Scottish walks: Cambo Sands and Estate, Fife

SNOWDROPS are still around in abundance but they won't last long. One of the best places to see these little flowers is the Cambo Estate in Fife.

Cambo Sands and Estate, Fife. Picture: Nick Drainey

This walk takes you from a great sandy beach to the edge of the gardens, where carpets of white blooms can be seen at the moment. But it really is worth paying the entrance fee and taking the detour described to enjoy them in their full splendour.

The return takes you through woods and farmland to make a wonderful circuit.

DISTANCE 3∫ miles.

HEIGHT CLIMBED 150ft.

TIME 1∫ to 2 hours.

MAP OS Landranger 59.

PARK Turn off the A917 at the southern end of Kingsbarns and follow a lane for about three-quarters of a mile to reach a beach car park.

IN SUMMARY Leave the car park at the south (right) end and drop down to the beach, turning right to walk along the sands. At the end of the beach take a path running along the coast (don’t stray on to a golf course) and when it reaches a track go left. 
Follow the track past a golf course toilet and drop down to the left, to Cambo Burn.

Don’t cross the burn immediately. Instead, go through a gate on the right then take a footbridge on the left, with steps going up on the other side.

At the top of the steps turn right to follow a path along a wall (to your left) with the burn below.

Ignore a bridge that goes back over the burn and a little further on go left at a fork. (It is at this point you may want to take a detour right and pay to visit the gardens and see the full display – if you do, rejoin the walk later on by following the main drive out of the estate.)

If you are not taking the detour, follow the path on the edge of the gardens, passing through an open doorway in a stone wall. The path then bears right and drops down. Ignore a path on the left and a bridge going over the burn but do cross the next bridge, going left on the other side.

The path eventually goes up to the right and reaches the main drive of the estate. Go left and follow the 
drive nearly to its end, taking a path on the right just before a stone cottage. The path runs through a belt of trees next to the A917 Crail to St Andrews road.

Cross a track after about 150 yards and carry straight on to reach the entrance to Cambo Farm. Go over the drive and bear slightly left to follow a path on the other side, again running next to the road. A little further on the path passes a small pig sty and then the driveway to the rather posh Kingsbarns Golf Links.

After this the path goes right to reach the corner of a stone wall. Go left then ignore a footbridge over a small burn. The path turns into more of a small track as it passes through ivy-clad trees and reaches a larger track. Cross this then go right, on a path which starts just before a gate in a wall at the village of Kingsbarns.

Cross a track after a couple of hundred yards then, after a small building site, go left. A small gate leads to the road you drove in on – go right to return to the car park.

REFRESH Your best bet is the tea shop at the Cambo Estate.

WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA Look no further than the Cambo Estate at this time of year. www.camboestate.com