Kirkcaldy to Kinghorn Coastal Path

Well it is officially British summer time but as you can see by the photograph we were well wrapped up. This is a walk we have done a couple of times but it never fails to make you stop and take stock of your surroundings Binoculars at the ready we were not disappointed with the amount of seals we spotted on a rock off Seafield Tower, all sunbathing with not a care in the world. They were too far distant to be bothered by mere humans While in our coffee stop at the Carousel in Kinghorn and after browsing their lovely wee gift area, we watched the snow/sleet showers moving across the Forth, so we waited a while to let it past before heading back along the path to Kirkcaldy. Finishing with our Walkers Prayer we said our farewells until our next walk planned for 19 April

Valleyfield Woods - snowdrop trail

something missing.

Eleven walkers took part in what has to be the coldest, wettest walk we have ever done.
The weathermen got it all wrong.  We parked up in the Main Street in Torryburn and started off at the archway which leads to Torrie House occupied by the Earl of  Wemyss, but he was in London apparently so wasn't around to invite us for tea.
We crossed the very busy A925 and into woods on the other side. It was pretty glaury and actually had to walk through a field, just to avoid the main road. Then on to a country road,  so out came the high viz jackets and single file walking for a good mile. The sleet started about then and the snell wind was biting every bit of skin that wasn't covered up. A balaclava would have been the very thing.

something else missing.

We made good progress and before long came across Shirefield where there is a riding school for disabled horseriders. We picked up leaflets about the snowdrop trail here and planned our route.

There is an area which is called the walled garden, designed by Humphrey Repton. We did see a very high wall but no garden. An old worthy, John Lamb whom we met on the recce explained the changes to the gardens as environmental vandalism. I had to agree there was nothing worth visiting here. So we took a short cut at the weir avoiding the kitchen garden and reaching the
woodland walk sooner than expected. At least here we were protected from the wind. Someone mentioned coffee and scones and our pace quickened. By the time we reached Torryburn again, the sleet and wind was really whipping up and we were glad to take shelter back in the cars.

The short journey from Torryburn to Limekilns was horrendous. The sleet was battering down on the cars and looking out on the Forth, we could see nothing but a wall of sleet crashing vertically into the river. What a bizarre sight.
Limekilns is a lovely wee coastal town with some delightful private shops, a great pub and a freshly renovated old stone building called the Sundial café which was our coffee stop today. Eleven treacle, fruit and cherry scones were scoffed and washed down with delicious coffee  - good for the soul.
All too quickly, we donned our soaking wet jackets again and set out for the car journey home, but not before we visited a crafty wee gift shop where some of us made purchases.

There were some things missing today. Snowdrops for a start. There seems to be far fewer snowdrops than in previous visits - certainly not enough to call a trail. And photographs. This must be the first time ever the walkers have not been snapped on a walk. And lastly we forgot our prayer before departing. Och.  Not the usual warm feeling after walking with friends, but character - building.

Cardenden to Kirkcaldy

We last did this walk in March 2009 and when I look at the photo, we're all wearing pretty well. Could have been taken yesterday!
So I'll just leave you to read the blog from all these years ago as we followed the same route today.
Eight walkers, Sybil, Isabel, Hilda, Phil, Bob D, Mary, Janis and Dianne enjoyed a lovely winter's walk, good company and nice coffee and scones at the Dean Park Hotel. Another success chalked up.

Burntisland Christmas Outing

Christmas Outing

Sunday 14 December

Venue: Potter About Burntisland

 

Enthusiasm uncurbed by the drench day 15 walkers set out from Bennochy towards Burntisland stopping Beveridge Park to walk one circumference of the park anticlockwise (that's the route which has less of an incline). There was no dilly dallying at once back at the cars we headed to Burntisland parking at the Links car park

 

We were welcomed at the door of Potter About by Lorna and Pat, co-owners and the cafe was a lovely warm and welcoming retreat from the weather. Normally closed on a Sunday they kindly opened especially for us, thanks to them both for giving up their precious day off

Down to business. The tables were all set up for us with brushes, water and all we had to do was select the piece of pottery of our choice for painting and select our paints from a great range of colours

 

Silence reigned, but not for long as we all had 100% concentration while starting to paint. There were some examples of already decorated pottery and some of us used these for ideas. Some of course went totally off piste with great ideas for decoration.

 

Once our creations were completed we retired to the cafe and had delicious sandwiches, cake (massive) and teas and coffees and lots of chat.

 

We left our masterpieces in the safe hands of Lorna and Pat as they had to be glazed and fired and we arranged for them to be picked up the following week so we could have them for Christmas

 

Back to the car we said our walkers prayer, especially thinking of our friends who either by illness, family duties or work could not be with us today

 

 

                 "May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way"     

Michael Bruce Way

                                Sunday 9 November

 

Rona wrote:

Extracts from two songs immediately spring to mind to reflect today's walk and they are; "mud glorious mud" and "slip sliding away". Although we had a lovely day to walk, days of rain had turned the path into a bit of a mud slithering event. Thankfully most had walking poles to help keep balance.

 

This walk was last done on 10 October 2010, so look at that blog more a more detailed description.  Although a bit hazy today we were still offered lovely views over Loch Leven, the Sleeping Giant and the lovely countryside. Comments were made about the amount of flowers which continued to bloom in November and although it was a very still day we managed to see some gliders in the sky overhead. We also made comment on two figures climbing up the shoulder of the hill carrying what appeared to be very large packs. A short will later they were overhead - para gliders with their brightly coloured parachutes descending at what seemed a great speed.

 

Our coffee stop was Lochend Farm Shop where we enjoyed freshly baked goodies. As daylight as starting to fade we said our Walkers Prayer and headed for home 

Binnend, Burntisland

 

Janet wrote -

On a very windy morning nine walkers left by car for Kinghorn where we parked next to the Carousel cafe and gift shop.  We walked up to the War Memorial, crossed the High Street, into Baliol Street and up passed the school.   From there we turned towards and onto Kinghorn Golf Course which was, thankfully, empty of golfers so we suffered no bumps on the head or shouts of 'Fore'.

From the Club House it was a steady but steep uphill track that took us passed the caravan park on one side and the golf course on the other.   We passed Grangehill House, walked around the farm and when we reached the main road at Gallowhill we passed through a gate (held open by for us by a gentleman), crossed the road and went through another fence onto Binnend Path.   By this time some of us were peching a wee bit and the wind was certainly getting stronger.

Up the path we went and we reached a rest area (see photo) where we enjoyed a wonderful view over the Firth of Forth and a few sweeties from Mary's seemingly bottomless supply.   There were also visitor boards explaining what we would see and also giving information about who lived in Binn Village, why it came into being and we marveled at the fact that shale was mined so long ago, was discontinued and is now being talked about today.

 

We walked on and then when we were near the old ruins of the village we turned left down a steep narrow path to take us to Burntisland.   Here we found evidence of how strong the wind had been during the night as one of the trees had been broken and was hanging over the path.   We squeezed around it and continued downhill and then a ferocious sounding dog appeared with its owner; so 'ferocious' that it let us pet it as we passed!

 

Down passed the Golf Club and left behind the flats and into wood edge until we met Kirkbank Road.   Some of us felt they just had to have a wee look at a old and rather grand house.   There were many ideas of what it might have been and what it might be now but.....?  Anyway, we turned left down Greenmount Road South and when we met the main road across from Sands Hotel we had to make a decision.   Should we continue back along the main or cross over, down to the beach and walk along to Pettycur?   For the most of us it was no contest but three brave and sturdy walkers went off to check whether they could make it along the beach.   Alas the tide was too far in so they followed us along the main road back to Kinghorn, and, even with the deviation to the beach, they made it back as quickly as the rest of the group.

Then it was into Carousel where we had our usual tea/coffee, scone and a good old blether and then after a short prayer we all headed home.

We'd had no rain, lots of strong winds to blow the cobwebs away, steep inclines and declines to test our legs, lovely views and plenty of chat.

It had been another good day with good company! 

The Kelpies, Falkirk

We departed from the church at 1000 precisely in  Viewforth HS 's luxurious minibus heading for Falkirk to visit The Kelpies. A cloudy morning with a decidedly autumnal twist, we were dressed rather differently to the last time we met. It was an easy journey through, the driver having googled the whole journey the previous night. Again, right on time, we arrived at our parking spot at Falkirk football stadium where some if us felt the need to use the facilities before moving on to meet our tour guide, Steve.





Mary bought a postcard at the ticket office so I bet George D reads it out at church on Sunday. The Helix park is very exposed so it was bitterly cauld during our tour and we shared hats, gloves and scarves around. We walked about 15 mins before even reaching the Kelpies. They are magnificent. These were sculptor Andy Scott's vision 8 years ago and he must feel completely satisfied at the wonderful result.

The surrounding plaza,  Lagoon , Playground,  wetlands, cycle paths and lots more make this a tourist attraction not to be missed for Scots folk and a real pull to the central belt for visitors to our country. I expect it will be even better once the tourist centre opens in 2015. So many people of all ages and nationalities were having a great time. Steve told us the history of the Kelpies and took us inside Duke, the head down horse, it's neighbour being called Baron, named after two life models chosen by Andy Scott for the character of their faces. Two massive Clydesdales - a testament to the industrial past if the Falkirk area.  Made from stainless steel plates - each one different- the contours of the horses' faces clearly visible.

The tour lasted 45 mins then we had to walk back to the Falkirk stadium for lunch. Very nice it was too, and some say they will return with their families. Unfortunately we had to return by the same route after lunch to go on our walk, so past the Kelpies this time and into the community woodland, trying to follow a map which was neither use nor ornament. Seeking two pieces of community sculpture in the woods, we did find one.  Charlie offering himself as the sacrifice as you see. This was a human sun clock but as it was very cloudy we couldn't really check out the time. 

 

 

 

 

 

We got A little bit lost trying to  find the other sculpture until a kind man out for a daunder showed us the way to 'love and kisses'.
Massive lips made from corten steel. As you see the children in our party used it as a plaything.






 

Back on the bus we shared our admiration of the Kelpies and the whole Helix Park. A quiz  was handed round with a valuable prize at stake for the winners. Alison and John were the winners which was nice as they were the 'new walkers' today. We then played a variation of pass the parcel - Pass the Pawkie - which June won, then shared her prize out with  the rest of the bus. The average age in the bus by the way, was 65.

We had an east journey home and arrived back at the church just after 5pm ending our meeting as always with prayer

DW