Aberdour to Burntisland coast walk by Silver Sands

A walk · Aberdour

Aberdour to Burntisland – Harbour, Headland and Silver Sands

About 3.5 miles on foot.

Aberdour has a small harbour, a rocky headland and one of the best-loved beaches in Fife, all close to its station.

This walk takes in the three of them and then carries on along the Fife Coastal Path to Burntisland, through woods beside the railway and past a waterfall that has turned its own rock white. It's three and a half miles one way, with a bus or a train back.

Time: About two hours one way: 5.7 km (3.5 miles) by our own measure on the map. The number 7 bus back takes a quarter of an hour.
The path: A coast path with a climb over the Hawkcraig, uneven in places and muddy under the trees after rain.
Where to start: Aberdour's village car park beside the railway station, free. If it's full, the Silver Sands car park at the east end of the village: the first two hours free, then £3, by cash or card at the machine, open 6am to 11pm.
When to go: All year in daylight. The number 7 bus back runs every half hour on weekdays until 6.05pm. From November to January set off by 1pm.
Dogs: Kept close: the path runs along the top of the headland and then beside the railway.
Children: Three and a half miles is a long way for small legs. Silver Sands, just over a mile from the start, is far enough for young children.
Toilets: Public toilets in Aberdour, near the start. The toilets at Silver Sands open for the season only, so don't count on them in winter.
Before you set out: The headland at the Hawkcraig has unfenced edges. The Silver Sands car park is open 6am to 11pm.

The walk

Park in Aberdour's village car park beside the railway station, which is free. If it's full, the Silver Sands car park at the east end of the village is free for two hours and £3 after that. The Fife Coastal Path runs east from Aberdour to Burntisland. By our own measure on the map it's 5.7 km, or three and a half miles, one way, and it takes about two hours. Aberdour's little harbour comes first. Then the path climbs over the Hawkcraig, a rocky headland with a small orange and white beacon on it.

Silver Sands is on the far side, a curve of pale sand under wooded slopes that looks out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm. The beach has a café. Beyond it the path runs on through woodland beside the railway to the Starley Burn. The water there is so full of lime that it has coated the rock of its waterfall white. Then it's on by the line into Burntisland. The path is firm for most of the way, but it gets muddy under the trees after rain.

For the way back, Stagecoach's number 7 bus leaves the Porte stop in Burntisland for Aberdour at 5 and 35 minutes past the hour on weekdays, until 6.05pm, and takes a quarter of an hour. At weekends the times differ, so read the timetable before you set out. Both places have a railway station on the same line as well. From November to January, set off by 1pm.

If it rains

The trees give some shelter between Silver Sands and Burntisland, but the Hawkcraig is open to the wind and the woodland path turns muddy. On a wet day, walk to Silver Sands and back, which is about an hour.

Before you go

Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
8 miles awayWest End MuseSleeps 4 8 miles awayOld Town ChambersA place to stay 9 miles awayMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2 10 miles awayThe Scott HotelA hotel

Find out more

For further reading, before you go.