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The Dunfermline Culture and Heritage Trail walk
A walk · Dunfermline

Dunfermline – An Abbey, a Palace and a Pink House

About 1.9 miles on foot.

Dunfermline

Dunfermline was Scotland's capital long before it was one of its newest cities, and Robert the Bruce is buried in its abbey.

The Culture and Heritage Trail is a loop through the Heritage Quarter, the old streets round the Abbey and Palace, and some of the buildings near by. It's just under two miles on pavements, and takes two hours.

Time
About two hours: just under two miles.
The path
On pavements throughout, with some hills.
Where to start
Glen Bridge car park, one of Fife Council's paid car parks, a few minutes' walk from the Abbey, where the trail starts.
When to go
All year. The trees round the Abbey are at their best in late October. The hills are slippery in frost, and from November the light goes by late afternoon.
Children
A king's name spelled in stone round the top of a tower.
Toilets
Public toilets in Pittencrieff Park, near the Glen Pavilion.
Before you set out
The Abbey and Palace keeps its own hours. Abbot House's coffee shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm, and is shut on Mondays.

The walk

Park at Glen Bridge car park, one of Fife Council's paid car parks, a few minutes on foot from the Abbey. The trail starts at Dunfermline Abbey and Palace. Look up before setting off.

The abbey church's tower carries the words King Robert the Bruce in stone letters round its parapet, for the king who is buried here. Beside it stand the high walls of the ruined palace and a gatehouse with the road running through its arch. From there the trail goes round the Heritage Quarter, the oldest part of the town.

Abbot House, washed pink under crow-stepped gables, stands on a cobbled lane a minute from the Abbey. It's just under two miles and takes two hours, on pavements all the way, with some hills. The trail's own page has a map that shows where you are and leads from one point to the next.

If it rains

Rain only makes it wet. Abbot House's coffee shop is a dry place to stop, except on a Monday.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    West End Muse13 miles awayWest End MuseSleeps 4Old Town Chambers13 miles awayOld Town ChambersA place to stayMoment George IV Bridge13 miles awayMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2The Scott Hotel14 miles awayThe Scott HotelA hotel
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.