5 Spring Walks to enjoy in Fife

Spring is the perfect time to get a little bit more exercise and fresh air, and discover Fife's great outdoors. The days are getting longer and the colourful spring flowers are blooming. The Kingdom has lots of options for making the most of the season and we've got some suggestions to get you started.

1. Balbirnie Park

Spring is the perfect time to visit Balbirnie Park in Markinch. It's home to an an extensive collection of unusual rhododendrons which are bursting into life. The park is the old estate grounds around Balbirnie House (which is now a hotel). There's a great network of paths running through the park including the Fife Pilgrim Way. 

2. St Andrews Botanic Gardens

One of the best places in Fife to see spring taking shape is St Andrews Botanic Garden. With woodland walks, meadows, ponds and living laboratories, there are lots of spaces to explore, places to rest and a friendly welcome. Take your time and enjoy the 18-acre site including a rock garden, rhododendron glade, pond, pinetum and much more! Don't miss the visitor centre and gift shop too.

3. Explore Culross

The village of Culross is like step back in time to the 17th-18th centuries thanks to the loving care of the National Trust for Scotland. Take a leisurely stroll round the village to admire the many beautifully restored buildings and visit Culross Palace - make sure you spend some time in the delightful garden which is a re-creation, incorporating features that would have been found in a garden of the early 17th century. If you want to explore a bit further Culross is on both the Fife Coastal Path and the Fife Pilgrim Way.

4. St Monans - Pittenweem - Anstruther 

This part of the Fife Coastal Path beginning at St Monans is a gem. Start at the harbour with its quirky welly boot garden on the shore, and pass the old windmill, which used to pump water for the saltpans. You will also pass St Monans Tidal Pool which has been beautifully restored by the local community. The route from here is quite straightforward and well signposted, just look out for the Fife Coastal Path arrows. Pittenweem is a working Harbour and if you get there early enough in the morning you can watch the fishermen return with their catch and haggle in the fish market on the seafront. The pretty colourful houses that line the waterfront are seriously Instagram-worthy. 

Continue on the Fife Coastal Path with a lovely walk along the sea cliffs, skirting the edge of the golf course to reach Anstruther. There are loads of quirky little independent shops and places to eat and drink here, including the famous fish and chips, and it's the place to catch a boat trip to see the puffins on the Isle of May. 

5. Pittencrieff Park

Spring is a great time to visit Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline with the stunning cherry blossom trees in full bloom. You'll need a few hours to fully explore the park (known as The Glen by locals) with its woodland walks, waterfalls, formal gardens, historic sites, wonderful views and wide open spaces. If you're lucky you might spot the resident Peacocks which have the freedom of the city!