Circular dog walks

Circular dog walks near St Andrews

470 or more of the walks within 8 km of the middle of St Andrews are loops: 19% of the 2,470 or more we measured, against 18% across Fife.

A loop brings you back to where you started without walking the same way twice.

DunfermlineKirkcaldyGlenrothesSt Andrews20 km
St Andrews and the 8 km around it, on Fife. Ordnance Survey boundary data.

Where they differ from every walk near St Andrews

  • 89% of the loops near St Andrews start where you can park, against 64% of every walk near St Andrews.
  • 37% of the loops near St Andrews pass a dog-waste bin, against 23% of every walk near St Andrews.
  • 59% of the loops near St Andrews run beside crop fields for a third or more of the way, against 73% of every walk near St Andrews.

Measured on 12 October 2026 from the map. A difference is listed only when it is ten points or more and larger than chance would make it. How these figures are made

What the loops are like

Each bar is the share of the loops near St Andrews that the sentence is true of. The upright mark on each bar, and the small number beside it, is the same share for every walk near St Andrews.

How far they go

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near St Andrews
Under 3 km
27%
38%
3 to 5 km
22%
24%
5 to 8 km
22%
19%
8 to 12 km
15%
10%
Over 12 km
12%
6%

What is beside the path

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near St Andrews
Under trees for a third or more of the way
56%
44%
Beside water for a tenth or more
71%
65%
On open access land for a third or more
<1%
<1%
Through a park or green space for a third or more
18%
15%
Beside crop fields for a third or more
59%
73%
Beside farm grassland for half or more
14%
16%
No farm grassland at all
36%
47%
Off road for four fifths or more
14%
22%
On roads or lanes for half or more
57%
55%
Through built-up streets for half or more
5%
2%

What might stop you

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near St Andrews
Never beside a fast road
92%
96%
Never beside a busy road
54%
61%
No busy road to cross
53%
61%
No stile, gate or cattle grid
91%
96%
No steps
69%
78%

What is on the way

Walks thatShare of walks measuredEvery walk near St Andrews
Start where you can park, at a car park or on a minor road
89%
64%
Pass a pub
32%
23%
Pass a dog-waste bin
37%
23%
Pass a public toilet
36%
25%
Pass a drinking-water tap
5%
7%
Pass a busy beauty spot
24%
27%
Trekosa, free

Loops near St Andrews, chosen for your dog

If you live in Fife, it is your home county, and every walk in it is free, for good. Tell the app about your dog and it finds loops near St Andrews checked against what your dog finds hard, and names them.

Walks beyond your home county come with Further, the Trekosa subscription. What Further adds

Questions people ask

Are there circular dog walks near St Andrews?
Yes. 470 or more of the walks within 8 km of the middle of St Andrews are loops, 19% of the 2,470 or more we measured there. The app shows them by name once you have an account, checked against what your dog finds hard.
What counts as a circular walk?
One that comes back to its start by a different way. A walk that turns round and comes back the way it went is a there-and-back, and is not counted here.
Can I ask the app for loops only?
Yes. When you search you choose the shape: a loop, there and back, or one way. There and back lets you turn round whenever you like, which a loop does not.

Everything we measured near St Andrews

Circular dog walks in the towns nearest St Andrews