Dysbuc one

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Enjoyable route with big views across the Firth of Forth and lots to look at along the way. The coast has had a long, variable history and there are often interpretation boards to let you know about it. There are also regular buses, so it is very accessible.

Much of the Slow Way is along the well-signed well-signed Fife coast path, which is easy enough walking but note that some of it is along the edges of beaches and this area of coastline is eroding, so the path has been washed out a bit in places and part of it was along the top of the beach. Expect minor local diversions and look at the tide times. While we were in the area there were exceptionally high tides and, although it was fine when we passed through at low tide, I’m not convinced that our feet would have stayed dry at the top of the tide.

There are caves, mines, community artworks, historic buildings, (the old tollhouse at Dysart, the old village of West Wemyss and castle ruins pictured) and plenty of shoreside birds to watch at East Wemyss. At Buckhaven, there is loads of interpretation and instead of going in along the road you can equally well walk in around the coast and up the hill into the village instead (the last two photos). At the end of the walk there is a local library with a tiny museum upstairs: you get the key from the librarian (she also offered to make us a cup of tea when we asked about local cafes and the nearest one was closed!).

Review of Slow Ways route Dysbuc one (Dysart to Buckhaven)
I walked this route in reverse (i.e. from Buckhaven to Dysart) on a blustery day in October 2023. It begins at the small park on Church Street and proceeds out of the town via the fairly ordinary Randolph Street. As it turns into Viewforth, there are some excellent views down the coast and across the Forth to Edinburgh. At the end of Vieforth there is quite a steep flight of steps leading up to a compressed earth track (muddy in places when I walked it) which follows an escarpment with the slope on the left and farm fields on the right. Eventually the path emerges on High Road just before Wemyss and Macduff Cemetery. However, a short distance before that, the route turns left and drops down to the coast (again by a narrow and muddy path). This route allows the interesting Wemyss Caves (which are a feature of this area) to be visited, but there is an alternative way down to the coast (along the edge of the cemetery) which passes the impressive Macduff Castle. The path down on the coast is narrow but well-trodden and well-signposted, and after a very short distance it arrives turns into a metalled path at East Wemyss. The going is now considerably smoother with the path being either tarmac or packed gravel. Eventually the pretty village of West Wemyss is reached with its neat terraces of houses with their backs to sea. The route swings round by the harbour and then would normally head along the bottom of the escarpment next to the sea. However, on the day I walked the route there was a diversion (beginning at NT32319469) heading steeply up into Chapel Wood on an at times very muddy path (there had been an unusually large amount of rain in the previous week). The diversion is long but well-marked, eventually emerging onto the A995 (at NT30899445). This road is followed into Dysart (actually signposted “Kirkcaldy” at this point) and it is then possible to leave the diversion and rejoin the mapped route on the coastal path via Cook Street, Hill Street and School Brae. The final section of the route zig-zags away from the coastal path to terminate on High Street. This is a very scenic route with numerous points of interest along the way. There are some steep and some muddy sections (often combined) which would make access by wheeled transport difficult. The rather long diversion is regrettable as, at this point, the route should have been very simple, following the well-signed coastal path. However, the diversion is (currently) well-signposted and presumably only temporary. I am therefore happy to recommend the route, at least for walking.

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