The Serpentine Walk

Start location: house number 23, Lower Largo (NO 424 026)
End location: A915, W side of Largo Burn bridge, 400m SSW of centre of Upper Largo (NO 423 031)
Geographical area: Fife
Path Type: Leisure Path
Path distance: 0.6km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

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Route Description

The Serpentine Walk leading towards Upper Largo can be reached directly from the village street by crossing the former railtrack bed. It is largely a grassy track, crossing the Largo Burn by means of a wooden footbridge close to a bend in the burn. The path continues in a generally northerly direction parallel to the burn and is bordered by trees and fields on both sides. The path passes through an unlocked gate to reach the main coast road at a signpost indicating the Serpentine Walk to Lower Largo.

OS Landranger 59 (St Andrews, Kirkcaldy & Glenrothes)

Heritage Information

This route is shown on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey's 6 inch to the mile maps, which were surveyed in 1855.  Therefore it can claim to be at least as old as that but probably dates back far longer as the main route linking Upper Largo and Lower Largo.  Lower Largo was the port associated with Upper Largo and was said to trade with Norway and Holland.

The name is actually fairly common and recalls the winding and twisting nature of the path, much like a snake as it moves.  The Largo Burn is retained by a well constructed wall for part of the way showing its age and importance and also giving it its other local name of the Wall Walk.

Local tradition has it that when the ladies residing at Largo House wanted to bathe in the sea, they, and their bathing huts, were taken down the Serpentine.

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