St Andrews has a beach on each side of its harbour and a small cove under the castle.
West Sands runs for almost two miles north of the Old Course with dunes and links behind it, and is the one for a long walk or a run; it is zoned so sand yachts stay clear of families. East Sands, south of the old harbour beside the leisure centre and sailing club, is shorter and busier with kayaks, surfers and windsurfers, and has the play area and café. Both had RNLI lifeguards daily from 20 June to 23 August in 2026.
SEPA rates the water at East Sands Excellent and at West Sands Good, and advises against bathing during or for a day or two after heavy rain. Further out, Kingsbarns is dune-backed sand with rocks on the lower shore and livelier surf; Roome Bay at Crail and Billow Ness at Anstruther are small coves with rock pools on the Firth of Forth; and Elie's harbour beach joins Earlsferry at low tide and has its own summer lifeguards. Tentsmuir, across the Eden estuary, is the choice for forest, dunes and seals; it has no lifeguards and is not a designated bathing water.
Neither Fife Council nor the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust publishes seasonal dog-ban dates for these beaches. Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season, usually April to July, and the signs at each access point are the ones to follow on the day.
Lifeguards: the 2026 season. Water: the latest official bathing-water classification. Every fact links to the page it came from, checked 27 October 2026.
No ban published Lifeguards in summer Good water (2025)
Almost two miles of sand running north from the Old Course, with dunes and golf links behind it; the dunes are protected and under restoration, so visitors are asked to use the marked access points. It is used for walking and running as much as for swimming, and the beach is zoned to keep sand yachts away from families. The town centre is about 15 minutes' walk away.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July); check the signs at the access points Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (20 June–23 August); no flags means no lifeguards Source
Facilities
Two Fife Coast and Countryside Trust toilet blocks on West Sands Road, open 10am–6pm or 10am–4pm on the days marked on the Trust's 2026 calendar; the disabled toilet at Block 1 is open all year with a RADAR key Source
Access
Beach wheelchairs can be hired from the Hamish Foundation; reach the sand by the designated access points through the dunes Source
Parking
Bruce Embankment car park at the town end: Fife Council charges there from 1 April to 30 September only (Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 1pm–5pm), and there is no charge outside those times unless signs say otherwise Source
Tides
Gently sloping: depending on the tide, the water's edge is anything from 20 to 400 metres out Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the SEPA's classification for St Andrews (West Sands). Source
No ban published Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
A sandy bay of about 700 metres on the south side of the old harbour, next to the East Sands Leisure Centre and the sailing club, so expect kayaks, surfboards and windsurfers. The play area, café and toilets are behind the beach and it connects to the Fife Coastal Path. The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust warns that the sand here shifts, on the beach and offshore, sometimes suddenly.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (20 June–23 August); no flags means no lifeguards Source
Facilities
Seasonal RNLI lifeguards and first aid, toilets, a children's play area, car parking and a café Source
Access
Disabled parking spaces and accessible facilities at the beach; a path runs along the inland side Source
Parking
Car park at the beach, beside the East Sands Leisure Centre Source
Tides
Gently sloping: depending on the tide, there is 10 to 330 metres of beach before the water's edge Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the SEPA's classification for St Andrews (East Sands). Source
No ban published No lifeguards Not a bathing water
A small cove of sand and rock directly below St Andrews Castle, between West Sands and the harbour. It has no lifeguards, no facilities of its own and is not a designated bathing water; the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust lists it among the area's other notable beaches.
Surface
rock and sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: it is not among the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches for 2026 Source
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water, so it is not sampled.
No ban published No lifeguards Not a bathing water
Kinshaldy Beach is the shore of Tentsmuir Forest, north across the Eden estuary: wide sand and dunes in front of the forest, part of Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, with seals to be seen at any time of year. NatureScot puts Tentsmuir Point about 2.5 kilometres along the shore from the Kinshaldy car park. Fires are banned on the beach, and Forestry and Land Scotland asks visitors to keep their distance from seals.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: it is not among the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches for 2026 Source
Facilities
Toilets and accessible toilets, a picnic area, a play area and an on-site caterer at the Kinshaldy car park Source
Access
By road 1½ miles east of the B945 between Leuchars and Tayport, following the signs for Kinshaldy Beach; the nearest bus stops are in Tayport and Leuchars Source
Parking
Kinshaldy car park (Forestry and Land Scotland): £4 for the day at a pay barrier taking coin and card; open 8am–9pm April to October and 8am to dusk November to March Source
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water, so it is not sampled.
No ban published No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
Two miles of soft sand backed by dunes, off the A917 between St Andrews and Crail, with the Fife Coastal Path along it and the Cambo Estate close by. Jagged rocks and boulders lie on the lower shore and the beach faces the open North Sea, so the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust recommends it for experienced swimmers rather than novices; surfers use it too. There is a food outlet and a sauna behind the dunes.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: it is not among the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches for 2026 Source
Facilities
Food outlet, sauna, public toilets and a car park behind the dunes Source
Access
Signed off the A917 Crail–St Andrews road, about 10 minutes' walk from Kingsbarns village Source
Parking
Trust car park behind the dunes: under 2 hours free, all day £2 (cash and card), Blue Badge parking free; if it is full, do not park in passing places or in Kingsbarns village Source
Tides
Shore break at low tide and livelier surf on a rising tide; rough weather quickly makes conditions hazardous near the rocky lower shore Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the SEPA's classification for Kingsbarns. Source
No ban published No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A small south-facing cove at Crail: sand on the upper beach, rock pools at the water's edge and an old disused swimming pool at one end that has been left to wildlife. A grassy slope with a children's playground rises behind it, and the village centre is about 10 minutes' walk away.
Surface
rock and sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: it is not among the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches for 2026 Source
Facilities
Trust public toilets at Roome Bay, open 10am–6pm or 10am–4pm on the days marked on the 2026 calendar Source
Access
Reached off Roome Bay Crescent, about 10 minutes' walk from the village centre Source
Tides
Depending on the tide, the water's edge is anything from right at the beach to 200 metres out Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the SEPA's classification for Crail (Roome Bay). Source
No ban published No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A quiet sandy bay just west of Anstruther harbour, between two rocky outcrops, with rock pools and the golf course beside it. It sits on the Fife Coastal Path and inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest designated for its birds and grassland.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
Not lifeguarded: it is not among the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches for 2026 Source
Facilities
Toilets close by; the beach is on the Fife Coastal Path next to Anstruther Golf Club Source
Access
Signposted from the A917 coast road; no railway Source
Parking
Parking close by; no car park is named or priced on the pages checked Source
Tides
Depending on the tide, the water's edge is 10 to 250 metres out Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the SEPA's classification for Anstruther (Billow Ness). Source
No ban published Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
A long, gently sloping sandy beach by Elie harbour that joins Earlsferry at low tide to make almost a mile of sand. The bay is sheltered, which is why the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust suggests it for first attempts at windsurfing and canoeing, and it is the only beach on this page outside St Andrews with RNLI lifeguards.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No seasonal dog ban is published for this beach by Fife Council or the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; Fife's access guidance asks for dogs on a lead or under close control on the shore in the bird-breeding season (usually April to July) Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (20 June–23 August); no flags means no lifeguards Source
Facilities
Toilets, seasonal RNLI lifeguards and first aid, disabled access and parking Source
Access
The Trust lists disabled access among the beach's facilities Source
Parking
Parking at the beach; no charges are published on the pages checked Source
Tides
Elie Harbour beach and Earlsferry beach join up only at low tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the SEPA's classification for Elie (Harbour) and Earlsferry. Source