racetrack
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Scotland's national motorsport centre, a compact but thrilling circuit with sharp elevation changes near Dunfermline.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Cowdenbeath
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath works well as a base: 5 minutes from Kelty, 13km from Queensferry Crossing.
Cowdenbeath is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 12,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Kelty, about 4 km away.
Cowdenbeath ( ) is a town and burgh in west Fife, Scotland. It is 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Dunfermline and 18 miles (29 km) north of the capital, Edinburgh. The town grew up around the extensive coalfields of the area and became a police burgh in 1890. According to a 2008 estimate, the town has a population ofRead more
14,081.
The wider civil parish of Beath has a population of 17,351 (in 2011).
Where to Stay in Cowdenbeath
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Cowdenbeath.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Cowdenbeath.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Cowdenbeath?
Within an hour or so of Cowdenbeath: Knockhill Racing Circuit (10 km), Forth Bridge (13 km), Queensferry Crossing (13 km), The Bikers Cove (14 km).
Are there any good drives near Cowdenbeath?
The nearest famous roads are The Royal Mile, Glen Lyon and Cairnwell Pass.
Where is Cowdenbeath?
Cowdenbeath is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Kelty.
Road trip
Drive to Cowdenbeath
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Cowdenbeath. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 12,030
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 56.1119, -3.3443
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Cowdenbeath
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Forth Bridge
UNESCO-listed Victorian cantilever railway bridge spanning the Firth of Forth, a masterwork of 19th-century engineering in 54,000 tonnes of steel.
13 km · about 25 min drive
bridge
Queensferry Crossing
The world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
13 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
The Bikers Cove
A waterfront biker cafe in South Queensferry beneath the iconic Forth bridges, offering stunning views and a warm welcome to riders.
14 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Edinburgh Zoo
Scotland's capital zoo home to the UK's only giant pandas and over 1,000 rare and endangered animals.
19 km · about 20 min drive
photogenic
Culross
Scotland's most complete 17th-century burgh: ochre-coloured Culross Palace, cobbled wynds and white-harled cottages on the Firth of Forth, preserved by the National Trust. Doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Edinburgh Castle
Dramatic fortress perched atop Castle Rock, dominating the Edinburgh skyline for over 900 years.
20 km · about 25 min drive
historic highway
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
20 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Cowdenbeath
- Right hereQueensferry CrossingThe world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
- 20 kmThe Royal MileEdinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
- 20 kmCalton HillAn accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
- 22 kmArthur's Seat, EdinburghAncient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
- 74 kmQueen's View, Loch TummelA famous viewpoint on the B8019 looking west along Loch Tummel to the cone of Schiehallion.
- 77 kmSchiehallionA conical Perthshire Munro whose regular shape was used in 1774 to weigh the Earth — the experiment that produced contour lines.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Cowdenbeath.
Plan a trip around Cowdenbeath
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Cowdenbeath.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.