Kinshaldy Beach
St Andrews, Fife
Just outside St Andrews, Kinshaldy beach is a popular day out for families from Fife and further afield, accessible via the long winding road through Leuchers, and the dense pine forest of Tentsmuir before reaching the high sand dunes before the beach. The forest and nature reserve cover 50 square miles in all and the beach is large, but it can get extremely busy when the sun shines with queues for parking forming early. However, the three miles of white sand somehow manage to absorb the crowds and are ideal for sunbathing – though the fast-moving tides mean it's unadvisable to swim. Behind the beach, there are benches and barbecue stations on a field in one of the forest openings. and there are marked walks and cycle routes through the forest, where it's possible to spot red squirrels, deer and several species of bats. You can also see some World War Two defences along the beach – concrete blocks known as 'Dragons' Teeth' – beyond which you can often see the basking grey seals.
