Discover Burntisland

Burntisland Beach lies east of the town and looks out over the Firth of Forth. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up the coast, the town’s history and leisure activities: Burntisland combines a sandy beach with rock pools, historic trails and the Highland Games. Rossend Castle and the geology of the Binn also give the town distinctive themes for a trip.

Beach, Links and trails

Burntisland’s wide sandy beach invites you to explore its many rock pools. At extremely low tide, large areas of sand and mud are exposed on the beach. With care, you can walk across them to Pettycur Beach; check the tide conditions before making the walk. The conditions for a beach visit and a walk across the exposed mudflats are quite different.

Two railway underpasses connect Burntisland Links with the coastal path, beach, skate park and Beacon Leisure Centre. The centre has a 25-metre swimming pool with slides and a wave machine. It is a short walk from the beach.

For a longer stretch along the Firth of Forth, you could consider the Fife Coastal Path: the section from Burntisland to Buckhaven follows the edge of the Firth. Another walk with a historical focus is the Outer Heritage Trail. It starts at the western corner of the Links, is about four miles long, and takes you through the town’s historic and industrial heritage.

Burntisland’s history and landscape

Rossend Castle is a 16th-century tower house, with a ground floor dating from the 13th century. The different building periods come together in a single structure. If you are interested in the town’s historical development, the Inner Heritage Trail offers another way to explore it: the trail traces Burntisland’s development from the 16th century to the present day. Together with the Outer Heritage Trail, it offers a contrast between a walk through the town’s history and one that also explicitly includes its industrial heritage.

The landscape of the Binn also has a geological history. The Binn is a volcanic vent that has influenced Burntisland’s landscape. Its steep slope is made of basalt and has columnar jointing in places. The summit is approximately 600 feet above sea level. The heritage trails focus on Burntisland’s town history and industrial heritage; the Binn is about the geological formation of the landscape.

The Museum of Communication is at 131 High Street in Burntisland; check the address before your trip. A working model of Burntisland Harbour depicts its appearance in 1883. This harbour display offers another historical perspective, while the trails focus on the town’s development or its historic and industrial heritage.

Events and leisure activities

The Burntisland Highland Games take place on the Links on the third Monday in July. They date back to 1652 and are the second-oldest Highland Games in Scotland. The event date and its long history answer two different questions: when to expect the Games, and what historical significance the event holds. Check the current date before your trip.

The Links offer pitch and putt in summer and play areas all year round. There is also a fairground there every year between May and August. You can confirm seasonal activities and current dates before your visit. This lets you plan a stay at the Links differently depending on when you travel, without confusing seasonal activities with the year-round availability of the play areas.

Burntisland Sailing Club welcomes visitors to its pontoons; visitor berths are clearly marked. A booking is required to visit. The seasonal Three Bridges and Three Inches boat tour departs from Burntisland Harbour and passes the Forth Rail Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing. If you plan to take this trip, check the operating dates before you travel.

Burntisland Golf House Club also combines a specific leisure activity with views of the surrounding area: the club looks out over the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridges. The parkland course dates from 1896 and was designed by Willie Park Jnr. This gives you a range of options to choose from: the coast and beach, the town’s history and industrial heritage, geology, event dates or golf.

Discover more destinations:Luthrie, Newport-On-Tay, Markinch, Cupar, Saline, Blairhall, St Andrews, Elie.

For the broader travel overview: Fife.