Fife Pilgrim Way

[Stephcart]

Glorious Fife between Kennoway and Ceres

St Ninians former open cast mine

The Fife Pilgrim Way
A beautiful walk, well served by public transport, tracing an ancient, and once well trodden, route of pilgrimage to St Andrews cathedral- the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland until the 16th century-where there are buried remains of St Andrew. The route threads together the towns of mid-Fife, with starts at Culross, with a “place that time forgot” feel from its ancient palace and narrow streets, or at North Queensferry where many pilgrims would have landed by ferry. Both starts merge at the spectacular Dunfermline Abbey.
From there a walk through once Industrial west Fife, its landscape partly shaped by coal mining, and its settlements reflecting the era when black gold brought thousands to the area to work its pits. Landscape that was once industrial wasteland has been reclaimed, often most attractively, by nature- none more so than the now beautiful St.Ninians open cast site.

The route through Glenrothes first follows the banks of the Leven, and then detours through the beautiful Pitcounie and Baldirnie parks- such that walkers barely recognise they are in a town. Next the ancient capital of Fife, Markinch- a pleasant old town with rich history. The old mining areas now passed, the route continues through Kennoway and up onto the ridges of Fife at its rolling best. Kennoway to Ceres is a delightful section with expansive views and hidden secrets like Clatto Reservoir shared with us only by two wild swimmers on the warmest of June days.

Rolling Hills between Kennoway and Ceres
Ceres is both historic and idyllic and has far more to it than one would expect of a village of 1000 people. Wemyss Pottery and the Fife Folk Museum are attractions here. One final ridge, with tales of murder (an archbishop of St Andrews was murdered between Ceres and St Andrews in 1679) to add to the scenic views, then the descent into St Andrews, passing through Craigtoun Country Park and the now decaying Craigtoun House, built by the Younger Brewing family, and entering St Andrews via the wooded glade of Lade Braes walk. A final half mile through the medieval gate and streets of St Andrews to end at the spectacular ruins of St Andrews Cathedral

Hill walkers might dismiss this walk as having no hills while Long distance walkers might dismiss this as too short. Both should think again! Fife is glorious as rolling Scotland rather than rugged Scotland and to add distance the walk can be done there and back (as original pilgrims would have) or linked it in to the Fife Coast Path to make a circle of it. It is a gem.

The Walk Stages:
Leg 1a) Culross to Dunfermline Abbey 8.5 miles (free parking in Pittencrief Park near finish, hourly 8A bus to Culross- NOT SUNDAYS)
Leg 1b) North Queensferry to Dunfermline Queen Margaret, 10.6 miles, passing Dunfermline Abbey (free parking at railway station. Trains to start even on Sundays)
Leg 2) Dunfermline Queen Margaret to Kinglassie 14.0 miles (Street parking in Kinglassie, bus 81 to start hourly- NOT SUNDAYS)
Leg 3) Kinglassie to Kennoway 12.3 miles (free parking in Kennoway adjacent to bus stop. Bus 43 to Glenrothes bus station then bus 32 to Kinglassie. Hourly- about 10 min change, NOT SUNDAYS. Central Fife Day Rover Ticket is best value)
Leg 4) Kennoway to Ceres 8.6 miles (free car park in Ceres, bus X61 to Kennoway hourly. Some buses also on Sundays)
Leg 5) Ceres to St Andrews 9.7 miles (free car park in Ceres, bus 64 at 12 mins past each hour from St Andrews back to Ceres NOT SUNDAYS)