Columba Way on North FCP
59 km (37 miles) from Newburgh to St Andrews, in Scotland.
- Distance
- 59.4 km
- In miles
- 36.9 mi
- Day stages
- 3 at ~20 km
- Typical trip
- 2–3 days
- Countries
- Scotland
- Listed summits within 2.5 km
- 0
- Western end
- NO 2290 1814
- Eastern end
- NO 5159 1657
- Within 1.5 km of the coast
- 55% of the line
- Managed by
- Fife Coast and Countryside Trust
About the route
Entirely on North section of Fife Coastal Path.
Route description as recorded in OpenStreetMap by its contributors (ODbL).
How long it really is
We measure Columba Way on North FCP at 59.4 km (36.9 miles), computed by walking the OpenStreetMap route geometry point by point . The route is tagged in OpenStreetMap as 59; where that differs from our figure, the difference is usually alternative sections, spurs, or a published distance that rounds.
This is horizontal distance only. Our trail dataset carries no elevation profile, so we will not quote a total climb or a confident walking time — on hill routes ascent can add hours a day. A flat-ground pace gives roughly 13 h 49 min of walking for the whole route, which is a floor, not an estimate. Add your own ascent figure in the walking-time calculator for something usable.
Access rights along the way
The route stays within Scotland, so one access regime applies along its length.
Scotland
Yes Right to roam: Statutory right of responsible access to most land and inland water.
Yes Wild camping: Wild camping is broadly lawful under the 2003 Act.
A waymarked route is a route you may walk — it does not follow that you may camp beside it, leave it, or take a dog on it. Long-distance paths cross farmland, estates and access land in turn, and byelaws and seasonal restrictions override the general position. This is general information, not legal advice. Check a specific spot with the access checker.
The route in day stages
Columba Way on North FCP cut into 3 stages of roughly 20 km, measured along the line itself. These are equal-distance splits computed from the geometry, not an official itinerary — they will not always land on a village, a bunkhouse or a station, and the real day you walk should be set by where you can sleep.
| Stage | Distance | Cumulative | Starts near | Ends near | Flat-ground time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.1 km | 20.1 km | NO 2289 1815 | NO 3543 2447 | 4 h 25 min |
| 2 | 21.2 km | 41.3 km | NO 3543 2447 | NO 4984 2428 | 4 h 40 min |
| 3 | 16.8 km | 58.1 km | NO 4984 2428 | NO 5159 1656 | 3 h 42 min |
Positions are 8-figure (100 m) OS grid references for points on the line, computed from WGS84 coordinates. Flat-ground times are Naismith at 5 km/h with a 6 min/hour rest allowance and no ascent — add the climb in the walking-time calculator before you plan around them.
Conditions on the route
Weather at the route midpoint live
Loading forecast for the midpoint of the route…
Forecast for the midpoint of the Columba Way on North FCP, at MET Norway's own ground level — we hold no elevation profile for this route, so nothing here is altitude-adjusted, and conditions vary considerably end to end on a route this long. Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).
Daylight at the midpoint today
- Sunrise
- —
- Sunset
- —
- Daylight
- —
- Civil twilight ends
- —
Computed astronomically for 56.421, -2.990. Set a turnaround with the daylight safety planner.
Plan this walk
- Walking-time calculator — add ascent, terrain, pack weight and fitness to get a usable time.
- Pack-weight calculator — multi-day routes live or die on base weight.
- Kit-list generator — season and terrain aware.
- Access checker — what a specific grid reference on the route allows.
- Best month to walk — historical rainfall, temperature and wind by area.
- Safety notes — conditions change fast; build in margin.
Other long-distance paths nearby
Sources for this route
- Route geometry, name, waymark and operator: OpenStreetMap relation 20112760 — © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
- Distance, stages, country crossings, park crossings and summit proximity: computed by OpenFell from that geometry.
- Boundaries: Office for National Statistics (OGL v3.0). Summits: Database of British & Irish Hills v18.3 (CC BY 4.0).
OpenStreetMap data is licensed under the Open Database Licence. Our derived trail measurements are published under the same terms — see data sources.