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Report on Elie Chain Walk
11 September 2011
Todays Craggies: Robin, Alan, Kathryn, Kenny and Irene.
The intrepid adventurers set off from not so sunny Kilbirnie at 0815 and headed for the East coast to hopefully find some dry weather.
The weather improved as we journeyed east and was bright and breezy when we arrived in Lower Largo.
We set off from the car park and walked across the sandy beach of Largo Bay. Good views were had of Bass Rock and across the Firth of Forth. We crossed over Ruddons Point and continued along the beach of Shell Bay to the headland of Kincraig Point.
At this point we descended the cliff via a poorly marked path to find the start of the Elie Chain Walk. There were a few caves worthy of note along the cliff line and Kenny ventured to the mouth of one to have a look but couldn?t gain access.
The chain walk is interesting and involves some easy scrambling using the chains as hand holds. After a few hundred metres we met a family of five the youngest of whom was only four! So we thought the next bit can?t be too difficult if a four year old could manage. Some of us struggled with the outward leaning chains and found the ledge section very tiring but we all managed to complete the route.
We stopped for a spot of lunch and a bit of sunbathing in a sheltered spot. After lunch we decided we had better get going as the tide was coming in quickly. Just as well we did as the route descended to a lower level which would soon have been under water had we not left when we did.
We continued along West Bay until we reached the golf course. We crossed the golf course and headed into Earlsferry and Elie where we partook of a few well earned refreshments. There was some mention of taxis but we decided to walk back to the car park. The walk back was the reverse of our route out but the lower section of the chain walk was by passed on the cliff top. On the way we encountered a few short showers and passed an interesting sculpture constructed of rubbish scavenged of the beach.
Once back the car our thoughts turned to fish and chips. So off we headed north for another 10 miles until we reached Anstruther and found the famous award winning chip shop. We had to queue and wait for a table as sitting in the restaurant was preferable to eating it in the car. Was it worth the wait?.you bet it was!!
The return journey back to Kilbirnie was not completed without a few diversions due to the driver (Alan) failing to listen to the satnav lady and an exciting tour of a roundabout just over the Forth the road bridge. The worst part of the journey home was listening to the never-ending monotonous songs of James Blunt live on the radio.
We didn?t arrive back at Kilbirnie till 9pm but all in all it was a highly enjoyable day out.
Robin Menzies
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