[Closed] Fife Coastal Path : Crail to St.Andrews

I walked it last year. From memory it would be rideable but very slow with it winding around a lot and taking the long way round. Path varies from tarmac to mud. I don't remember any steps on that section

Geograph is good for checking photos of the route
http://www.geograph.org.uk/

IMO would be a PITA as a commute and much longer than you would imagine from map.

Get a road bike and enjoy a fast ride into town that way. Glorious views and fast descent into the old grey toon from Kinkell down. More tiring ride back!

Cars do tend to hammer down the middle section with some right bends - golfers late for their tee times at Kinsbarns or St A!!!

Better road riding. Pretty quiet around there anyway

Kings barns to St Andrews has a lot of steps. I've ridden the full route on the crosser. Lots of fun but will take you longer than you think.

What Sanny says. It doesn't flow very well and in summer it's a very hard ride once all the grass starts growing and the trail is difficult to see.
The beach is better for riding on in a lot of parts.

Wot Sanny says - wouldn't even consider the path. Road fine.
Love Crail. Very envious......

Lovely bit of the world, but I'm not sure I'd fancy the road ride twixt Crail and St Andrews TBH. Fast narrow country lanes with poor lines of sight.....

Its a great walk.

I'd happily cycle it.

But commuting.... you'll attempt that once!

I wouldn't commute on it.
The farmer at Kinkell overwinters his cattle on the foreshore so the section from the steps up to the castle course to the rock & spindle turns into a quagmire.
Last time I rode it (St Andrews to Kingsbarns) I remember carrying the bike quite a lot.

Cheers folks, looks like it isn't a goer. Will stick to the road I think, although having driven the coastal road a few times, i tend to agree it is a bit dodgy in places..will see if it feels dodgy, and if so, will just go a longer way round inland.

I wouldn't describe the A917 as dodgy, but between the broken surface and impatient drivers, its not that pleasant to ride on.

If I was commuting from Crail i'd take B940->B9131 and turn off onto minor road at Stravithie

would agree with andy ^

I have had a few scary moments on the main road and the roads via Stravithie are much quieter and free of drink-driving students than in the past!!

Another +1 for Stravithie route, I reckon there's only a mile or so extra in it. Too many local loons thinking they know the road and driving like tits on the A917.

The main road also suffers because it's how people get to Crail raceway so can have a disproportionate number of people in comically lowered Fiestas pretending they are Lewis Hamilton.

Also, the coastal route heading West from Crail is great.

Didnt realise how many folk on here were acquainted with this neck of the woods, 35 years ago i used to blast on these roads with my Mexico occasionally hanging the tail out on a muddy or frosty surface, whereas now older and wiser walk bits of the beach on a clear day. Try to avoid St Andrews 25 miles from Crail but can't seem to shake off Fife

I'm moving over from near Stirling (Dollar), I think it's going to be a wee shock to the system being so isolated out on the East Neuk. Excited though!

Hoping the views from the rented house will make up for it:

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It will be a shock as it takes ages to get anywhere, get used to the haar when everyone a few miles inland is basking in sunshine, last weeks weather from the East would have been 10x worse in Crail.
Im guessing your either an artist,organic herb grower, maybe a craft beer brewer from a shed, painter and decorator or rich retired person

haha my money's on the last one if they are moving from Dollar!

Starting work at St Andrews university..? I live out that way, but not quite as far East as Crail. It is true that getting out of Fife from the East Neuk does take a while..!

The odd one to me is why they sign post you to Edinburgh via yj A92 rather than staying on the A91* thru Auchtermuchty. I stick to the old route.

haha my money's on the last one if they are moving from Dollar!

Oy! I'm a poor 34 year old software developer! If I was rich and retired I'd be able to buy a house over there.

Edit-

Starting work at St Andrews university..?

Yep working at St Andrews Uni 🙂

The Uk's finest Uni - bravo!!

Enjoy it - if you are a golfer, I assume you are aware of the different rates depending on whether you live in the town or various areas in Fife.

I used to live in Pittenweem and commuted to St Andrews inland and it was fine. Nice ride actually, although the headwinds are mind bending around there. And whatever happens to you on those roads think yourself lucky you aren't guiding a Saudi prince that all the traffic stops for at home and his entourage of 30 non cyclists along it with local traffic being unsympathetic. Hell of a day at work, that....

Top tip, get an electric blanket. I lived right on the sea front in Pittenweem and even in July it was bloody cold.

Nice place to live and ride. The Uni club was great when I was there, we are having a reunion next month. PhilH on here is a regular local rider, he is in charge of the bouncers at the union.

Cheers guys, all good info. Are there many local decent sized road bunches around? I tend to head out Saturday mornings with Stirling BC for a 70-90miler and was hoping for a club over there with similar runs?

I don't specifically know but i'd be surprised if there wasn't.

Speak to Spokes Cycles in St Andrews, the owner and local Zyro rep are part of a big local club run. Can't remember what the club name was but they do training every week.

There is a Saturday training run starting Uthroggle west of Cupar by the time you cycle to Cupar uphill most of the way with the South Westerly in your face all the way up you will be warmed up
20 miles at a decent pace ups and downs loads of them
An easy 30 mile cool down to Crail