Photo Gallery - Anstruther to Kingbarns : 14^th Jun 2009 

Leader: Ken Gemmell

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan The appeal of the Fife Coastal Path once again drew Duncanrig Rambling Club to the eastern kingdom for a 10-mile walk from Anstruther to Kings Barns with the possibility of a shorter 7-mile version. From the start of the walk at Anstruther harbour the party strolled through the quiet streets of the town in the June sunshine to Cellardyke for an early teabreak then took to the pleasant grassy track alongside the rugged coast with the hazy outline of the Isle of May on the horizon. The light sea breeze kept the temperature at a comfortable level and the direction of the breeze carrying the tang of the sea helped to minimise any potentially negative odours from the adjacent free-range pig farm with its lazing adults and scurrying, playful youngsters. This idyllic scene characterised the atmosphere of the day as the ramblers made their steady progress past the weather-beaten sandstone rocks and caves towards their first climb which took them above then through Crail with its stoutly protected harbour and picturesque cottages. The nesting fulmars on the cliff below made their concerns known as the photographers paused to record the scene from their viewpoint. The grassy slope provided the perfect lunch spot before leaving the town took the walkers past gardens sporting yuccas reminiscent of the Mediterranean. This section saw the group snaking through corridors of gorse and roses past banks of red campion and yellow iris to the raised beach of the Kilminning Coast Nature Reserve where the northern marsh orchid was in flower and the unkempt blackthorn provides shelter for migrant birds. The last mile of the short walk over irregular rocky footing kept the eyes down as the hikers passed the coastguard station en route to Balcomie, the first of the frequent ( some might say too frequent) links golf courses on the Fife coast where the 2 groups separated after a short break. The protection of the small bays provided a shelter for the many camouflaged ducklings and the attendant adults sighted in passing. A threatening cloud dropped a light shower of refreshing rain on the main group as they tiptoed past the golfers on Kings Barns course and completed their walk with half a mile of road up to the town and the waiting coach which took them to Falkland for a social hour before delivering them home to East Kilbride after a wonderfully varied visit to the coast.