Sunday afternoon was dry but overcast as we set out for Kettlebridge. Known previously as Holekettle it developed after the building of the turnpike road around 1800. More information can be gained online at the Gazeteer for Scotland website. It is a lovely area with some very old cottages.
Parking the cars on the A914 Cupar Road we crossed over to enter the road leading to Chapel House and farm passing by a roadside lodge. Walking up the gentle incline tongues were chattering, deterring any wildlife but two curious horses came to say hello. Continuing on the road and skirting Chapel House we admired the gardens and elevated position. There was a pre-Reformation chapel neat Chapel House and it may be that the remains of the chapel have been built into one of the outbuildings at Chapel House.
Following the track around we soon heard the sound of a heavy vehicle and as good citizens in the countryside code we stood aside on the verges to allow the tractor to pass. The driver did not as we thought wish us a pleasant walk but instead stated that we were disrupting his family’s privacy and whilst he would allow us to continue our walk we were not to return. He also made it very clear that he would not enter into any discussion regarding this. This dampened our spirits a bit and was our topic of conversation for quite a while. Thankfully of all people we met on our walks, now nearing 40, a person with this type of manner is in the minority. Our next encounter was a large padlocked gate, guess who it belonged to? Well undaunted we fairly louped it, well to varying degrees we got over it. This small track led us onto Flemington Road which we followed in a southerly direction until we turned right at a T junction and followed the road, some of the time through fields and other through wooded areas until we reached Glenlia Road.
This road was mainly through wooded areas but some of the trees were magnificent colours. At one point Joe looked back the way we had walked to catch sight of two deer crossing the road.
At the end of the wood we took a small track which led onto Middleton Road and our coffee stop came into view. We were delighted to see Dianne, who made it for the coffee and cake and Margaret and Walter Simpson and their son Eric and their beautiful Dams Cottage. Margaret gave us a guided tour of the area, garden and cottage and supplied us with the history of the surrounding area. In the living room the massive log fire was burning and we were asked through to the kitchen to sit around the farmhouse table eating rich fruit cake, scones and as much tea and coffee as you could manage.
The hospitality we encountered with Margaret, Walter and Eric more than compensated for our earlier encounter and as a result we were very reluctant to leave. Plans are afoot to make this visit an annual outing. Bidding a fond farewell we set off down Candren Way with a spring in our steps and then taking a track which followed a wee burn we reached the A914, yards from where we had left our cars. Another beautiful walk.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see”. ~Mark Twain
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