Kirkcaldy Circumnavigation

by Alex Donald
6 months ago
Near Kirkcaldy West, GB

12 views

Remember that over time, some parts of a route may become difficult to navigate or blocked and detours may be required.

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See pictures taken along the route, including one showing this route on Ordnance Survey, 1:25 mapping.
You may start walking this route from anywhere along the route.

NOTE
There are two dual carriageways to cross on this 16.5 mile route. There are designated pedestrian crossing areas, but they do not have traffic control.
When there is lots of traffic, there can be a lengthy wait for an opportune moment to cross the road.
The first crossing is the B981, Dunnikier Way, beside Gallatown roundabout.
The second crossing is on the A910 between Chapel Junction on the A92 and Chapel Roundabout.

This route was first walked in 2016, starting very early one sunny morning.
The sun had just risen and was glistening on the sea. Basking seals, many deer among the trees and song birds.

The 16.5ml/26.5km route, with around 4ml of pavement walking, makes a pleasant day walk or tackle it in three stages: -
1oo3: https://www.komoot.com/tour/802645758
2oo3: https://www.komoot.com/tour/954563933
3oo3: https://www.komoot.com/tour/894057095

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A brief description of this route with links to 1913 maps to provide a historical perspective “Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland”

See pictures taken along the route, including one showing this route on Ordnance Survey, 1:25 mapping.

The route starts from the lorry/car parking area at the south end of the Kirkcaldy Esplanade or anywhere along the route: https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533593#zoom=4&lat=3972&lon=7353&layers=BT

Walk the 1.1ml promenade and around the edge of Kirkcaldy harbour. Follow the pedestrian way through Carr's flour mill buildings, which is painted on the roadway: https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533593#zoom=6&lat=5742&lon=7857&layers=BT

Take the path between East Burn and the Water Works then through Pathhead Sands car park area or along the stony beach. Go around Ravens Craig headland and along the beach below Ravenscraig Castle to take steps up into Ravenscraig Park.

Navigation will then take you up through Dysart & Borland to a bridge over the railway line.
Go through Randolph Playing Fields & across Rosslyn Street & Dunnikier Way dual carriageways.

Continue up Rosslyn Street dual carriageway and turn into Mitchelston Drive. Follow a dog-walkers track off Mitchelston Drive to the Water Works at the top of Carberry Road: https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533605

From the Water Works follow this Local Path towards the A92 where you will join a Fife Core Path, which takes you all the way to the Chapel area.
On the map, look for Carberry Reservoirs, Three Stones, Chapel Home Farm & Craigarter Plantation: https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533581

Due to works, the route now bypasses Chapel. Take the pedestrian bridge over Wester Bogie Road and follow navigation to Craigarter Plantation.

Next follow navigation through Craigarter & Sunnybrae Plantations before rounding Raith Lake to go through Public Park Plantation. Pass behind Kirkcaldy Golf Club, across an iron bridge over a former lade & across a bridge over the Tiel Burn - Tiel means 'fast flowing'.....
https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533593
AND
https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533965#zoom=5&lat=5522&lon=7142&layers=BT

After crossing the Tiel Burn bridge and going uphill under the railway viaduct, you follow the path of the former, Seafield Harbour railway line - through playpark, crossing B9157, Invertiel Road and across grass area to Kinghorn Road pedestrian crossing.
See pictures of stone, bridge parapet on Invertiel Road and a metal one on Kinghorn Road where there were bridges over the harbour railwayline, which was built but never used.
See 'Dismantled Railway': https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533593#zoom=5&lat=2320&lon=6297&layers=BT

The route then navigates Seafield area to pass past two children's playgrounds, which were the location of the Seafield Colliery twin towers.
Follow the Fife Coastal Path past Seafield Tower and the former Seafield Harbour wall to the end of the route: https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533593
AND
https://maps.nls.uk/view/75533965#zoom=5&lat=5522&lon=7142&layers=BT

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The OS map for this route: https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-dunfermline-kirkcaldy-glenrothes-south/

To align the map with your surroundings, use either a magnetic compass: https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/search.php?search_query=compass
Or OS Locate: https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/apps/os-locate/

If the paper OS map is bought, the equivalent digital map may be downloaded to your device.

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The Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
A practi