This walk is approximately 8 miles (13 km) and should take
approximately 4 to 5 hours. There are buses between Guardbridge and St Andrews every
hour or so.
As the golf course extends to the shore, it is now necessary to walk out to Out Point on the shore. It is wise to know the tide and to walk a few hours before or after the high tide. There is an area at first of salt marsh and mud with drainage channels and later this gives way to sand, with many shells around the high tide zone and many worm casts on the wet sands.
Soon gabion baskets are seen built along the edge of the coast, at first there is a single row and later a double row - steps allow those on the golf course to reach the shore and search for wayward balls.
Shorewards can be seen concrete blocks set here at the mouth of the Eden to protect the shore from possible German invasion during World War II. Later, some wooden breakwaters are reached which can be crossed at high tide by pairs of steps between the groins. At low tide, beyond Out Point are long stretches of sand. It is unsafe to walk far out here unless you know that the tide will not be rising for several hours.
Out Point itself has been landscaped and is protected by a low wall of sandstone blocks with a short flight of stone steps leading up and on to the Common. Cars from the West Sands park here, but the north bank, right up to the top is a golf course. At the end of the 19th century, there was a target area at Out Point.
Before rounding the point, look north across the Eden and you will see the sands of Kinshaldy and the end of one of the Leuchars runways tucked between the pine trees. Beyond this you will see the Tentsmuir Sands (a popular spot for Fife Schools' Cross-Country events) and what may be the remains of an old pier.
St Andrews to Cobbleshore
TO BE WRITTEN-UP.
The sandy bar just beyond Cobbleshore is known as Sandford Head. In the past this met with a sandy bar coming from the north to form a point where once one could have easily crossed the Eden. This is Cobblehouse Point - though there is no house to be seen nowadays. The north bank is now part of Leuchars RAF base, and the fighter jets of the day can be seen regularly taking off and landing on the far side.
From the point, follow the path along the sandy shore, heading for the lonely farmhouse which is seen facing the shore. This place has a unique and marvellous views of the bird life on the shore.
From the farmhouse, we follow the line of the old railway track over farmland which may be ploughed as we wander. On the landward side of the track, the main A91 road can be seen heading out from St Andrews. The old Tollhouse may be seen by the side of the road, as well as the new cottage which was once the Auld Smiddy - now a farm shop known as "The Hungry Horse". Across the Eden, we can see the paperworks. The estuary of the Eden stretches to the north, with saltings and saltmarshes with cattle and sheep and mudflats exposed when the tide is out. It is not advisable to walk on the mudflats as the mud is soft and it is easy to get bogged down.
Continue to follow the old railway track westwards, past the police station, then into a field and along the side of a fence. When we reach the old road, we loup the fence and head on into Guardbridge - perhaps for a bit of refreshment at the old Inn.
As the name implies, Guardbridge grew up to defend the bridge - the first (the outer bridge) having been built by Archbishop Spottiswood in 1435. This bridge is an arched stone bridge with cutwaters. Across the bridge are parapets and pairs of rings, high and low, possibly for tethering. There is a bench mark on the bridge.
Seawards can be seen the piers over which the railway bridge lay when, in 1852, the line was extended from Leuchars to St Andrews and around the east coast via Anstruther. The line was finally closed in 1967.
Above these bridges is the modern road bridge, built in 1938 with 3 arches and cutwaters. Our route crosses the old bridge from the Inn - the new bridge now placing this inn on a quiet lane.
Looking from the T-junction (A91 & A 919) in Guardbridge, the large paper mill can be seen along the "village" road. A sandstone walled playpark marks this junction. Over the wall was the site of the railway station and the tracks can be seen leading off towards Guardbridge - and emerging beyond the school. The large concrete cylinder in this play area was once the base of a railway crane.
To be written up! This section will take us from Guardbridge on the River Eden, to Newport-on-Tay which sits between the rail and road bridges.
Last updated February 12, 1999
Copyright © 1997 The Anchorgate Partnership. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or mark holders.