Walk: Pittenweem to Crail – exploring the East Neuk

📌 Pittenweem, Fife
★★★

This straightforward and scenic coast path in southeast Fife connects three of the East Neuk’s most picture-perfect fishing villages: Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail in southeast Fife. On a clear day there are fantastic views towards the Isle of May out to sea, as well as the lump of North Berwick Law on the other side of the Firth of Forth. Closer to hand, interesting rock formations include fossilised tree trunks at Caiplie, and the curious Caiplie Caves rock formations a mile before Crail; meanwhile, the stony foreshore offers excellent possibilities for rockpooling at various points on the route. Foodies are in for a treat too, with such gems as the Pittenweem Chocolate Company and the Anstruther Fish Bar to pull at your purse strings. This is a linear walk, so hop on one of the frequent buses to return to the start, or double back on foot.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start at Viewforth Place (A917), Pittenweem

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 547026

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.213956,-2.732711

🏁 Finish at High Street (A917), Crail

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 612076

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.259678,-2.627539

🚌 Bus to Pittenweem (walk start), & from Crail (walk finish)

🚗 Car parks / street parking (walk start or finish) – with bus connection to other end of route

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 60 m | ⌚ 2.5-3 hr | ⚠️ Linear route

Features: 🏠 Pittenweem ★★★ & village sights; 🏠 Anstruther ★★★ & village sights; 🌲 Caiplie Fossil Tree; ⛰️ Caiplie Caves / The Coves; 🏠 Crail ★★★

⬤ Easy | Clear paths: generally gentle gradients but with some mud.

➡️ Eastbound linear walk: start – Pittenweem & village sights – Anstruther & village sights – Cellardyke – Caiplie Fossil Tree – Caiplie Caves / The Coves – finish & Crail

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep, cows, pigs; shore / hermit crabs and small fish in rockpools; goosanders, eiders, seagulls.* Pigs, goats & a few seabirds.**

Weather: Varying between overcast & full sunshine, temperature reaching 20°C in sunny periods.* Dry with almost unbroken sunshine, a few degrees above freezing.**

*July 2019 / **December 2012