The Coaltowns (7 miles)
Coaltown of Wemyss lies east of Kirkcaldy and is on the A955. From the main street, head up Hugo Avenue alongside the primary school. At the first bend, a path leads between the houses to the start of the Red Ash Trail. This follows the route of an old mineral railway for a few hundred yards before ending at a farm road. Turn right here and left at the next junction (following signs for Standing Stane Road). Follow the path through the woods, ignoring a junction to the right for East Wemyss. We take the course of the Lappy Burn, picking up the mineral trackbed again. The passenger route to Methil hugged the stream on the other side.
We arrive at the Standing Stane Road (A915) and the path continues a short distance before we must cross and enter the forestry gate opposite. Proceed with great care. Visibility is good in both directions but the traffic is fast moving and frequent. Walk into the woodland and push straight on, ignoring two turn-offs to the left, the second of which is the trackbed of the Methil branch line. What you can do is glance right and you should see the remains of a building among the trees. This was the West Wemyss station house (the halt being nowhere near the village of the same name). You can still easily trace the old platforms if you poke around in the undergrowth.
Follow the route through the woods, known as Queen Mary's Road. Apparently she used it on her journey to Falkland Palace. Pass by a wind farm, ignoring the access roads to the turbines and keep following the treeline. We cross the River Ore on an ancient stone bridge, walk over the mothballed Leven Railway and then pass Balgonie Bing - a rare reminder of the coal mining industry which once dominated the Fife landscape. Don't curve around the bing, leave it behind you. The path continues in a straight line, going under the East Coast Main Line and onwards to Coaltown of Balgonie. Food is served most days in the Balgonie Arms and there is a Co-op store offering takeaway snacks. It's three and a half miles back to Coaltown of Wemyss by the reverse route.
