Kinghorn Travel Guide - Scotland

Just opposite the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh is a wonderful little seaside town called Kinghorn. It is a popular resort town thanks to its scenery, its history, and the general pleasantness of the area.

History and culture of Kinghorn

The history and culture of Kinghorn date back several centuries and include several notable residents and events. For instance, King Alexander III of Scotland died quite near to Kinghorn, and the town is also where Kinghorn Castle and Glamis Tower were located. Although these original buildings are gone, the sites are still accessible and well worth visiting to get a sense of the history of the town.

Royalty flocked to Kinghorn throughout the centuries because of its beauty and strategic importance. The former castle was often visited by Scottish royalty and their court, making Kinghorn a place where something interesting was always underway. The town prospered thanks to the favour of royalty and was in fact created the Earldom of Kinghorne in 1606.

Modern beach resort

Today's town of Kinghorn is a popular beach resort because the town skirts two lovely beaches, Pettycur Bay and Kinghorn Beach. Visitors can find lovely holiday cottages, good food, plenty of outdoor activities, and access to the Firth of Forth for those who want to go boating, fishing, or otherwise spend time out on the water. The lifeboat station located at Kinghorn is the primary resource for water emergencies on the Firth and is one of the busiest such stations in all of Scotland.

A big part of Kinghorn's popularity is the many activities, attractions, and events it hosts. One of the most popular is the Black Rock 5 Race, also sometimes called the Black Rock 5 or the Black Rock Race. It is a 7.2 kilometre race held each year since 1987, with the course winding through the roads and along the beaches of Kinghorn. The race has transformed through the years into a major social event for Kinghorn and the surrounding area.

What makes it truly unique, though, is that part of the race course lops around Black Rocks located over a mile from the shore itself. This section of the course is generally underwater except when the tide is low, so the race is specifically planned for a date in May or June when the tide is scheduled to be far enough out that the water is knee deep or less.