnendl): 10 miles / 16 km
Ascent (via Binnend): 820 feet / 265 m
Terrain: road walking (unavoidable), paths and tracks (some unsurfaced and potentially muddy), beach walking on 10 mile route

Route map

All Routes

Start from the car park on Pettycur Road which gives easy access on to the coastal path (alternatively start from the station). Follow the signs for the coastal path past the harbour and through the edge of the town. Once out of Kinghorn the path is easy to follow and Seafield Tower on the edge of Kirkcaldy is soon reached.

Beyond the tower, the path reaches the Seafield car park. From here proceed inland via Seafield Road and Peebles Street to reach Invertiel Road. Turn left and go under the railway bridge (you will be best to cross over the road to use the pavement rather than walk on the road) then turn first left into Jawbanes Road. This is a quiet back road to Kinghorn with little traffic. After almost 3km a cross road junction is reached.

Go left here on to Kissing Trees Lane passing the Kinghorn “kissing trees”. After 1km there is a track on the right signed for Craigencalt. Take this track and follow the main route down to Craigencalt Cottages and then Craigencalt farm, beside Kinghorn Loch.

At this points the suggested routes diverge.

Shorter (6.5 mile route)

If the shorter route then turn left at Kinghorn Loch passing the eco centre to reach the road. Cross over the road and pick up the signed path on the opposite side which leads back to Kinghorn beside the golf course and school.

Via Grangehill (7.5 mile route)

If opting for the longer route then turn right at the Loch and follow woodland paths round the north side of the loch (can be muddy) to reach the main road. Cross over the road and pick up the signed path on the opposite side which leads over Grangehill, past a farm and down the hill past the golf club. When heading up the hill look back the way for views over towards the loch.

Via Binnend (10 mile route)

This route extends the walk to the outskirts of Burntisland. From Kinghorn Loch, follow paths around the north and west side of the loch to reach the main road. Turn right for a short distance and then turn right again on the Binnend Path. Follow this path with views out across the Forth, past a picnic area to reach a crossroad junction close to the remains of Binn village. Go left at this point down the hill to the main road. Turn right on the pavement. After passing the golf club is a path into woodland on the left. Follow this path to the edge of Burntisland and use Kirkbank Road to reach the seafront.

If the tide permits, the best return is to use the sands to reach Pettycur. If this is not possible then the signed coastal path route can be used although this does use pavement alongside a busy main road. At Pettycur either the road can used to walk back to the centre of Kinghorn or alternatively head up the steps and take the steep stepped path up past the cemetery.

Include The Binn

A further option would to include the Burntisland Binn by keeping straight on at the crossroad junction close to the remains of Binn village. Once over the Binn, descend to a small reservoir and then left downhill to the top of Burntisland. From here use the back streets to make your way back down to Burntisland Links for the walk back to Kinghorn as above. This extends the walk to 11 miles with a total of 370m of ascent.