Fife Pilgrim Way: 2 Dunfermline to Lochore Meadows

Summary

The second stage of the Fife Pilgrim Way leaves Dunfermline and follows minor roads to Loch Fitty and past the landscape art on the site of the previous St Ninians coal mine. It then heads through woods to Keltybridge and around Loch Ore to finish at Lochore Meadows Country Park which has a cafe and bus stop.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Surfaced cycle path, minor roads, good forest paths, stony tracks.

Getting there

Start

Dunfermline Abbey.

Public Transport

Train and bus to Dunfermline, bus at Lochore Meadows.

Start Grid Ref

NT089873

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 17.2km / 10.75 miles
Time: 4 - 5 hours
Ascent: 224m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Imposing Dunfermline Abbey is worth a visit to see the impressive nave, the shrine of Queen Margaret and the burial place of Robert the Bruce as well as a reconstruction of his tomb. A keen pilgrim herself, Margaret became a saint after her death following a number of miraculous healings, and her shrine became an important pilgrimage destination itself. You can also visit the Head Well, St Margaret's Cave and St Margaret's Stone in Dunfermline.

Stage 2

Start the walk from the Fife Pilgrim Way information board outside the entrance to the Abbey on St Catherine's Wynd. With the Abbey behind you turn right and take the next right into Maygate. At a cross roads turn left into Guildhall Street and at the Mercat Cross turn right to head along High Street, Dunfermline's main shopping street. Continue on the left side of the road (Carnegie Hall on the far side) to reach a large roundabout. Use the crossings to take the 3rd exit, Holyrood Place, signed Townhill.

Stage 3

Cross this road at the lights and turn right onto Leys Park Road. After the car park follow the cycle path just to the right of the road, keeping the hedge on your left. This passes the football ground and a cemetery before more open countryside. At the road turn left up the B912 passing Queen Margaret's Hospital to your left. Before the T-junction at the top, cross the road and bear right onto a cycle path. This runs parallel to the road, crossing above a housing development and open farmland before rejoining the pavement of the B912 to reach Kingseat.

Stage 4

Follow the road all the way through the village and just beyond the final houses turn left down a signed lane, passing a house, to reach the Loch Fitty carpark. Bear right through the carpark to follow the path towards the water, past a gate and over a causeway. Here the water of Loch Fitty is on both sides of the path with plenty of chances to watch swans, coots and other birds on the water. At the end of the causeway keep straight on where a path goes left around the loch and very soon turn right to go past a gate and keep on the road as it swings left away from the house on your right.

Stage 5

At the T-junction turn left and go through the gate past the sign for St Ninians. Originally a deep coal mine, the site became a vast opencast mine until it closed down in 2013. The site was partially transformed into a massive artwork by renowned landform artist Charles Jencks. However the project was abandoned before completion and today there are further development plans as a 'wellness' centre. The site is already interesting for walkers, with man-made grassy hills (former mining spoil bings) now bedecked by wildflowers. Continue following the track with good views to the sculpted bings ahead.

Stage 6

The track passes a small lochan on your right and then crosses an large surfaced area before climbing on a now stony track. Although the noise of the nearby M90 is constant, the old bings are interesting and this is a good area to spot birds of prey and also waterfowl on the next loch just on the left. Keep straight ahead until the track reaches the B914 at a gate. Cross the road and turn left.

Stage 7

Take the entrance on the right for Blairadam forest and keep on the path on the right rather than the road. Keep right at the first junction and stay on this main, red sandy path as it winds through the trees. At a crossroads of paths keep straight ahead soon crossing a footbridge and heading slightly uphill, ignoring a path coming in from the left here. At a T-junction (Blairadam carpark just up to the left) turn right to head downhill.

Stage 8

Just before a green vehicle barrier bear right onto a smaller path signed Kelty. This soon passes under the M90 and continues on a farm lane alongside the Kelty Burn. Bear right around a house and soon the road is reached at Keltybridge. Turn right and cross the bridge, pass a model train locomotive and continue uphill until a shop. Turn left onto Whitegates Terrace and follow the path at the end of the road between fencing and then alongside houses to reach the B996. Turn right here then, a short distance uphill when the road bends right, turn left signed Lochore Meadows. Follow the lane to a parking area then continue on the surfaced path ahead.

Stage 9

Pass through a gate and continue along the surfaced path. When it forks take the left branch. Just beyond this there's a hide off the left - continue ahead, then bear left at a junction. Cross a footbridge, then follow the tarmac path ahead until it reaches a t-junction. Turn right along the lane, passing a turning area and barrier. Fork right beyond this to follow a path that runs along the north side of Loch Ore. There are several seats overlooking the loch, part of a country park created after the closure of the coal mine here. Continue ahead until you reach the Loch Ore Meadows visitor centre, which has a cafe.

Next stage: Loch Ore to Kinglassie.

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