Elie Ness.
Start. Wood Haven car park.
Route. Wood Haven - Elie Ness - Lady Tower - Wood Haven.
Notes. We've headed north and come to rest in the Kingdom of Fife, unusual for us but we are here on the east coast of Scotland in a place that reminds me very much of Lincolnshire, rather flat, arable and cultivated, the odd herd of cattle graze patches of farm land unsuitable for tilling. The weather's good, we've checked in, grabbed some dinner so are off to explore Elie Ness.
A short after dinner walk over a spit of land reaching out into the Firth of Forth, wonderful views up the coast and out over the water to the Isle of May and the unmistakable volcanic plug of Bass Rock. Good paths guided us through grassland alive with summer flowers, a short visit to Elie Ness lighthouse and the remains of Lady Tower followed before heading back through the dunes.
The North Berwickshire coast across the Firth of Forth, reaching 613ft above sea level the volcanic plug known as North Berwick Law.
Seen across Wood Haven (locally known as Ruby Bay for the garnets in the volcanic rock) Elie Ness lighthouse.
Elie with Kincraig Hill dominating the skyline.
Elie Ness lighthouse built by David and Charles Stevenson has faithfully guided shipping safely in and out of the Firth of Forth since 1908.
Seen from Elie Ness, Elie Harbour.
The Gothic remains of Lady Tower.
Eleven miles as the crow flies, another volcanic plug, Bass Rock, as seen from Lady Tower.
Early Norse settlers christened this "the island of seagulls" we know it as the Isle of May.
Stunning views along the Fife coast taking in the harbour villages of St Monans and Pittenweem.
The remains of Lady Tower, built around 1760 so that Lady Anstruther could change for bathing.
Wartime defenses above Wood Haven.