The best coastal walks in Scotland

The East Neuk Villages on the Fife Coastal Path

Scotland’s longest coastal path takes you from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde. My favourite sections explore the villages of the East Neuk and are some of the best coastal walks in Scotland.

Elie to St Monans passes the striking Elie Lighthouse and Lady’s Tower at Sauchar Point, a picturesque changing room built for Lady Anstruther in the 1700s so she could bathe in the Forth. Grab lunch at the Ship Inn at Elie which serves up lovely lunches right on the beach. You might even spot a game of cricket being played on the sand.

St Monans to Pittenweem passes the St Monans windmill, a 1770s relic of the salt panning industry which once dotted the coast. Further along, the coastal path passes the ruined and slightly spooky Newark Castle. For lunch try the East Pier Smokehouse or coffee and cake at the Diving Gannet.

Anstruther to Crail visits Cellardyke with its tiny 16th century harbour, also known as Skinfast Haven, once home to more than 50 herring boats. The path passes the Coves (the Caves of Caiplie) once used as an early site of Christian worship and a doocot. The return walk from Anstruther to Crail is around 10 miles. Grab lunch from the Lobster Hut (check for opening) or the Crail Harbour Gallery and tearoom.

Distance: Variable (each village hop is 2 to 4 miles) Difficulty: Easy, mostly flat Best for: village hopping, seafood, families Don’t miss: Lady’s Tower, the Diving Gannet for cake Where to eat: Anstruther Fish Bar for fish and chips, the Lobster Hut in Crail

Walk the Fife Coastal Path along the East Neuk of Fife.

North Berwick to Tantallon Castle

A short, easy and dramatic walk from the seaside town of North Berwick along the East Lothian coast to one of Scotland’s most spectacular castle ruins. The path climbs out of North Berwick past the Glen Golf Course, follows the John Muir Way along the clifftops with constant views of Bass Rock (the world’s largest northern gannet colony), and ends at the red sandstone ruins of Tantallon Castle, perched on a 30-metre cliff opposite the rock.

This is the easiest “wow factor” coastal walk near Edinburgh, and you can extend it by walking on to Seacliff Beach (one of the best beaches on the East Lothian coast) before catching the bus back from Whitekirk.

Distance: 3 miles one way, 6 miles return Difficulty: Easy Best for: an easy day from Edinburgh, dramatic castles, gannets Don’t miss: the views of Bass Rock, the cliff approach to Tantallon Where to eat: the Lobster Shack on North Berwick harbour (seasonal), the Drift Cafe near Seacliff.

Walk from North Berwick to Tantallon.

Blackness Castle along the River Forth

Blackness Castle on the Firth of Forth is not a pretty palace built for kings and queens, but a fortress, the defender of the Royal port of Linlithgow. Built in 1440 and fortified in the 1500s, the castle has been the scene of a great battle with Cromwell’s New Model Army, loyal to Mary Queen of Scots.

Blackness Castle is often called “the ship that never sailed” due to its boat-like appearance from the sea. Its location also makes for some stunning views of the river and across to Fife.

You can visit Blackness Castle by hiking the John Muir Way along the coast from Kinneil to Blackness. This section of the route is 6.5 miles / 10.5 km one way and visits Kinneil Nature Reserve before reaching the coast at Bo’ness. Stop for lunch at the Lobster Pot in Blackness before strolling back.

Distance: 6.5 miles / 10.5 km one way Difficulty: Easy Best for: an easy day from Edinburgh, Outlander fans Don’t miss: Blackness Castle (Fort William in Outlander) Where to eat: the Lobster Pot, Blackness

St Abbs and Coldingham Bay on the Berwickshire Coastal Path

The Berwickshire Coastal Path runs 30 miles from Cockburnspath to Berwick upon Tweed in England, connecting to both the Southern Upland Way to Dumfries and Galloway and to the John Muir Way in East Lothian. From the pretty village of St Abbs you can walk along the clifftop to Eyemouth via Coldingham Bay or north to the St Abbs Nature Reserve.

Coldingham Sands is a gorgeous beach 10 minutes walk along the coastal path from St Abbs. The beach is lined with pretty beach huts and is famed for its surfing.

Take the cliff path north through the St Abbs Head Nature Reserve to the unusually named Pettico Wick Bay, where you can spot the folded rocks and 400 million-year-old pink and purple volcanic lava of the Pettico Wick fault, which form ledges for the seabirds.

For lunch grab locally caught crab sandwiches at Ebb Carr’s Cafe and head to the Visitor Centre for a warm welcome and to find out more about the area.

Distance: Variable (Coldingham to St Abbs is 1.5 miles each way) Difficulty: Easy to moderate Best for: seabirds, geology, families with older children Don’t miss: the volcanic lava at Pettico Wick, surfing at Coldingham Where to eat: Ebb Carr’s Cafe in St Abbs

Visit St Abbs and find more things to do in the Scottish Borders.

Findhorn to Hopeman on the Moray Coast Trail

The Moray Coast Trail stretches 50 miles from Forres to Cullen along the spectacular Moray Firth. My favourite section starts at Findhorn and takes you to Hopeman and its beach.

Most famous for its off-grid eco-community (The Findhorn Foundation) and nearby RAF Kinloss, Findhorn also has a spectacular if windswept 7-mile beach. The village sits at the mouth of the River Findhorn, which has formed a beautiful bay ringed by mudflats and sand dunes. We spotted a colony of grey seals basking out on the sand.

From Findhorn, follow the coastal path to the village of Burghead at the other end of the bay (stop here for lunch at the Bothy in Burghead) and then walk on to Hopeman with its row of pretty beach huts.

Distance: 12 miles one way, easy to break into shorter sections Difficulty: Easy Best for: seals, beach huts, big skies Don’t miss: the painted beach huts at Hopeman Where to eat: the Bothy at Burghead

Read more: Findhorn to Hopeman walk.

Crovie and Pennan, Aberdeenshire

Two of the most extraordinary villages in Scotland sit on the Moray Firth coast in Aberdeenshire, both clinging to the base of cliffs with no road wide enough for a car.

Pennan is famous as the location of Local Hero, the 1983 Bill Forsyth film, and the iconic red phone box still stands on the seafront (the original was a film prop, replaced after the film by a working one). Crovie, half a mile along the coast, is even more striking, a single row of fishermen’s cottages so narrow that residents have to park their cars at the top of the cliff and wheel their groceries down by hand.

The clifftop coastal walk between Crovie and Pennan is short (just over 2 miles return) but spectacular, with views over the Moray Firth and dolphins occasionally breaching offshore. Park at the top of either village and walk down.

Distance: 2 miles return Difficulty: Steep down to villages, easy on the clifftop Best for: Local Hero fans, photography, Aberdeenshire coast Don’t miss: the red phone box at Pennan, the cottage row at Crovie Where to eat: the Pennan Inn.

West Coast and Argyll

Plockton Coast Walk, Wester Ross

Plockton is one of the prettiest villages in Scotland, all white-painted cottages, palm trees (yes, really, thanks to the Gulf Stream) and small boats bobbing in a sheltered bay. The village sits on the north side of Loch Carron looking across to the Applecross hills.

The coastal walk from Plockton runs out along the headland past Duncraig Castle and up to Frithard, with views across to Skye and the Five Sisters of Kintail. Otters are regularly seen in the bay, and Plockton’s Calum’s Seal Trips is one of the best small wildlife boats in Scotland.

Distance: 3 miles return to Frithard Difficulty: Easy Best for: otters, palm trees, a postcard village Don’t miss: the view of the village from the headland, Duncraig Castle Where to eat: the Plockton Inn or the Plockton Hotel

Sand Beach and the Applecross Peninsula

Applecross’s selling point is that it really is at the end of the world. To get here, you either need to brave the famous Bealach na Bà pass or the winding coast road from the neighbouring village of Shieldaig, both of which require nerves of steel from those not used to Scotland’s dramatic west coast roads. For those who do make it, the peninsula is as blissful as it gets.

The North Coast 500 passes the Inn, but don’t just get back in your car. Instead wind your way 7km / 4.25 miles (one way) from Applecross to Sand along the coastal path for a picnic, with views of the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye. Pick up a picnic from The Potting Shed, which is set in the most beautiful walled garden. Book in for lunch or dinner on your return at the Applecross Inn.

Distance: 4.25 miles one way Difficulty: Moderate Best for: views to Skye and Raasay, NC500 stopover Don’t miss: the Walled Garden Cafe, the Applecross Inn at the end Where to eat: the Applecross Inn

Walk from Applecross to Sand.

The Kyles of Bute from Tighnabruaich, Cowal

Say hello to Scotland’s “secret coast”, the Cowal Peninsula. Forming part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and sitting on the spectacular Loch Fyne, the Cowal Peninsula stretches from the pretty town of Inveraray to the stunning Ostel Bay, and right out to sea.

From the hamlet of Tighnabruaich, a coastal path takes you along the edge of the pretty Kyles of Bute (sea channels) to Caladh Lighthouse and Eilean Dubh (the black island) sitting at the mouth of Loch Riddon.

The walk takes about 2 hours, but you can walk as far as you like. You are following the Loch Lomond and Cowal Way which takes you from the Cowal Peninsula to Loch Lomond.

Distance: 4 miles return (extendable) Difficulty: Easy to moderate Best for: quiet coastline, lighthouse views Don’t miss: Caladh Lighthouse, Eilean Dubh Where to eat: The Oystercatcher at Otter Ferry or Inver Restaurant

Read more: how to visit the Cowal Peninsula.

Dunure to Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire Coastal Path

The Ayrshire coastal village of Dunure has a ruined castle with its small labyrinth, and is located on the beautiful Ayrshire Coastal Path.

From Dunure you can walk along the coastal path to visit Culzean Castle. This giant National Trust for Scotland castle and estate sits perched out on the edge of the Ayrshire coast, high on a cliff.

Designed by famous Scottish architect Robert Adam, the castle is surrounded by a 260-hectare country park including its own beaches. Did you know Culzean Castle is pronounced Cul-een and was used as the castle of Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man?

After your walk have lunch in the Harbourside Cafe or dinner and drinks in the Anchorage Inn.

Distance: 5 miles one way Difficulty: Moderate Best for: castles, Wicker Man fans, families Don’t miss: the labyrinth at Dunure, Culzean Castle Where to eat: Harbourside Cafe in Dunure

More things to do in Ayrshire.

The Highlands and NC500

Loch Hourn to Barrisdale Bay, Knoydart

In a country the size of Scotland, it’s surprising that there are still parts of the country so remote that it can take days to get to them. Described as Britain’s last wilderness, Knoydart is only accessible by boat or a 16-mile (26 km) walk in from Kinloch Hourn.

From Kinloch Hourn, an old coastal path takes you out alongside Loch Hourn to Barrisdale Bay and onwards to Inverie, the main settlement on the peninsula. The walk out along one of Scotland’s most dramatic and fjord-like sea lochs can be as long or short as you like.

The full route to Inverie on Knoydart is 15 miles (8 hours), although most people will stop at Barrisdale at 6.75 miles (4 hours) where there is a campsite for the night before continuing on, or returning back to civilisation. Look out for stunning rhododendrons, otters, deer, and even dolphins.

In summer, a small boat service can be arranged to take you back from Barrisdale Bay to Kinloch Hourn. If you do reach Inverie, then there is a passenger ferry boat to take you back to Mallaig.

The walk forms part of the Cape Wrath Trail.

Distance: 13.5 miles return to Barrisdale, 30 miles return to Inverie Difficulty: Hard, remote Best for: wilderness, otters and red deer Don’t miss: the rhododendrons in late spring, the Knoydart pub at Inverie Where to eat: The Old Forge in Inverie (Britain’s most remote pub) if you make it that far

Read more: how to visit Kinloch Hourn.

Sanna Bay from Portuairk, Ardnamurchan

Looking for Scotland’s best beach? Let me introduce you to Sanna Bay on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, one of Scotland’s hidden gems and one of the best views in Scotland.

At the very end of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula is Sanna Bay, an incredible sweep of white sand, turquoise seas and stunning views of the Small Isles Rùm, Eigg, and Muck. While you can get to Sanna by car, my favourite way to visit is to walk from the hamlet of Portuairk along the coastal path.

Portuairk holds the claim to being the most westerly settlement on the British mainland, and the crofting cottages hug the coastline and appear in the most spectacular locations.

Walking from Portuairk means you arrive at Sanna high above the bay, where the view across the beach reveals sea so blue it needs no editing. The path leads down to the beach with its beautiful white sands.

Distance: 4 miles return Difficulty: Moderate Best for: white sand, views to the Small Isles Don’t miss: the first view of Sanna from above the bay Where to eat: the Kilchoan Hotel on the way back

Walk to Sanna from Portuairk.

John O’Groats and Duncansby Head, Caithness

Take a walk out from John o’Groats along the Pentland Firth to view Duncansby’s huge sea stacks and visit the Duncansby Head Lighthouse, with a visit to Roberts Haven, the Ness of Duncansby and the sandy sweep of the Bay of Sannick.

This 8km round trip walk takes you along the coast of the Pentland Firth. Nicknamed the “Hells Mouth” by sailors, the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea around the Pentland Skerries islands, leading to huge swells, eddies and dramatic tides. The tides even have names, including the Bore of Huna and the wells of Tuftalie.

Distance: 5 miles / 8 km Difficulty: Easy Best for: sea stacks, end-of-Britain feeling Don’t miss: the Duncansby Stacks Where to eat: Stacks Coffee House at John o’Groats, the Storehouse at the Castle of Mey

Hike the Pentland Firth coastal walk to Duncansby Stacks and find more things to do in Caithness.

Dunnet Head, Caithness

The most northerly point of mainland Britain, Dunnet Head sits on the Pentland Firth opposite the Orkney island of Hoy and provides one of the best clifftop walks on the NC500. The lighthouse, built by Robert Stevenson in 1831, sits at the edge of 100-metre cliffs alive with seabirds in summer (puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes and razorbills all nest here).

On a clear day you can see the cliffs of Hoy across the Pentland Firth and the Old Man of Hoy sea stack. Even on a wet day the walk is dramatic. Bring binoculars.

The walk along the headland from the car park to the lighthouse is short and easy. For a longer walk, follow the cliffs east to Briga Head and Easter Head.

Distance: Variable (lighthouse 1 mile return, full headland circuit 4 miles) Difficulty: Easy Best for: puffins, the most northerly mainland viewpoint, NC500 stops Don’t miss: Briga Head, the views to Hoy Where to eat: the Storehouse at the Castle of Mey, Cocoa Mountain in Durness

Walk to Dunnet Head.

Sandwood Bay, Sutherland

The most spectacular beach in mainland Britain, and only reachable on foot. Sandwood Bay sits on the far north-west coast, about 5 miles south of Cape Wrath, and the only way in is a 4-mile walk across moorland from the road end at Blairmore near Kinlochbervie.

The reward is a mile of pink sand backed by towering dunes, the Am Buachaille sea stack at the southern end, and not another soul as far as you can see. Allow 4 hours for the round trip plus time on the beach. Take everything with you. There is nothing at the bay.

Distance: 8 miles return Difficulty: Moderate (boggy in places) Best for: the wildest beach in Scotland Don’t miss: the Am Buachaille sea stack Where to eat: Kinlochbervie has a small shop, otherwise drive on to the Old School Restaurant at Inshegra

Walk to Sandwood Bay.

Cape Wrath, Sutherland

The most remote walk in Britain. Cape Wrath is the north-west tip of mainland Scotland, accessed only by a small foot ferry across the Kyle of Durness followed by a minibus or a long walk to the lighthouse. Beyond the cape stretches Britain’s largest training range and some of the wildest coastline in Europe.

For ambitious walkers, the Cape Wrath Trail is a 230-mile route from Fort William to Cape Wrath, often called the toughest long-distance walk in Britain.

For everyone else, the day trip from Durness is genuinely unforgettable. Ferry, minibus, lighthouse, lunch at the Ozone Cafe, and back.

Distance: Variable (day trip easy, full trail 230 miles) Difficulty: Day trip easy, full trail very hard Best for: edge-of-the-world feeling, big wilderness Don’t miss: the Ozone Cafe at the lighthouse, Britain’s most remote Where to eat: Cocoa Mountain in Durness for chocolate, Mac and Wild in Durness for dinner

Read more: the Cape Wrath ferry.

The Islands

Handa Island, Assynt

Just off the remote north-west coast of Scotland lies Handa, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands and a nationally important wildlife reserve.

Home to puffins, rare bonxies, stunning views of the Assynt mountains and one of Scotland’s best beaches, it will take you around 2 hours to fully walk around the island’s 4-mile circular boardwalk path, longer if you stop every few seconds to scan the cliffs for puffins.

Handa Island sits off the far north-west coast of Scotland in the Sutherland region, 45 minutes north of Lochinver and 50 minutes south of Durness.

The Handa Island ferry departs from the tiny settlement of Tarbet, 10 minutes north of Scourie down a single-track road. The ferry is a modern passenger RIB which takes up to 12 people at a time.

Distance: 4 miles circular Difficulty: Easy (boardwalk path) Best for: puffins, bonxies, views to the Old Man of Stoer Don’t miss: the Great Stack of Handa Where to eat: the Shorehouse Restaurant at Tarbet (where the ferry departs)

Read more: how to visit Handa Island.

The Mull of Oa and the American Monument, Islay

Islay’s south-west corner is the island’s most dramatic. Head to the village of Port Ellen and then drive out on the remote Mull of Oa where you can walk to the American Monument along the Oa cliffs.

Look for sea eagles soaring overhead and wild goats and Highland cows ambling across the path.

The Oa monument, built to commemorate two shipwrecks on Islay in 1918, can be seen right across the island. The story of those lost on the Tuscania and the HMS Otranto is truly humbling.

Distance: 2.5 miles return Difficulty: Easy Best for: sea eagles, dramatic cliffs, history Don’t miss: the American Monument Where to eat: the Old Kiln Cafe at Ardbeg Distillery on the way back

Walk to the Mull of Oa and the American Monument and plan your trip to Islay.

The Marble Quarry Walk, Iona

The Isle of Iona is best known for Iona Abbey, the burial place of 48 Scottish kings, but the island has one of the most beautiful short coastal walks in Scotland that almost no day-tripper does. The walk to the abandoned marble quarry on the south-east tip of the island takes you past the abbey, through machair, and onto a wild rocky shore where Iona’s distinctive green-veined marble was quarried until 1915.

The remains of the steam crane and cutting machinery are still there, slowly returning to the sea. The marble is the same stone used in the high altar at Iona Abbey.

Distance: 5 miles return Difficulty: Moderate (rough underfoot in places) Best for: machair flowers, getting away from the abbey crowds, geology Don’t miss: the abandoned marble quarry, the Spouting Cave Where to eat: the St Columba Hotel or the Argyll Hotel back near the ferry

Walk to Iona’s Marble Quarry.

Scotland’s long-distance coastal paths

If you want to walk for days rather than hours, Scotland has a network of long-distance coastal paths that link many of the walks above into multi-day routes. All are part of Scotland’s Great Trails, a NatureScot collection of well-managed waymarked paths.

The Fife Coastal Path

The longest dedicated coastal path in Scotland at 117 miles, running from Kincardine on the Firth of Forth all the way north to Newburgh on the Firth of Tay. The route takes in fishing villages, white sand beaches, golf courses (St Andrews) and seal colonies (Tentsmuir). Most walkers do it in 7 to 10 days, but it breaks easily into shorter sections from any of the East Neuk villages.

Find out more at the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

The John Muir Way

A 134-mile coast-to-coast route from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar on the east coast, the birthplace of John Muir, the Scots-born father of America’s national parks. Not a pure coastal path (it cuts across central Scotland) but the eastern half from Linlithgow through Blackness Castle, South Queensferry, Edinburgh and out to North Berwick and Dunbar is largely coastal.

Find out more at johnmuirway.org.

The Berwickshire Coastal Path

A 30-mile path from Cockburnspath south to Berwick-upon-Tweed in England, taking in some of the most spectacular cliff scenery on the British east coast. St Abbs Head, Eyemouth and Coldingham Bay are the highlights. Connects to the John Muir Way at Cockburnspath and the Northumberland Coast Path at Berwick.

Find out more at The Berwickshire Coastal Path

The Moray Coast Trail

A 50-mile waymarked trail from Forres to Cullen along the Moray Firth, taking in painted beach huts at Hopeman, dolphin watching at Spey Bay, and the fishing village of Findochty. Mostly easy, flat walking with regular pub stops.

Find out more at Moray Ways.

The Ayrshire Coastal Path

A 100-mile route along the Firth of Clyde from Glenapp in the south near the Mull of Galloway, all the way north to Skelmorlie near Largs. Castles (Culzean, Dunure, Greenan), Robert Burns country, big west coast skies and views to Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. The Mull of Galloway Trail (an extra 35 miles) extends the route south to Scotland’s most southerly point.

Find out more at the Ayrshire Coastal Path.

The Cape Wrath Trail

The most extreme long-distance coastal walk in Scotland, a 230-mile mostly unwaymarked route from Fort William through Knoydart, Kintail, Torridon and Assynt to Cape Wrath. Often called the toughest long-distance walk in Britain. Not for beginners, but the ultimate Scottish coastal adventure.

Find out more at the Cape Wrath Trail.

The Kintyre Way

A 100-mile route around the Kintyre Peninsula, from Tarbert in the north to Machrihanish in the south. Beaches, distilleries (Springbank at Campbeltown), big Atlantic views to Islay, Jura and Arran. Less famous than the Fife Coastal Path but quieter and arguably more spectacular.

Find out more at the Kintyre Way.

The Arran Coastal Way

A 65-mile circular path around the entire Isle of Arran. Mountains, beaches, the King’s Caves where Robert the Bruce hid, and the famous Holy Isle just offshore. A week-long walk that lets you experience “Scotland in miniature” properly.

Find out more at the Arran Coastal Way.

You might also like:

> The best loch walks in Scotland
> The best forest walks in Scotland
> The Best Short Walks in Scotland
> The best circular walks in Scotland
> The best waterfall walks in Scotland

Which are your favourite coastal walks in Scotland?

Love from Scotland x