Elie Chain Walk (E.Fife)

[Cuillin]

TRIP REPORT: Show trip details

MORE REPORTS: View all trip reports by this author

---

Location: Elie Chain Walk
Date: Sunday 23rd March 2008
Weather: Sunny spells
Attendees: Me
Distance: c.3km
Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Dog Friendly?: No, only if they have previous Via Ferrata experience!!
Parking : Plenty spaces on and off road at NT 481 997 but may be busy

TheGood Shag’s excellent report of this unique “walk” which was posted last May inspired me to include this route within our Easter hols itinerary. I can recommend reading TGS’s report in conjunction with this one Click Here

I’ve done a bit of “googling” to find out some information about the UK’s only Via Ferrata and it seems likely that it was constructed in 1928 and this fits with some info. I got from a good source in Inverness. It needs to be treated with respect due to the changing tides, the potential for a fall and being a walk below cliffs, the potential for rock fall. However, for most members on this site who have scrambled it will be just great fun and for those who haven’t it’s a good introduction.

The walk starts by following a track by the Earlsferry Links and this seems to be a legitimate way to join up with the Fife Coastal Path. It’s a bit strange heading over a golf course to start a VF and the first hazard was when I had to wait for three golfers to complete their drives!

Earlsferry Golf Course track



Safely down at the lovely crescent shaped beach, you are invited to turn right following the coastal path but I chose to follow the beach lower down to avoid disturbing the golfers.

Fife Coastal Path



I hopped back onto the path further on and by now was following a large group of other walkers heading for the cliffs. The following picture shows the sign where the coastal path proper goes up to the right onto the cliff tops but you just keep low.

Sign by cliff top return path



The path finally peters out about 200m after this point and you drop back onto the by now rocky beach with some interesting rock formations.

Big black rocks everywhere



You soon get up to a rock buttress which has a warning sign erected by Fife Council, outlining the potential hazards mentioned at the start of this report. It was at this point that a large party of boys led by an older chap indicated that they would be slow and invited me to go ahead.

Fife Council warning sign



Just round the corner from the sign, I was now on very good rock which was not dissimilar to Gabbro in terms of both it’s colour and it’s grip. Have since found out that this route does indeed pass over the remains of an old volcano, very similar to the geology of the Bass Rock, Arthur’s Seat etc. The first two VF chains are just visible (L&R) in the next pic as you enter a small cove.

Chains 1 & 2



The large party came straight up behind me now and I got a nice shot of the lads on Chain 1. As TGS said, this would be very tricky at high tide and there is one section (see where the leader is) where the rock bulges out and throws you backwards. The stainless steel chains are excellent throughout and are very well attached to the rocks. There are also ample footholds which have been chiselled out of the rocks, so you are relatively secure as long as both hands are on the chain!!

The party on Chain 1



Chain 2 is fairly straightforward and goes up the rock at about 45o taking you onto a section with no chains which involves some pleasant scrambling on that lovely sticky rock.

Looking back at the hands on scramble



As I indicated earlier the route is volcanic, and there is huge tower which I believe was the core of the volcano. It looks like Kilt Rock in Skye but is known as Fife’s Devil’s Tower.

Devil’s Tower



The next chain is very short and you won’t have any difficulties.

Chain 3



However, when you reach the post you realise what goes up must come down and you descend this longer chain down rock with pretty good food holds!

Chain 4



The rock formations are weird and I took photographs of several but liked this finger of rock with the Bass Rock in the background.

Rock finger



From here there is a pleasant walk on flat rocks over to Chain 5 which has a fairly easy angled approach.

Chain 5



The next chain which is in two sections with a post half way down is about a 10m drop so you wouldn’t want to have a mishap here as it is pretty steep as well.

Chain 6 from above



Chain 6 from below



From the bottom of Chain 6 you then move off towards the cliffs to join another section of VF which is like a short version of Chain 1

Chain 7



A short easy scramble takes you onto the shortest and last chain of the walk

Chain 8



You’re now at the end of the VF’s (this took me an hour from the car) and a short walk takes you to an obvious path which goes up grassy slopes onto the top of the cliffs which are lower at the west end. This is a great viewpoint and there are some benches which would be super on a summer’s day.

West and East Lomond from above Shell Bay



The walk back along the top of the cliffs was interesting as there were old military buildings which looked as though they may have been used by the Observer Corps in WWII. At Kincraig Point got an eagle's eye view of the large party below.

Chain walkers below



Looking west along the VF route



TGS’ report greatly benefited from having pics with people on the chains which gives a better feeling for the size of the drops. I did however, get a nice shot of the lads on Chain 5, taken from the cliff top.

Large party on Chain 5



The views from the cliff top were lovely and really liked the shape of the bay by the Earlsferry Links

Beach view looking east from the cliff top



My final picture was taken looking west from the point where you descend a stone staircase back to the point seen in picture #3

Final view back to the Elie Chain Walk& cliff



For the scramblers on this site, it’s little more than a walk but on fine day it’s definitely good fun. Because we were travelling on to Livingston (MrsC fancied some retail therapy at MacArthur Glen), travel timings meant that I did the walk at low tide. I think it would’ve been even better if it was done an hour or so before high tide to get the salt in your nostrils!

As I said earlier, a unique walk and not one to be missed.

Finally, can recommend the Ship Inn at Elie for a pub lunch afterwards (NT 494 999).

[kinley]

Nice one Cuillin - ashamed to say I've never done this despite previously living in N Fife for 10yrs. worth a short trip on a day when the highlands are in cloud

[ChrisM]

Superb Cuillin. Been looking at this for quite a while now. A great report of each chain. Thanks.
_________________

[Irene]

The Ship Inn only serves lunch till 2:30pm and unfortunately we arrived at 2:45pm. There was nowhere to get something to eat but thankfully the Ship Inn let us eat our sandwiches be had brought with us. It is typical of Scottish hospitality...don't get hungry after lunchtime!!!

[fatdogwalks]

Great stuff Cuillin . I reckon that must be the most detailed report for any walk I've seen on this site. Looks like you had as much fun with the camera as you did on the "chains".

I seem to recall the rocks at Elie containing low grade garnets or "Elie Rubies".

The Fatdog is now booked on an elementary VF course so we should be on this in say ...a few years time !

[Cuillin]

Thanks for that FDW, I'd forgotten you were into "stanes" and should have inserted the following geology link for this walk - Click Here

[Clova]

Great to see the Chain Walk again as its many years since I took a group of youngsters along it! They all loved it and so did I - just enough excitement to get the adrenalin up a wee bit. Thanks for the report - I might go back soon after seeing this
_________________
"Sun comes up on these mountain braes and it's breaking on the high ground...." C and R MacDonald

[MidgeFodder]

Fantastic Cuillin.
I hope the dolomites VF have nice big chains and secure anchor points like those

[Cuillin]

[foggieclimber]

Thanks Cuillin

Wasn't aware of this chain walk. Looks an interesting day out.

[weeleo]

Excellent report Cullin, just getting a chance to wade through all the reports from the last couple of weeks after finally getting our computer problems finally sorted.

We've looked at this walk before, thanks for reporting and reminding us of it, defintely looks worth a trip. Great photos too, thanks

[ragudave]

Can the Chain Walk be done only in dry conditions or is wet rock safeish?

I remember the author of Rock n Roll Mountain boasting that he and his mate used to train for rock climbs by doing the Chain Walk at high tide. Anyone else that macho / foolhardy / skilled?

Dave

http://v-g.me.uk/Trips/T0647/T0647CWPhotos.htm

[Cuillin]

Well done for finding this near year old report Dave.

It just so happened that the only time I could do this walk was during low tide. I'm not sure I'd want to do it at the top of the tide and certainly not when it was windy with a big wave. However, it would have had more character if I'd done the walk with the tide being at a higher point and for your info. the rock is very grippy - it's volcanic.
_________________
Being on the hills gives you a sense of where you are, where you've been, where you're going and why!

[MidgeFodder]

Really enjoyed reading this one again.
Looks a great way to spend a few hrs
Cheers
_________________
I gcosa duine a bhios a shlainte ' a persons health is in his feet'

[Robinho08]

Chain lines look pretty mental, dunno if I'd be up for the ones going right up a cliff.

Is that near Crail? Just with the mention of the WW2
_________________
It's the great outdoors. It's fresh air! Doesn't it make you proud to be Scottish?