Walk through centuries of history and scenic beauty on the Fife Pilgrim Way, Scotland’s waymarked long-distance trail from North Queensferry or Culross to St?Andrews. Covering approximately 103?km (64?miles), this route links historic towns, quiet villages, and rolling countryside across the heart of Fife, offering a journey rich in heritage, coastal vistas, and peaceful rural landscapes.

Designed to support walkers on their Fife pilgrimage, this guidebook brings together clear, step-by-step route guidance, essential mapping and practical insight, helping you walk with confidence whether you’re tackling the full trail or breaking it into shorter sections. With generally gentle terrain and a mix of country paths, farm tracks and quiet roads, the Fife Pilgrim Way is ideal for walkers seeking a beginner-friendly multi-day walk with depth and discovery at every stage.

• The route is split into 6 stages of between 14 and 16km, with an optional first stage from North Queensferry, each with detailed route description and 1:50,000 OS mapping for ease of navigation 
• Practical planning tools such as a handy facilities planner, route summary tables and suggested itineraries ranging between 3 and 6 days allow you to tailor the trail to your own pace and preferences
• Refreshment and accommodation information is provided for each stage, along with public transport details, so you can arrange logistics without guesswork
• Notes on local history, archaeology, landscape and culture enrich the walking experience, illuminating the heritage of the Kingdom of Fife from medieval pilgrimage to industrial communities
• Downloadable GPX files are included, offering a digital navigation option for use on phones or GPS devices

From the Burgh of Culross with its palace and abbey, or the iconic Forth Rail Bridge, through the historic streets of Dunfermline and the gentle rolling hills of central Fife, to the coastal grandeur of St?Andrews, the Fife Pilgrim Way blends scenic walking with rich storytelling. Along the way, with the help of your trusted, comprehensive guidebook, you’ll discover ancient churches, medieval remains, former mining communities, parklands and quiet villages that together make this walk as much about place as distance.

Author Highlight

“Whether you walk one kilometre or one hundred, you will experience a landscape steeped in history from ancient times to modern day. This experience will change you, deepening your connection to this place, and that is what the adventure of walking the Fife Pilgrim Way is all about: connection to the age-old yet ever-changing land of Fife.”

- Shana Lee Hirsch, one of the authors of Walking the Fife Pilgrim Way

Overview profile/staging options

Route summary table

Stage facilities planner

Introduction

The Fife Pilgrim Way

Outline of the route

A landscape of beliefs

Planning your trip

Route options

When to go

Getting there and around

Accommodation

Refreshments

What to bring

Children and pets

On the trail

Using this guide

Finding your way

Challenges 

About Fife

A brief history

Natural history

The Fife Pilgrim Way

Stage 1 Culross to Dunfermline

Stage 1A North Queensferry to Dunfermline

Stage 2 Dunfermline to Kelty

Stage 3 Kelty to Leslie

Stage 4 Leslie to Kennoway

Stage 5 Kennoway to Ceres

Stage 6 Ceres to St Andrews

Appendix A Accommodation

Appendix B Churches along the FPW

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Further reading

Seasons

While traversing the Fife Pilgrim Way is possible at any time of year, it is most enjoyable in the spring, summer or autumn months. The long days of summer provide generous time for walking.

Centres

Culross, North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Dunfermline, Kingseat, Kelty, Crosshill, Kinglassie, Leslie, Glenrothes, Markinch, Kennoway, Ceres, St Andrews.

Difficulty

Varied paths, from pavements, gravel roads and farm tracks to public footpaths. Some elevation gain around small hills, but generally easy walking. No special gear required.

Must See

Historic Burgh of Culross with palace and abbey, Forth Rail Bridge, Inverkeithing Hospitium, Dunfermline Abbey, Lochore Meadows Country Park, former mining communities, St. Ninian’s Mine, Balfarg Henge, Markinch, River Leven, Clatto Hill, Fife Folk Museum, Historic Ceres, Craigtoun Country Park, St. Andrews cathedral, castle and St. Rule’s Tower.

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