Fife bikepacking route

Fife Bikepacking Route

Come and explore the Kingdom by bike

Discover fife on a bikepacking adventure

ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS

Fife's breathtaking coastline
Scenic views of remote landscapes along the Ochil and Lomond Hills
Rich history and heritage
Picturesque countryside
A great selection of places to eat and drink and stay

Embark on an adventure through Fife with Roughstuffing, a year-round bikepacking route that promises to uncover hidden gems and well-known landmarks like St Andrews and the East Neuk.

Covering 151 miles of paths, trails, and roads, this journey of discovery offers something for everyone, whether you tackle it in one go or explore sections at a time.

The essentials:
Cycling distance: 243km (151 miles)
Ascent: 2,370m (7,776ft) 2,800m (9,186ft)
% of route off-road: 53
Difficulty: Challenging
Terrain: Gravel paths, roads, cycle paths and singletrack

From city to seaside

The route starts in the historic city of Dunfermline passing through its wonderful Heritage Quarer and sights including majestic Dunfermline Abbey. Continue through Pittencrieff Park which is a wonderful green space in the heart of the city and join the Fife Pilgrim Way to head towards Rosyth. The route picks up the Fife Coastal Path and takes you to North Queensferry with the three bridges towering above, including the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge, then through Dalgety Bay towards the charming village of Aberdour.

From here you will turn inland passing through rolling countryside with some great views across the Forth and beyond before rejoining the Fife Coastal Path at Kirkcaldy. The route stays mainly on the coastal path, going through Ravenscraig Park, home to the ruins of Ravenscraig Castle and Dysart with its historic harbour before heading to the conservation village of West Wemyss and East Wemyss where you'll find the amazing Wemyss Caves with their collection of Pictish carvings. The final stop in this section is Silverburn Park on the edge of Leven.

Roughstuffing in fife bikepacking route at North Queensferry

Coast, countryside & pilgrimage

Discover the delights of the East Neuk of Fife, St Andrews and the north east corner of the Kingdom on this section of our Fife bikepacking route.

At the eastern edge of Levenmouth, Lundin Links and Lower Largo sit on the coast with sweeping views across the Forth. In Lower Largo look our for the statue which inspired the story of Robinson Crusoe and some colourful quirky artworks.

Heading inland you'll pass Dumbarnie Links golf course before going back down to the coast and the lovely villages of Elie & Earlsferry and just along the coast, St Monans. Elie is famous for its beautiful beaches, if you're there in the summer you might catch a game of cricket on the beach! St Monans is picture perfect and a very popular spot to capture that perfect picture.

After another inland section through lovely countryside the route heads back to the coast at Anstruther which is famous for its fish and chips. It's also the starting point for boat trips to the Isle of May where thousands of Puffins make their home in the Spring and summer, and the Scottish Fisheries Museum which tells the story of the Scottish fishing industry.

From Anstruther a cross country route joins the Fife Pilgrim Way and heads onto St Andrews which is known across the world as the home of golf. It's a town packed full of history with its cathedral and castle ruins and ancient university. From St Andrews the NCN route north and east to Tentsmuir Forest which is a magical combination of forest trails that dip and weave between tall trees and open sand dunes. rom here it's a short ride to the Tayport on the north Fife coast.

Bikepacking in Tentsmuir Forest at night

Hills, trails and sweeping views

The north coast of Fife is another area full of natural beauty and delightful towns and villages. The historic town of Newport-on-Tay sits between the two bridge over the Tay - the road and rail bridges - and it was a popular place for wealthy jute barons and other industrialists from just across the water in Dundee to live as you can see in the many grand houses there today.

Our route continues along the coast through Wormit, passing Balmerino with it's abbey ruins and ancient Spanish chestnut tree, which is one of the oldest in the country. Heading west you'll pass Norman's Law (the 11th highest hill in Fife) before reaching Newburgh which is home to Lindores Abbey Distillery, widely recognised as the spiritual home of Scotch whisky with the earliest written reference to the spirit appearing in the exchequer roll of 1494.

From Newburgh the route goes through more beautiful Fife countryside, taking in Pitmedden Forest which is a favourite with gravel and mountain bikers, to Falkland. Scotland's first conservation village is home to the beautiful renaissance Palace which was a favourite of Mary Queen of Scots. Falkland Estate at the edge of the village has a great network of paths and tracks covering 27km of woodland and parkland reaching up into the Lomond Hills.

The heart of Fife

The next section of the route heads into the Lomond Hills, crossing between East and West Lomond which are the two highest hills in Fife. From the hills the route goes down to the town of Leslie to pick up the Fife Pilgrim Way which heads south west towards Kinglassie which was a popular resting point for pilgrims making their way to St Andrews.

From Kinglassie the route goes to Lochore Meadows Country Park which has over 1200 acres to explore. There are extensive walking and bike trails and and it has an incredible variety of habitats including wildflower meadows, park land, ancient woodlands and the loch where you can do watersports and fishing (it even has a beach!).

From Lochore the route continues along the Fife Pilgrim Way, heading to Kelty then through beautiful Keltyhill Wood and past the St Ninians Fife Earth Project installations which were part of an ambitious landscape design by renowned landscape architect Charles Jencks. After passing Loch Fitty the route heads south to the City of Dunfermline, back to the start of the circular route.

some route highlights

DAY 1

MORNING

Start your day in the City of Dunfermline. The route takes you through the Heritage Quarter which is well worth exploring. Dunfermline Abbey & Palace is the resting place for some of Scotland’s great kings and queens – including Robert the Bruce. For a pit stop historic Abbot House has a great cafe where you sit outside and admire the view if the weather is good. Enjoy the ride through Pittencrieff Park and look out for the resident peacocks. Make your next stop at North Queensferry where you will get great views of the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge. Don't miss the world's smallest working light tower where you can light the lamp and become an honorary Light Keeper. For lunch Rankin's Cafe is a good option.

AFTERNOON

Enjoy the views along the coast and further inland as you head east into the heartlands of Fife. Stop off in Kirkcaldy where you'll find plenty of places to refuel including the Merchant's House Cafe which is close to the route. Don't forget a selfie at the Heart of Kirkcaldy on the waterfront! Ravenscraig Park with the ruins of Ravenscraig Castle is next and then Dysart with its historic harbour and traditional houses. Heading along the coast you'll come to East Wemyss and the Wemyss Caves with their Pictish carvings.

EVENING

End your day in Leven which has a lovely beach, perfect for a relaxing stroll after a days riding. For dinner try No56 Restaurant & Bar or a wee bit further along the coast The Crusoe.

STAY

Silverburn Park Camping & Glamping Site
The Crusoe
Wigwam Holidays at Montrave Estate

DAY 2

MORNING

Today you'll visit the famous East Neuk of Fife and explore the north east corner of the Kingdom. At the edge of Levenmouth Lower Largo is a haven for artists and was the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the real life Robinson Crusoe. After heading inland you'll rejoin the coast and go through St Monans - look out for the welly boot garden - and Anstruther. The Scottish Fisheries Museum close to Anstruther Harbour has a wonderful collection that tells the story of the Scottish fishing industry. You'll find lots of places to stop for lunch in the area.

AFTERNOON

Fancy a refreshing dip? Cellardyke has a tidal pool with amazing views out over the sea. There is a seaside sauna too - the prefect place to relax and recharge. From the coast the route takes you through rich farmlands to reach St Andrews. Highlights in this historic town include the castle and cathedral ruins, probably the world's most famous golf course - The Old Course - and the sweeping West Sands Beach. There are lots of less well known places to visit too like the Botanic Garden and Heritage Museum & Garden. From St Andrews the route winds round the Eden Estuary to reach Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve. Tentsmuir is a great place for cycling, with a good network of trails. Explore the forest and the sweeping beach, look out for wildlfife like red squirrels, seals and dragonflies. Tentsmuir has been inhabited for thousands of years and the ever-shifting sands regularly reveal evidence of former residents, including Stone Age fire pits, Victorian ice houses and World War 2 tank defences.

EVENING

Head west along the Tay coast, passing through Tayport which used to be the port for ferries across to Dundee, finishing in Newport-on-Tay. For dinner The View and The Shoreline both have a relaxed vibe and amazing views across The Tay.

STAY

The Garden Rooms
Larick Campsite
Sandford country Cottages

The Fife bikepacking route was designed by Bikepacking Scotland - visit their website for detailed route information.

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