[Closed] Fife Coastal Path - Gravel bikable?

It is really good. I wrote about it for Singletrack in the mag a few years back. Kings barns is a carry but the rest is grand! I rode it on a Ritchey Swiss Cross so definitely gravel friendly and a good long day ride.

Thanks Sanny! Looks like it could be a decent option for next week then ( my other plan to ride to aviemore will prob be snowed off)

I've done it a couple of times in the other direction from North Queensferry to St. Andrews (then Leuchars to get the train back). Boarhills as you mention is to be avoided. The rest is all bikeable apart from a couple of small sections of stairs and a wee bit along the coast by Crail I think (which is still nice even though walking). Did it on hardtail as didn't have cx/gravel bike but have cx bike now and this year it will definitely be done on that. There's a high tide/low tide option on the bit between Kirkcaldy town centre and Ravenscraig park. Haven't done the low tide option before.

The bit beyond Kirkcaldy to North Queensferry is really nice if you manage to get further and the option of a train station in every town you pass anyway to help spur you in to the next one and get as far as the bridges. In fact that would be a good (Tay) bridge to (Forth) bridge ride.

Had forgotten about tides - thanks for the reminder!

We are aiming to get as far as possible but we have time constraints. Would love to make it to NQ though!

Should be all good apart from the big set of steps running down the hill to earlsferry golf course. From the map you should be able to use some of the other trails to get round to Shell Bay.

I'm also up that way next week (staying Broughty Ferry) and possibly reconsidering the Deeside Trail.  Would this FCP be any good on a fatbike?  Low tide looks good timewise for Tentsmuir.

I have walked it all.  Low tide you can access a lot on beaches which is what we did so I don't know what all the path is like.

There has been some recent storm damage to the section from Buckhaven to Dysart. Just short sections of erosion which can be easily avoided at low tide. Could be a problem at a full high tide though.There may also be signs saying the path is closed and/or unsafe. Just be aware and enjoy.

The mentioned bit St Andrews to Boarhills - is that unfriendliness from the golfers or the caravan park?

There is a bit of carrying (climbing)up steep bits and some of the beach is boulders so tricky to walk over with a bike. The bit after the chain walk/shell bay gets very sandy,next time I would head out to the old railway line on the other side of the caravan park.It goes all the way in to lower largo.

OP ,Gravel bike will be fine,it's a grand day out.

We did Tay bridge to Forth bridge last year and got the train back from Inverkeithing,94 miles all in for us.

Going to do it again this summer but get the train back from Edinburgh.

Rode it Tay Bridges to Forth Bridges yesterday on the fattie. Great day out!  Good mix of all sorts of riding, some challenging bits,  great views, lovely weather!

The Fat enabled quite a bit of beach riding when the tide allowed.

Rode it NQ to St Andrews on full sus and wished I was on a gravel bike for the majority of it. The bits on the sand dunes along north of Leven to Ellie were slow going I found and probably would detour them next time, although was cool to see the old beach defences etc. Enjoyed the sections around Weymss more than I expected to.

The mentioned bit St Andrews to Boarhills – is that unfriendliness from the golfers or the caravan park?

No, not at all - its the coastal path itself.  Rocky paths on the side of steep terrain; you'd be carrying the bike.

Well we got as far as Anstruther today but found it to be slower going with more carrying than we wanted. Weather started to turn too so we looped back on the road through Fife and headed home via a play in Tenstmuir.

I enjoyed what we rode but think a lot of it would be better with a hardtail and a warmer day.

When I ride it we usually start at Silverburn at Leven then up to Ansthruther for fish and chips and back again, great ride on a nice day.

I almost live on the path and if I commute to work it's the section from the bridges to Kincardine I use.

I'm thinking of doing Kincardine to Kirkcaldy and back, haven't done that distance in years so I'll either do it or it'll kill me...maybe next Sunday.

Stevious you were a day late! Weather on Sunday was fantastic.

I've done it a few times on the bike, but haven't done the new section from Dundee to Newburgh yet as it's a bit of a pain due to the train station being in Dundee so i'd have to come back on myself. Some sections you are best taking the road rather than cycling the coastal path. Lower Largo to Shell Bay is a slog over the dunes during high tide. Crail to St Andrews is a lot of carrying.

Sunday would have been better. It's a great ride in nice weather. I normally do it over two days and get a cheap b&b near Elie (heading south to north)

I’m thinking of doing Kincardine to Kirkcaldy and back, haven’t done that distance in years so I’ll either do it or it’ll kill me…maybe next Sunday.

A lot ok it is quite flat and tarmac, still pretty views though and it does  mean you cover the ground quickly.

Ta