JASPER AND TOMMY'S ADVENTURES IN SCOTLAND: Crail and Kilminning Coast Wildlife Reserve, East Neuk of Fife

Earlier this month, we visited Crail in the East Neuk of Fife and walked along the Fife Coastal Path to the wildlife reserve at Kilminning. It was a beautiful day; warm but at around 16°C, so not too hot for the dogs. We do get sunshine in Scotland sometimes! The walk also afforded a number of opportunities for the dogs to have a splash in the sea and cool off.

The walk out is 2.5 miles and the return leg 1.8 miles (4.3 miles in total). You'll find toilet facilities at Crail Harbour and at Roome Bay. Maps, further location info and GPX file are included at the end of the article. All the images in the article can be clicked / tapped to enlarge them.

We parked up just off the main drag in Crail (Marketgate). Crail is a picturesque and historic fishing village, with a particularly attractive harbour. It's one of these places where locals take pride in their quaint properties and there are plentiful displays of colourful flowers. We walked through the village passing the Mercat (market) cross, parts of which date from the 17th century. Then onto the High Street and Westgate, passing galleries, cafes and souvenir shops along the way, before turning left down the lovely cobbled, though steep, Hen's Ladder.

"Hen's Ladder and Crail Harbour" (click / tap to enlarge)

Hen's Ladder comes out at the harbour, where we pass some attractive white washed properties and the distinctive "Lobster Cottage", adorned with two lobsters around the window of its little attic room. The cottage dates back to the 1630s! To the left of the cottage is the late 17th century Customs House; note the fishing boat displayed above the gates, which you can also see in the picture below.

"Lobster Cottage, Crail Harbour"

The harbour has plenty of picnic benches and is a great place to stop for an ice cream. There's also a shack selling fresh lobster. We didn't find any doggie ice cream for Jasper and Tommy but I must admit they did get a little vanilla instead!

"Crail Harbour"

Leaving the harbour, our route ascends to Castle Walk and out along the coast.

"View of Castle Walk from the harbour"

"We passed a garden with a Jolly Roger flying in it"

Along much of our route, the Isle of May can be seen off the coast, in the distance. It's a nature reserve where you'll find puffins and seals. There are boat trips to the island from Anstruther (further south along the coast) but dogs are not permitted.

"Looking out towards the Isle of May" (click / tap image for larger photo)

We pass the site of an old mill (Kings Mill) and on to a wide grassy area at Roome Bay. You will also see the distinctive white 16th century Priory Doocot (dovecote) on the left. We continue on towards Sauchope Links Holiday Park.

"Tommy having a rest at a water stop for the dogs"

"Coastal path towards Sauchope Links Holiday Park"

Our route goes through the extensive holiday park. Be aware of cars when walking through it as it can be quite busy. We then continue onwards into Kilminning Coast Wildlife Reserve. Rare plants grow on the grasslands and wetlands here. It's also a haven for birds and dolphins can apparently be spotted offshore sometimes.

"Approach to the nature reserve"

"Jasper guarding a rock"

"Kilminning Coast Wildlife Reserve"

Our outward walk ends just before the historic Crail Golfing Society course. The Kilminning Wildlife Reserve car park is nearby, thus affording us the opportunity to continue further along the coastal path from this point in the future. If you decide to venture further, be aware of golfers as you'll be walking across the trajectory of their golf balls at times. This applies both at the Crail course and at the other golf course further along at Kingsbarns. As for us, we retraced our steps back along our route, cutting back up to the car past the Priory Doocot.