King James VI of Scotland described Fife as a 'beggar's mantle fringed with gold' - the golden fringe being the coast and its chain of little ports with their thriving fishing fleets and rich trading links with the Low Countries.   The Fife Coastal Path explores a large part of Fife's coastline from the Firth of Forth in the south to the Firth of Tay in the north.   It is an area of low cliffs, rocky bays, grass-tufted dunes, long sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages.   All along the coast are abundant reminders of Scotland's rich history - caves with prehistoric paintings, castles, tollbooths, 'doocots', chapels, churches, watch houses, harbours, pilgrims caves, red-roofed 'little houses' and world famous golf courses.

Highlights of the trail include the charming East Neuk fishing villages with their tiny harbours surrounded by piles of lobster creels and whitewashed cottages with pan-tiled roofs and crow-stepped gables; the views from the Binn, Largo Law and Kincraig Hill; the home of Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe'; the monument where Alexander III was thrown from his horse and killed, an event that completely changed the course of Scottish history; the finest Romanesque church in Scotland at Leuchars; and St Andrews, a beautiful little town with an ancient university, a ruined 12^th century castle, the impressive ruins of the largest cathedral in Scotland and the home of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the game's governing body.

The Fife coast is a haven for wildlife.   Grey seals bask on the rocks and the offshore islands and cliffs are home to thousands of seabirds including puffins, terns, fulmars and gannets.

Crail © BOV