Author Archives: manonabeach

About manonabeach

On a beach…welcome to manonabeach.com, where I’ll regularly add video of my beach visits, so you can enjoy a flavour of the beach, even when you’re not there.

St Andrews West Sands

View map of beach Fife Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Lifeguard cover between July and September Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

A quiet, misty morning greeted me for this summer visit.  The early morning beach was quiet, despite the Women’s Open having just finished at the home of golf next to the beach.  The wide expanse of sand here is liberating to the senses, with the horizon fusing into the sea on such a morning as this.  Waves lapped the shore gently, as the town of St Andrews started to wake up for another day.  The dunes at West Sands are part of the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Special Area of Conservation.  As well as protecting the golf course and the town from the sea, they support many important animal and plant species.

What this beach means to Alan.

A quiet start to the day at West Sands.

The beach as part of Susan’s routine.

Season: winter

This is the beach used in the opening sequence of “Chariots of Fire”.  There’s plenty of space here on the sand, with almost two miles of beach backed by sand dunes and the world famous St Andrews golf course.  The town of St Andrews is well worth a visit; you can see the ruined cathedral on the high ground too.  It is a university town, with excellent cafes and restaurants, all a ten minute walk from the beach.

Jen’s affection for St Andrews ahead of a special day.

A view from the dunes at West Sands.

Looking back from the water’s edge on the expansive West Sands at St Andrews.

Seafield beach

View map of beach Parking available Fife Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

Behind Seafield beach in Kirkcaldy is the Raith Rovers football ground.  Looking across the bay towards the Firth of Forth and the passing shipping, this strand is a quiet spot between two bustling areas,  The sea front promenade at Kirkcaldy has been refurbished and there is an impression of progress here and of a town reinventing itself.

What the beach means to Judith.

An ebb tide and sunshine at Seafield beach.

Season: winter

Seafield is one of six Rural Award beaches along the Fife coastline. The beach is located to the south of Kirkcaldy, overlooking the Firth of Forth.  It’s a sandy beach with rock pools.  If you walk south west along the Fife Coastal Path from here for ten minutes, you can watch seals basking in the sun and listen to the seabirds.  There is fresh sea air and a real sense of freedom.

The beach as part of John’s routine.

The scene at Seafield beach.

Kinghorn Harbour

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Fife Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Lifeguard cover in the summer Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: winter

This is an excellent family beach, situated to the east of Kinghorn, with views across the Firth of Forth.  Harbour Beach at Kinghorn is sandy, with rock pools and cliffs behind.  The Fife Coastal Path passes this way and the village of Kinghorn is attractive and friendly.  A nearby golf course and parking complete the picture, making this a welcoming and convenient place to visit.

The beach as a tonic for David.

On the beach at Kinghorn Harbour.

Season: summer

The beach sits in front of the RNLI station at Kinghorn Harbour, with its B Class boat and excellent access to the Firth of Forth.  The passing shipping is always of interest here, particularly with the lights of Edinburgh in the evening as a backdrop.  On this occasion the warm sunshine had brought visitors and locals down to the harbourside to enjoy a coffee or the constantly changing view in front of them.

Dawn celebrates the universal appeal of the beach.

Looking out from the beach at Kinghorn Harbour.