The Binn and Kinghorn Loch, from Burntisland

The steep escarpment of the Binn is a dramatic backdrop for Burntisland, and provides stunning views over the town and across the Forth. The history is interesting too, as the route continues to Kinghorn loch. The return can done along the coast and beaches if the tide is low; otherwise there's a pavement alongside the road.

Terrain

Varied - waymarked paths on grass and in woods; also tracks, lanes and beach if the tidal alternative is taken.

Public Transport

Good transport links to Burntisland - both bus and rail.

Start

Links Place car park, Burntisland. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance

10.5km / 6.5 miles

Time

3 - 3.5 hours

Ascent

242m (Profile)

Start Grid Ref

NT229862

Mapping and GPS

Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk is described from the Links Place car park in Burntisland; there are public toilets here. Begin the walk by heading past the loos to the junction at the end of the High Street, then head left along it, passing the shops. Keep ahead at the mini-roundabout, noting the town hall or Burgh Chambers building on your left. Take the next right turn, up Lothian Street. This climbs steeply, then descends with the Binn well seen ahead. Keep straight ahead at the traffic lights, continuing until a t-junction with the main A921 Aberdour road. Go left here, ignore Church St immediately off on your right, but take the next right - Grange Road.

Stage 2

Keep ahead along Grange Road, eventually passing the beautiful old distillery building. When the tarmac road bends left into Grange House Gardens, keep ahead on the unsurfaced private road to reach a gap in a wall with the main A909 just beyond. Turn very briefly left along this, then right onto a narrow path into the woods on the far side (signed Paths to the Binn, but can be obstructed by the trees). The path heads up steps into the trees; keep ahead until the wood is left at a stile.

Stage 3

Now follow the path ahead through the grassy field until a t-junction with a larger path. Turn right here - signed for Kinghorn and the Binn. The path heads through a gate and continues as a grassy track uphill, with views of Binn Pond on your left. Look out for a signpost ("The Binn") that indicates where to turn off to the right, climbing a steep grassy slope.

Stage 4

At the top of the slope the escarpment is reached and the walk continues along it - with stunning aerial views over Burntisland to the right. Across the Forth, Edinburgh and its hills are well seen if the weather is good. The route undulates along the escarpment. Eventually a viewpoint indicator is reached at the highest point.

Stage 5

Continue along the escarpment, which becomes less dramatic. Cross a stone stile over a wall and keep downhill ahead. The path curves right. There's a metal barrier on the right where a path leads off down through the trees - a shortcut back to Burntisland - but our route keeps ahead, passing a big boulder and continuing with a fence on your left. This was the site of Binnend village, built in the 1880s to house workers who produced shale oil from the deposits here. It was a dirty job and accommodation conditions were very cramped; when the oil works closed the village declined and the roofs were removed in the 1930s - by which time there was still no piped water, electricity or sanitation. You wouldn't guess by the pleasant wooded path enclosed between two fences. Keep ahead as the route passes a picnic area.

Stage 6

Eventually the path emerges on the B923 road. Turn left here for around 150m, then go left again onto a cinder path signed for Kinghorn Loch. Keep ahead when a path joins from the left. Ignore the narrow path signed for a viewpoint on the right - it's completely obscured by trees. However, at a sign for the Ecology Centre, turn right onto a path in the woods. This eventually leads to a junction near the loch shores - turn left. Pass a locked hide and keep right at a fork. Kinghorn loch was heavily polluted by the 1980s, but projects to clean it up have been a great success, and it's a beautiful place. The path emerges through a gate at another picnic area, this time by Craigencalt Mill. Follow the driveway track, but when it bends left away from the loch go straight ahead - signed for the Ecology Centre.

Stage 7

The Ecology Centre is a charity which gives people direct experience of working with - and learning about - the natural environment. Pass the passivehaus building - which has a cafe - then bear right onto a path by the loch shores. Continue along the path, eventually crossing the loch outflow at a small bridge. The main road is reached beyond - turn left along the pavement, then cross and take the path off on the right - signed for Kinghorn by the burnside path. The path runs along the field edge and then - you guessed it - along the side of a burn. Keep ahead when it joins a surfaced path at a bend. This eventually leads into housing - go right here, up the grassy slopes, to pass the sheds. Leave the tarmac again at a bend to head across the grass to the left of the golf course. You'll eventually emerge near the clubhouse- go down to the main road.

Stage 8

Turn right along the road, which has a pavement all the way back to Burntisland at the start of the walk. If the tide is out - but only then - it is possible to take the first road off on the left, pass the railway and cemetery and then turn right down steps to reach the beach. The coastline can then be walked back to Burntisland - but note that if the tide is more than half way in, the route is impassable where the railway embankment slopes steeply down into the sea - so do check before embarking on this option.

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