The county is immediately
head. The southern part
past with many coal mines
now disappeared. St
lie in the north east
coast is to walk the Fife
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recognisable as it’s
of the country was
and factories. Much of
Andrews and the fishing
corner of the county. A
Coastal Path.
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shaped like a dog’s
industrialised in the
the heavy industry has
villages of the East Neuk
great way to see the
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The railway line north
Kirkcaldy and then the
Dundee. So the south
rail from Edinburgh. If
hire a car if you want to
an hour to drive to Fife
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from Edinburgh goes along
line goes inland towards
coast of Fife is ideal
you want to explore Fife
fully explore the area.
from Edinburgh Airport.
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the Fife coast to
Cupar and north to
for a scenic day trip by
I would advise that you
It takes less than half
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Culross is one of those
stepped back in time. As
come to the Town House,
tower was added in 1783.
government with the
witches were kept
the Tron, the official
village are still
built in 1610 used by
Cross, dating from 1588,
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villages where you almost
you walk into the village
originally constructed in
The Town House was the
ground floor was used as
separately in the attic.
burgh weighing beam. Many
cobbled. It’s a short
visiting clergy. Opposite
the site of trading and
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feel like you have
from the car park you
1626, although the clock
former centre of local
a prison and suspected
Outside the Town House is
of the streets in the
walk uphill to the Study,
the Study is the Mercat
public announcements.
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Culross Palace is close
16th century as as home
The palace and garden
contains plants which
vegetables such as
(black salisfy) and fruit
fruit, only edible when
an apple and a pear
lovely views over the
from the top terrace. Sir
activity in the harbour,
export of coal and salt
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by, resplendent in ochre.
to Sir George Bruce, a
have been carefully
would have been grown in
skirret (a water
trees such as medlar (a
partly decayed) and
usually make into jams
garden and palace and out
Bruce stood up on this
seeing his fortune ever
to the Low Countries and
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It was built in the late
wealthy local merchant.
restored. The garden
the 17th century, root
parsnip), and scorzonera
small brown apple like
quince (a cross between
and jelly). There are
over the Forth Estuary
terrace to observe
increasing from the
the Baltic.
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Much of Sir Bruce’s
coal from under the
under the sea. A mine
in the water, where ships
seawater was extracted by
was used locally to
measuring more than 5.5
coal to produce one ton
coal in Culross. The
1217 started the
manuscripts.
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wealth derived from the
estuary, the first time
shaft was dug from an
could dock to immediately
a horse driven chain of
evaporate water from
metres across, to produce
of salt. Sir Bruce was
Cistercian monks of
industry. The monks also
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Moat Pit dug to extract
that coal was mined from
artificial island created
transport the coal. The
buckets. Some of the coal
large salt pans,
salt. It took 16 tons of
not the first to mine
Culross Abbey, founded in
produced illuminated
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Kirkcaldy is the
economics. I like
interesting. It is a
Colourists and a local
gardens and boating pond.
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birthplace of Adam Smith,
Kirkcaldy Museum and Art
collection of paintings
history exhibition.
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founding father of modern
Gallery, it’s small but
by the Scottish
Beveridge Park has lovely
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Dysart lies to the north
Urquhart, is a new
oak beams painted to
of the Dysart Artworks
back to the 16th century
1960s. The Tolbooth at
is now surrounded by
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of Kirkcaldy. ”Sea
installation at the sea
reflect the varying
Initiative. The white
but were restored by the
Dysart Crosss was built
rather dismal blocks of
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Beams” by Donald
front, with 9 vertical
colours of the sea, part
houses of Pan Ha’ date
National Trust in the
in 1576 but unfortunately
flats.
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Just south of Kirkcaldy
Burntisland. Just outside
111 of Scotland, who fell
rocks. Alexander was
Castle. It’s said the
her lost love.
since 1541 due to the
the Bin Hill just behind
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are the smaller coastal
Kinghorn is the statue is
to his death when his
rushing to his bride,
ghost of Yolande scours
Burntisland was granted
importance of its
the town for some great
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towns of Kinghorn and
memory of King Alexander
horse slipped on the
Yolande at Kinghorn
the area searching for
status as a royal burgh
harbour. You can climb up
views.
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Falkland is a charming
of the three Lomond
it was named a Royal
built on the site of
setting of the palace
the back drop of the
James V, is the oldest
played here with a more
The score lines are
Scots, is said to have
skirt to don breeches to
club. The whole village
residences or business
Kynd Kittocks and the
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village which lies at the
hills. The village is
Burgh by James 11 in
Falkland Castle in the
with the contrast of the
hill. The Royal Tennis
tennis court in the UK.
complex scoring system
adorned with paintings of
created a great stir when
play here. The court is
is pretty with restored
premises. There are a
Hayloft.
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foot of East Lomond, one
packed with history and
1458. Falkland Palace was
15th century. I love the
formal gardens against
Court built in 1539 for
It’s real tennis that
than the current game.
crowns. Mary, Queen of
she abandoned her stiff
still used by a local
“Little Houses” used as
couple of good tearooms,
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I would recommend that
an hour to ascend and
and toilets half way up.
panoramic views over the
for the car park at the
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you go up East Lomond.
descent as there is a car
There’ s a good path to
Forth Estuary are great.
roadside on the A912 just
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Hill It only takes about
park with picnic benches
the summit and the
You’ll see a brown sign
east of Falkland.
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Ceres is a village in
It’s a lovely village
is very well cared for
century carved stone
Buchanan. Ceres is home
history of everyday rural
be down at present but
check opening hours.
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central Fife, a few miles
with a stream running
with flower tubs beside
depiction of the last
to the Fife Folk Museum,
life in the area. The
you can contact them by
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south east of Cupar.
through it. The village
“The Provost”, a 19th
church provost, Thomas
which portrays the
museum website appears to
phone on 01334 828180 to
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I was intrigued by the
Bannockburn was fought
several men from Ceres
Memorial was erected in
Battle. The Ceres
Games in Scotland were
English at Bannockburn,
wonder how those involved
if they had known of the
War, starting in the same
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Bannockburn Memorial in
near Stirling, some 50
did march to take part in
1914 to mark the 600th
Highland Games, the
established in 1314, to
are held on the last
in the creation of the
bloodbath that was to
year?
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Ceres as the Battle of
miles from Ceres. However
the Battle in 1314. The
anniversary of the
oldest free to attend
mark victory against the
Saturday in June. I
Memorial would have felt
follow in the First World
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The Griselda Hill Pottery
hand painted giftware,
where you can watch a DVD
painters at work through
Wemyss ware was
1880s and 1930s. One of
Europe and his son,
the Wemyss pottery closed
in Devon, Joseph moved to
the Head Decorator when
returned to Fife in the
Hill. However Esther
on the secret painting
Hill Pottery
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in the village produces
best known for its cats.
about the pottery and
a glass door. It’s a
originally made in Wemyss
the painters, Karel
Joseph, followed in his
and the trademark was
Devon. where he trained
Joseph died in 1952. The
1980s when the trade mark
Weeks has visited the
techniques. Display
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the famous Wemyss Ware,
There’s a visitor centre
observe the potters and
very interesting story as
on Fife coast between the
Nekola, came from Eastern
Father’s footsteps. When
sold to the Bovey Pottery
Esther Weeks, who became
production of Wemyss Ware
was purchased by Griselda
Ceres pottery and passed
cabinet at the Griselda
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St Andrews and the East
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Neuk of Fife
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St Andrews as an
St Rule was visited by an
Andrew from Istanbul to
but was shipwrecked on
remains of St Andrew, on
Andrews. St Andews Castle
since the 12th century.
Scotland. You can see the
metres into the rock.
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interesting history.
angel, wo advised him to
the ends of the earth. St
his journey to the ends
the east coast of Fife,
was the main residence of
It was the administrative
notorious ”Bottle
accessible only by a trap
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Evidently the Greek monk
remove the bones of St
Rule followed this advice
of the earth with the
near the present day St
the Bishops of St Andrews
centre of the church in
Dungeon”, a pit dug 6
door.
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The university was
The heir to the British
has sometimes been
round of golf. The 15th
said that golf was first
British golf museum,
Clubhouse. However there
lovely golden sandy
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founded in 1411 and is
throne, Prince William,
spotted in the local
century was certainly a
played in the town. The
which is just behind the
is a lot more to the town
beaches, great for an
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the oldest in Scotland.
was a student there. He
supermarket or playing a
very busy time, as it is
town now hosts the
Royal and Ancient
than golf. There are two
invigorating walk
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The area just south of
There are numerous small
Elie, popular with
are picturesque and as
the next in a few
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St. Andrews is known as
fishing villages, such as
artists during the
they’re close together
minutes.
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the east neuk of Fife.
Crail, Anstruther and
Summer. All the villages
you can drive from one to
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Kellie Castle lies two
managed to see the
peaceful walled garden
pleasance of the soul by
of the former owners, Sir
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miles inland from
interior of the castle
there. The garden was
whose wicket the World
Robin Lorimer.
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Pitenweem. I haven’t
yet but I love the
described as ” a little
can be shut out” by one
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You can read the full
http://www.europealacarte.
independent travel
in Europe
|
guide with photos and
co.uk/Scotland/fife.html
consultant and writer who
http://www.europealacarte.
|
accommodation options at
Karen Bryan is a UK based
also blogs about travel
co.uk/blog
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Article from
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articlesbase.com
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