This section of the walk is 9.5 miles / 15.2 Km in length, starting from the Promenade at the centre of Leven and ending in the centre of Elie outside the Parish Church.
For a detailed directional description of the Path based on Ordnance Survey Reference Numbers link to the appropriate “Walkers Details” section.

The starting point is likely to be determined by any overnight stop in Leven but it is best to pick up the route on the esplanade close to the small roundabout. Continue on the esplanade to near its end then turn inland to the road beside the Golf Course. Proceed along this track to a car park and caravan park. From here the route to Lundin links is by the beach or the dunes, running at the side of the golf courses of Leven and then after crossing the Silverburn that of Lundin Links.

To enter Lundin Links the walkers has to cross to the inland side of the course, so take care crossing the fairways. The path now enters the outskirts of the village and although the path will take you round by the clubhouse and then back onto a rock coastal path, the walker may want to visit this holiday village, very different in style to the earlier Fife villages.

After the way passes the clubhouse the trail is by a coastal, parkland, then narrow lane before exiting onto a quite road leading down to Lower Largo. This is a quaint village lying to the south of Largo Law and was the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the sailor immortalised as Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. On leaving Lower Largo the trail takes to the track bed of the old railway line for about a mile until arriving at the Dumbarnie Wildlife Reserve.

The picture on the right is the home of Alexander Selkirk with a statue of him above the doorway.

Passing through the corner of the reserve the route is once again onto the wide-open sandy beach heading towards the eastern end of Largo Bay. There are two small burns to negotiate before entering into the Shell Bay caravan park. This is straightforward over wooden bridges and the signing is very obvious. On the seaward side of the defined path is Shell Bay but the trail only touches it at the eastern end as the walk resumes a grassy coastal path.

The path is now approaching Kincraig point and just before this point the track starts to climb up the hill to get round what is now a rocky coastal section all the way to the beach at Earlsferry.

At this point the Firth of Forth starts to extend even more dramatically in terms of width and the coastline could now be regarded as being onto the North Sea. Out to the east is the Isle of May, which is a haven for sea birds.

Along the top of the cliffs the walker will see the remains of World War II look out posts and gun placements. This vantage point on a clear day offers commanding views doth to the sea and inland over vast expanses of Fife.

The path descends to the corner of Earlsferry Golf Course then onto the beach or the dunes. Towards the south east of the bay the path cuts over the course, as with Lundin Links, be careful crossing the fairways. There is now a pavement walk along the main street of Earlsferry and then into Elie. This is a very residential community with some very large and well established properties. Close to the post office the road meets the main A917 road at a 90 degree corner and adjacent to the church. This is effectively the end of the section, but if the walker is to turn down one of the street on the right they will quickly access the seafront and the bay between Chapel Ness and Elie Ness.

To move on to the next section of the Path click here.

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