One Scottish coastal town is home the country's only 'chain trail', which allows visitors to walk along cliffs and enjoy stunning sea views.
Elie is a popular seaside resort town in the East Neuk of Fife, located approximately 45 miles from Edinburgh. Together with its sister town of Earlsferry, it creates a larger community along the shore of Ruby Bay with an overall population of around 640.
While Elie is home to a number of fascinating buildings—including its 17th century parish church and the historic Lady's Tower summer house—for thrill-seekers and adventurers, its highlight is undoubtedly its chain walk.
The route consists of a series of eight chains fixed along the coast along the base of a cliff. Altogether, the path is approximately a kilometre long and passes down the cliff faces to the tidal beaches.
The unusual trail dates back to the 1920s, when a number of Elie and Earlsferry locals sought to make the shoreline around Kincraig Point more accessible. Together, they raised £100 and commissioned a local blacksmith to fasten posts and chains, as well as carve out footholds in the rock.
In the years since, the chains have been upgraded to make them safer and easier to use. The Elie Chain is often called Scotland's only via ferrata, which refers to climbing routes in the Alps that make use of iron cables and iron steps.
There are numerous interesting sights along the route, including the cave where Macduff, Earl of Fife, is believed to have hidden while fleeing from MacBeth. There are also pill boxes from the Second World War, which were used as military stations.
Great care should be taken when completing the route as it is potentially dangerous. Those who venture out, however, will be rewarded with one-of-a-kind views over Kincraig Point and Shell Bay.
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