Posts

Limekilns/Charleston circular

Image
It was a kind of last minute plan to walk the Limekilns/Charleston circular today. We were supposed to do North to South Queensferry (across the Forth Road Bridge that is!) last Sunday but the weather was too, too cold and icy, so we postponed till today.  Thirteen walkers were up for a wee daunder and hoped that the weather forecast was accurate. No rain till 4pm they said this morning. We arrived at Limekilns at 1.20pm and took the last four spaces in the wee car park at the pier, then off we toddled - yes, a canny pace today - along the prom. The Forth was like a millpond and although the sun was conspicuous by its absence, we were satisfied that it was a good walking day. At the end of the prom we veered off to the left into a road named The Saltpans. I googled this. Apparently, in 12th century, production of salt in Scotland came mainly from the Firth of Forth. Not in 21st century though. Your Saxa comes from Kent. Further on into East Harbour Road we came across the actual en...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aberdour circular 4.2 miles

Image
I had to look up the word 'stotting' to see if it was Fife slang or a real word. I was delighted to find it in Collins dictionary with a useful adjunct for use when it rains intensely in Scotland - STOATING!  Those of us who were at church in the morning had some disbelieving looks when they saw we were dressed for walking. "You are surely going to cancel!" "You can't go walking in that!" "Must be daft." Ignoring their words of encouragement, at 1.15pm we met up with the rest of the numpties at the train station and travelled the short distance to Aberdour.  And this was what welcomed us when we alighted from the train - lovely blue skies! Oh ye of little faith. The weatherman was spot on today - he did say it would be fair after 1pm. Eleven walkers marched along Aberdour High Street making comment about how busy the narrow road is through the village. So we walked single file at parts. On the way out of the village, it was interesting to read ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lochore Meadows

Image
  An old saying came to me before leaving for the walk today. 'A quick run around the table' is what my mum used to say when you were rushing so much, you didn't have time to sit down to eat. I found myself getting one boot on while taking a bite of my roll and writing a note at the same time. So, yes, I held everyone up. NB Don't plan a walk after Communion in future! Twelve of us met in the carpark at Lochore Meadows at 1.30pm and set off with an air of foreboding when we checked out the pewter skies above us. Loch Ore was pretty turbulent and we felt the spray on our faces. Did we consider turning back? Naw, we bashed on. We talked about the kids' playpark as we passed it and reckoned it was good use of £750,000, especially in an area of high depravation. A wonderful free facility for children of all ages  which attracts visitors from far and wide.  We had only gone a short way when we realised that we were missing one of our leaders. She was spotted way back in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kirkcaldy

Image
 ssssssssss.... the sound of my feet hitting the bath water. Yes, our dogs were barking this afternoon! I had to wonder when Margaret said the walk would be 5 miles through woodlands in Kirkcaldy how she could find a 5 miler within the town. But she did indeed. We met up at Beveridge Park car park and proceeded across the grass to the highest part of the park, as we walked, kicking the conkers lying around at the 'avenue' of horse chestnut trees with which we are all familiar. Such a beautiful warm day, the trees now turning to their autumnal palette and dropping their leaves like a carpet for us to trample on. There's nothing quite like the smell of a woodland walk to make you b r e a t h e deeply and feel healthy. The walk took us along the edge of the park, past the Mill Dam and Raith Lake. I don't remember there being 'inclines' before. And having to clamber over fallen trees made me realise that I'm not as fit as a flea any more. The others were like mo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Birnie Loch

Image
  Today is the first of Sole to Soul's weekday walks. Seven ladies and a wee dug that Mary was fostering met up at the overflow carpark at the crem and travelled in 2 cars to Birnie Loch, near Collessie. There are two lochs that sit together, Birnie and Gaddon Lochs and an easy flat pathway can take you around both. The lochs, although they looked attractive were covered in green algae which is dangerous to pets and humans, so we decided not to have a dip after all.  The weather today was gorgeous. A glorious blue sky and strong sun gave everyone the 'feel-good' factor.  However, walking through woodland, leaves beginning to scatter over the ground and smelling pine signified that Mother Autumn was just around the corner.  Rona remarked how we are only starting to hear the birds singing again now that summer is past, so we stood  for a moment to let these beautiful sounds nourish our souls. We stopped for a photo opportunity when we happened upon Ma, Pa and the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Markinch

Image
                             Our first outing with the new walking group, only we're using the old blogsite temporarily. Fifteen of us set off from Langtoun Church after the morning service heading for Markinch in cars. We parked at the railway station and took off up the High Street towards the prominent church at the top of the brae. This is now part of a four church union call Heart of Fife Parish Church. We gently progressed uphill via Kirk Wynd till we reached Manse Road, followed by Northall Road. Under the railway bridge, we were now on the country walk. Just there, Markinch Heritage Group had kindly created a map of the Historical Trail and left some leaflets to take with us.  We knew the start of this walk was a bit steep; a good thing some of us brought our walking poles. There were one or two stops to catch our breath on the way up and we pretended the stops were to take in the beautiful views acr...
Read more