Pilgrims’ Way Stage 2

Inverkeithing to Dunfermline

As Stephen and I waited at Inverkeithing Station for the arrival of the train bringing the rest of the walkers we tried to guess how many modern day pilgrims would be daft enough to turn up on such a dismal day. We were quite surprised to find another 10 ‘dafties’ appear including a couple of new walkers, Stan and Rhona’s nephew Alan, dragged all the way from Aberdeenshire to be soaked with the rest of us on his first (and probably last) 6 and a half mile trek with Bennochy Walkers. 

The walk itself was pretty non-descript although it might have been more enjoyable had it not been for the weather. We started at Inverkeithing Station and pretty much straight away we were hit by our first, but not last fairly steep incline. It has to be said that the pilgrims Way signage is not the best. Had it not been for Mary and Rhona's previous recce I would have carried on straight up the High Street in the totally wrong direction. Luckily we were kept on track as we walked up the steep hill. Had it been a nice day, the views behind us would have been spectacular but all we could see was mist, rain and fog!

We carried on following the path which was an odd mixture of housing, roads and fields, through Rosyth continuing past the back of the Dockyard. Downhill led us to the Kincardine Road leading to Pattismuir Cemetery taking us back to the shelter of the trees. At the end of these woods we arrived at Dunfermline where the sight of Pittencrieff House in the distance was a very welcome view as this meant our walk was almost at an end. By the time we reached Dunfermline Abbey, we were cold, wet and soaked to the skin but we were all still smiling as the exercise and company was as good as always. No coffee stop this time as it was almost time for us to head our separate ways until next time when hopefully the weather will be kinder to us

Kerry