Ceres

Oh my dogs are barking tonight!
We started off at the carpark at Ceres following part of a Hamish Brown walk. So the very first part was a wee climb up locally named Waterless Road which got the heart rate up. Rona remarked on the large stones under the grass we were walking on and hey, when we read Hamish's book (good old Hamish) he tells us that this used to be the main road from St Andrews to the Pettycur-Edinburgh ferry circa 1680. We passed beautiful wild flowers on this road; and the most gorgeous, enormous pink poppies you ever did see. We sheltered from the precipitation at Denhead farm to let the slow-coaches catch up, then downwards towards the B939 Ceres to Craigrothie road. Straight across that road we found ourselves in a narrow, glaury track which brought us out at a 17th century lectern doocot. We were passing a house/ farm and disused Corn Mill when 3 muckle (well one was muckle) dogs came barking and bounding out towards us, alarming one or two of us, I have to say. The wee photo above was taken on a packhorse bridge which formed a ford over Craigrothie burn. I think the photographer must have been standing in the burn to get that one. Moving on, we came across a wee wooden barn at Wemyss Hall Mains Farm and took shelter from the drizzle a while, then decided to have our picnic sitting on the bales of hay. That'll be the Hillbillies in the big photo above. Fed and watered, and scratching a bit, we were off again climbing another hilly stretch then on to the main road where we came across the entrance to Hill of Tarvit Mansion. We stood some time there actually,feeling sad that the house is no longer open to the public. Several of us recalled happy times there and the beauty of the grounds, the building inside and out and the treasures within. It was just too expensive for the National Trust for Scotland to keep open. HOWEVER, I have just read on the 'net that NTS will in fact open it up for a few dates over the summer so I for one will definitely pay a visit. Keeping up the momentum we walked along the main road then a detour to Whitehill farm having to climb another hill to get there. That wouldn't be the last challenge of the day. Now Hamish's book states that we should walk along the edge of a field, but he didn't say the gate would be locked and we'd have to loup it! Well some of us found negotiating this obstacle a little testing, but we didn't leave anyone behind so through the field we all traipsed getting our trousers soaked up to our thighs in the long grass in the process. Once out of the field though we began to sense civilisation once more and soon arived at Moor Road, Ceres. From there we walked through the village having a rare time nosing in everybody's gardens snatching ideas for our own. We couldn't have left the village without a visit to Griselda Hill, of course. And there she was in the shop actually painting two cats in the honey bee pattern while we were there. We didn't purchase, but chose our next birthday presents we would like from our families. And a wee wander along the road brought us back to where we started. 3.68 miles according to the pedometer; not a great distance but enough to make my plates of meat cry for mercy. Thanks to friends Lorraine, Hilda, Rona, Winnie, Irene, Grace, Mary, Joe, Janis and Dianne for sharing another lovely experience in the airts and pairts o' Fife.

Culross and Pittencrieff Park

We were feeling the heat when we reached Culross so were glad that a short sharp shower came on and cooled everyone down. Using the walk in Hamish Brown's book of 25 Fife Walks we took a left out of the carpark moving west towards Kincardine. At a very bad bend we turned off onto the entrance to Dunimarle Castle. We avoided the castle though as it seemed to be a private residence, so we wandered through the trees smelling the country air and identifying the campions, wood anemones and of course the bluebells which were out in force. Emerging from the trees we were admiring the view across to the Lothians when Sandra and Winnie spotted a ruin of a church and were beckoned by an elderly gentleman offering to tell the story of the West Church. We sat around on gravestones, some of which were dated 1620, listening to Paddy tell his tale of how his interest began in the church and how he wrote a book called the 'West Kirk.' Paddy, like Morse, only had one name and as his tale became longer, delusion became apparent. He was so passionate and knowledgeable about the church and graveyard however, it was nice just to listen to him and he clearly enjoyed the audience. We loved his cap which read ' Head Gardener.' Moving on, though not at great speed, we reached the town of Culross hoping to go into the church and abbey there. We were asked for tickets at the entrance to the church - aw, there was a concert on today. And the 13th century abbey, well, there wasn't a great deal left to view given that it fell into disrepair at the time of the Reformation, although it's gardens are beautifully manicured. Heading downwards now to Tanhouse Brae where we stopped to read an inscription on Snuff Cottage (1673) - 'Wha wad ha' thocht it?' being the first line of a couplet; the second, ' Noses ha' bocht it.'is to be found on a snuffmaker's premises in Edinburgh. The Mercat Cross itself dates from 1588 but withstood all of our group standing on it to have a photo taken. Very picturesque part of this ancient town. We proceeded down Back Causeway walking on the 'croon o'causeway', the large cobbled stones set in the middle of the road where gentry used to walk. The smaller cobbles were set lower down and intended for the commoners as that was where the town's sewage flowed through the streets. It was pleasant to walk through the town but we were getting a bit peckish so made our way back to the cars and on to Dunfermline Glen. What a glorious day in the park. There were many families enjoying the sunshine, playing rounders, football, children clambering over the old steam engine and picnics and ice creams in abundance. We remarked about Andrew Carnegie's generosity to the people of Dunfermline over a hundred years ago still giving so much pleasure to all who visit. We expected to be watching/ listening to an event in the Pavilion about Pentecost but we arrived at teatime so we missed out. We had brought our own picnic though, and a birthday cake denoting the very beginning of the Christian church, which suited us nicely. There were only 7 walkers today and we weren't really moving fast enough to burn off any calories but as always we enjoyed each others company and had a good few laughs.
I do hope Hamish Brown is working on his next book cause we're running out of walks.

Aberdour

It was peltin' this morning when we arrived at church but you could see by our mode of dress that we weren't going to let adverse weather conditions disrupt the plan to walk around Aberdour. By the time we left the church at 1.00pm there was just enough blue in the sky to make a pair of sailor's breeks (a quaint old saying eh?) so off we jolly well went.
We began the walk at Hawkcraig Rd car park and passed by the Silver Sands where a family, even in April, was enjoying the sea breezes with their picnic table up and a wind break around them. As we progressed we soon got onto the Fife coastal walk and emerged at the wee harbour where there were many boats bobbing in the calm water - very picturesque. We paused at the shore where there was a chart of the islands and the hills we were looking at across the Forth. We identified Inchmickery, Oxcars lighthouse and only just saw Cramond island as it was very misty, but very beautiful today. How lucky are we to have these places of beauty on our doorstep. We proceeded up Shore Road stopping to window shop at the wee gift shop near the top; a nice place to go for a special present. We looked at an object in the window which looked like a toast rack but was actually a letter rack with three divisions separated by large letters. One of our group (with the initial W!) asked what T-S-O-P meant and felt a proper tumshie when she realised the rack was facing the wrong way. The second half of the walk took us along the High Street and out of Aberdour towards Hillend. We took a left at the road towards Braefoot Marine Terminal from where the products from Mossmoran are exported. We got off the beaten track are soon as we could though and had a lovely walk along an avenue of daffodils and wood anemonies. The scent of wild garlic permeated the air which signified that spring is over for another year. Still on the Coastal walk we took in the lovely views of the Forth with the golfcourse in the foreground. Many people were out walking, children cyling and joggers showing off. We emerged at Dovecot Park and retraced our steps along the High St and on then to Aberdour Castle.The Castle and its grounds were at their best today, but we were keen to get to the tearoom for refreshments. We had been so looking forward to one of their magnificent scones but alas, only there were only three left so a few of us had a dissy.We had a fine old chinwag there and planned the next few walks which will be posted soon on the church website. After our cuppas we went on to St Fillans church which is the most tranquil and serene setting imaginable. We took the time to go inside the church which stood open for visitors to enter, wonder at and worship. The church, or monastery as it probably was then, dates from before 1123. Each century additions were made and the connection with St Fillan made in 1390. In the 18th century it fell badly into disrepair and became a ruin by the beginning of the 20th century. From then, there has been a history of redevelopment, the latest renovation on the roof being completed in November 2009, only 5 months ago. This is a real treasure not only of history, but of the local people's foresight and dedication to preserve this sanctuary for the people of God.
The stained glass windows themselves are worth visiting the church for. Sandra pointed out the 'leper's squint' on the west gable. This little opening is now blocked up but in Mediaeval times, peering through it was the only way disease-ridden members of the parish could attend church services. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/aberdour/stfillans/
This website will show a little of what is in store on a visit to St Fillans. Winnie recognised that the slate on the church roof was not Scottish slate but possibly English. This may have been because before it became a Church of Scotland St Fillans was Scottish Episcopal with strong connections to the Church of England.
This was a 4 mile walk and we all felt satisfied when we returned to our cars. On days like these we are renewed by the simplicity of photographing a bee on a flower, listening to birdsong and just sharing time and conversation with like-minded people. "Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to thee."
Familiar?

Falkland Hill on Easter morning

We've been watching the weather forecast for the last week wondering if we would manage up the hill today.On Tuesday there was such a fall of snow that we were on the point of cancelling our walk. However the advance party was sent out on Friday to reconnoiter. Although the roads were passable, the walk we intended to take starting from Craigmead car park had far too much snow so we made the decision on health and safety grounds to ascend the other side of the East Lomond.
Ten of us met at 07.30am at the kirk and travelled by minibus heading for Falkland. We took the narrow road off A912 which leads to a car park on what might be called Purin Hill. From there, even at 0800am we had stunning views of Largo Law and the Forth and snow capped hills away in the distance. A few of us had walking poles with us so decided to attempt the ascent up Falkland Hill. However, we only had the choice of walking through snow or on a path of sorts which was a bit clarty so we didn't go too far. We stood in a circle and had our Easter service there and it was lovely - cold, but just right. We were belting out " Jesus Christ is risen today!" when a hill runner sped by, I'm sure wondering what had possessed this group of unusuals to be singing their hearts out at such an early hour. Ah well, we could have told him that we had indeed been possessed. Possessed by the need to celebrate Jesus' resurrection by praying and praising in our own simple way in a place where we could feel at one with God.
After our wee service Lorraine and Hannah went on up the hill to the very top (fit or daft?) and a few others went half way (plucky). The rest (realistic) took plenty time and picked our way carefully back to the minibus.
Back at the church, it was all hands on deck to get the bacon & egg butties and hot drinks made and we ate together and agreed this was a good habit of old to be resurrected. I think the minibus might be full next year....

Dundonald Den to Dothan farm

The Happy Daunderers met up at Mcdonalds car park then took a bus to Cardenden where we started our walk. Three of us set our pedometers so that we could measure the walk accurately. It was pleasant to wander through the Den and smell the country smells again, but the ground was very soft and muddy for the most part so our waterproof boots were well tested. Whatsmore, it was clear by the tracks and other evidence that the Den is used as much by horses as people and in fact we stopped to give way to a couple of beauties.
Just as we approached the A92, which we walked underneath, we noticed some graffiti;not only on the massive columns of concrete holding the road above us, but actually at the top of the bridge on the steel structure holding everything together. How on earth the graffiti artists reached there we will never know but it made us queasy to imagine. More sludge at the other side and we were getting a bit narked at the inconvenience. But the giddy limit was yet to come. Unfortunately we ended up on the road which led to the off-road motorcycle track so we were wading through deep slushy mud and I had to wonder whose idea it was to take this route today. As the road started to dry out we stopped at the plaque in the photo which shows the spot where the last duel in Scotland was fought in 1826 between David Landale, a linen merchant, and George Morgan, a bank manager, over a bank loan. Morgan was the runner -up.
Our feet were beginning to dry out as we walked back over the A92 this time towards Cardenbarns Farm, We had a nice view of the Bishop hill from there which still has a lot of snow on it but the weather with us was quite warm and sunny. Away from the traffic again and into Carden Woods, this was much more agreeable and dry underfoot. A couple of walkers had grown up in Cardenden and these woods were a playground to youngsters in those days; picnics on Blueberry Hill, man-made 'caves' out of sticks,and 'the View' which we thought was a secret place but in fact was everybody's secret. Happy memories. Mary remarked on the surface we walked on - large rounded stones into the ground which had been laid with a bit of foresight as a road a very long time ago. We moved along the edge of the woods which was a very pleasant walk. As we emerged from the woods we had a terrific view of the snow-capped lomonds and in the foreground the little hamlet of Cluny and Coalden. Back at the main road we left the Dothan Farm behind and with great care crossed the A92 for the third time today. As always, at the end of our walks we were looking forward to parking our weary bones and enjoying a cuppa which today was at the Home Farm View. Hilda, Winnie and Dianne compared the mileage on their pedometers which actually bore no similarity but settled for 4.6 miles.
Today was the last time we walked as St John's Walkers, but we were already planning the next outing so the group will most certainly be carrying on under a new name. Keep a l

Oriel Road/ Longbraes

We're still staying round about the doors as the weather can't be trusted, so today we walked down Salisbury Street again and along Balsusney Road till we reached Bennochy bridge ( there's that word again...). This time we went along Forth Avenue crossed over to Masserene Road and along Ferrard Road. Once on Oriel Road, moving north we soon reached the woods and it felt like being in the countryside again, even although we were only a few yards from very busy traffic on th A910. It was a bit muddy in parts but a pleasant walk for all that, approx one mile and on a very gradual incline - not tough enough to get pecht. There were 8 walkers today - Irene, Mary, Joe, Winnie, Hilda, Lorraine, Rona and Dianne, and boy could we all talk. So much so that we probably didn't look around as much as usual. Too busy putting the world to rights. Anyway, we emerged from the woods at the bottom of Broom Road and proceeded along Longbraes, with Rabbit Braes on our left. The view from the crest of the hill of course was, as always, breathtaking as it is never twice the same. Today we could see far across the water where there is still snow on the Pentlands. The Forth was busy with boats of various sizes and although there was a little atmospheric water vapour (we don't get rain)today, it could not spoil the pleasure we took from the panoramic overview of our town. And the new Victoria Hospital looks spectacular from up there! Always ready for a cuppa, we popped into the Steadings. It is Valentines Day today and the Steadings staff were apparently anxiously awaiting an influx of romantic celebrants to fill their many empty tables and so we were asked to sit near the door. Maybe it was the boots. We enjoyed our coffees and still found more to talk about. And as we left, the Steadings staff were still waiting for the lovies to arrive....
We walked at a fair skelp today so arrived back at the church much earlier than expected. I had been so distracted by the irritating need to keep putting my hood up and down again, I forgot my duty to take photos for the blog. Let's hope Mary's one turned out . To be added at a later date.

Beveridge Park

Happy New Year to all who follow our blogsite. And welcome to our new member in the photo above. No, not the one with the beard and the hoodie! We had 2 new walkers actually - Joe and Winnie and we hope they'll walk with us again. As the weather has been a bit unreliable we decided to stay close to home for our first walk of the year. Ten walkers started at the church and walked down Salisbury Street, stopping to see the progress of the new building at Dunnikier primary school and hearing from Mary that there has been a 1914 newspaper found in the old gym hall which is being demolished. That would be fascinating to read. Along Balsusney Road and passing Bennochy Cemetery, Lorraine explained that the first railings on the cemetery wall were removed during the war and used to make artillery. These new ones were painted by none other than her husband, the ubiquitous Brian Fairful who seems to have painted in every toon in Fife! We came down past the Museum and Library and through the memorial gardens which, even in winter look lovely and well-kept and our council gardeners got a bit of praise here. Moving along Abbotshall Road we kept in twos so there were 5 conversations going on at once! At Abbots Mill, Dianne reminded us of Bennochy Mills which used to stand there, built for N Lockhart Linen Works in 1865 and closed in 1985. At Beveridge Park gates we read the plaque which tells that it was the wife of Provost Michael Beveridge of Beechwood who donated the park to Kirkcaldy. Beechwood, now a nursing home for the elderly, stood to the north of Bennochy Cemetery. It was Irene who had this piece of local knowledge. Lorraine was equipped with Kirkcaldy civic society's books about Beveridge Park and filled in any gaps in our knowledge, and it was she who took us on the wee detour to see the Wizard in our photo. We all rather took a shine to him.
Dianne took us on another, unintentional, detour but it turned out to be a nice walk through the woods where we happened upon what we thought might be Datie Mill and the Spanish house? which most of us had never seen before. Moving on, we had to cross Boglily Road to reach Raith Lake, which you might just be able to see by the photo, had been completely iced over, but today as it is very pleasant has started to thaw. There were patches of ice throughout the woods however and we did have to take care. Up on dry land we wandered through the Raith housing estate and back onto Abbotshall Road again past the gates which used to be the entrance to Raith estate and the walled garden. We were all wrapped up prepared for a cold day but as usual we were blessed with beautiful weather and so we were all overheating by the time we reached Beveridge Park Hotel where we enjoyed our cups of coffee. Conversations there ran from keeping fit to kirk business and it was good to hear different points of view.
The Union of our church with St Andrew's is drawing ever closer and it was heartening to hear and feel the acceptance of change in our wee group. We decided that as we won't be called St John's Walkers in future we should propose new suggestions and take a vote on the best of these for our new name. Anyone from St John's or St Andrew's interested in our group, whether they walk or not, can make their proposal to Hilda over the next 4 -5 weeks.
Back at the church we said our blessing once more before going our separate ways and I'm sure we felt differently today, for the change is on everyone's mind. But as I write this an old gospel chorus comes to mind.
“Yesterday, today, forever,
Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never!
Glory to His Name!

Reassurance, as aye.