The whole idea of forming a vintage hiking group happened quite unintentionally during lockdown No 1.
We hadn't been able to see each other for months and being stuck at home was taking it's toll.
Some club members started going for individual walks, to recharge the batteries from being stuck in the home office and shared beautiful nature shots.
More and more of us started to feel inspired and after restrictions were lifted, some began meeting in little groups of two or three and really appreciating the little things again (like picnics, fresh air, sun on our faces, our beautiful Scottish scenery and most importantly company) we organised our first adventure. Luckily we have so many beautiful walks right on our door step.
Starting point for our first group hike was the historic Fife coastal village of Aberdour. We all travelled individually from different directions by train or car and after meeting at the station car park, we set off along the Fife Coastal Path towards Burntisland.
The coastal path is very well signposted and sticks very close to the coastline, until it reaches Burntisland.
Highlight of the first part of the walk was the cascading waterfall between Aberdour and Burntisland.
We also met some Highland cows and cute dogs on route. Because we were all so excited to see each other again after so long, the actual walk there seemed to pass by really quickly. We had so much to talk about.
We crossed Burntisland Links to look for a picnic spot and couldn't have found a better place. Sheltered benches with sea view became available, just as we arrived at the sandy beach. Packed lunches were devoured quickly.
After enjoying the beautiful sea views, beach and promenade for a while, we stopped off for an ice cream and coffee takeaway at famous Novelis Ice Cream Shop, before heading inland towards Binn Hill.
We decided to take the slightly easier route around the back of The Binn, avoiding the summit. We did get lost at one point. The path forked and we took the track to the right in to the woods. It all went slightly "Blair Witch" with strange things hanging in trees, the forrest getting denser and denser and by the time we reached a shelter built from branches, we realised that we were heading in the wrong direction and turned back. Luckily we didn't lose any Club members to the forrest and were able to continue uphill, whilst navigating large puddles and making friends with more cows.
The climb to the top was a little strenuous at times but eased by good company, some photo shoot opportunities and lots of encouragment and laughs.
We were rewarded at the top with some outstanding views over Fife, the Firth of Forth with it's little islands and Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills beyond.
We followed the farm roads and tracks back towards Aberdour, whilst enjoying the ever-changing colours, farm animals, cornfields, more cows and some great architecture.
We did get lost again when we missed a track that went directly to Aberdour. We were distracted by some impressive bulls and ended up turning off too soon ended up back on the main road.
We were right between Aberdour and Burntisland on a fast road, which didn't have a pavement or kerb. I'm sure most of us felt rather anxious as we walked back towards Burntisland in single file whilst saying "car, car, car" to the person behind us and clinging to bits of bramble and ivy between the road and the wall next to us. I'm sure a few drivers were cursing us that day, but we all lived to tell the tail and were able to join the coastal path again.
We were out for most of the day and due to our error, got to pass the beautiful waterfall again.
Aberdour Castle was sadly closed that day, but we were able to get some photographs though the gate and parted ways back at the station.
It was an unforgettable day and we are all looking forward to the next hike.
Check out our video of this hike in our "MOVIES" section. The music for it was written and performed by Toy Hospital. The title is very fitting "A Group Of People Who All Miss The Same Imaginary Place".
This was so much fun. Can’t wait for our next hike.
It was an amazing day and I will remember it for the rest of my life. We had so many adventures that day, from getting lost in Blairwitch Forrest, to facing bulls, massive puddles and ending up doing the most hair raising scary treck along the main road at the end. We can laugh about it now. It was amazing ❤️ Hope we can all do it again soon.
Love this! It was such a great day, I can't wait for more hiking adventures.