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The grave of Lilias Adie, a flat sandstone slab on the sands of Torryburn Bay at low tide.
Fife

Grave of Lilias Adie

A great sandstone slab on the shore of Torryburn Bay in Fife, marking the grave of Lilias Adie, a woman named as a witch in 1704.

Welcome

Out on the sands of Torryburn Bay, on the Fife shore of the Firth of Forth, lies a great flat slab of sandstone, uncovered only when the tide goes out.

Beneath it was buried Lilias Adie, a woman of the village caught up in the witch trials of 1704.

She was an old woman, about sixty, and she died in custody before her case was ever decided. She was buried not in the churchyard but here on the shore, between the high and low tide marks, under a heavy stone. It is the only known grave in Scotland of a woman named as a witch, and a rare, poignant memorial to the many who suffered in those years.

The grave was found again in 2014 by a historian and an archaeologist following old records, and in 2017 a forensic artist at the University of Dundee rebuilt her face from photographs of her skull. Visit at low tide, and walk carefully on the sand.

A short drive awayThe Lockit WellThe old well of Culross in the wall of Erskine Brae, whose lever could be locked, marked by a blue plaque.6 min by roadSee itThe Lockit Well set into a stone wall in Culross.
Before you go

The slab lies on the shore between the tides and can only be seen at low tide.

Where
Torryburn Bay, Fife.
Date
1704.
See it
At low tide.
Where it is

On the shore of Torryburn Bay, on the north side of the Firth of Forth west of Dunfermline.

Close byTorryburn.
  1. Pink, white and ochre cottages line a narrow cobbled street in the rainTanhouse BraeA steep cobbled street of colourful houses in Culross, once the burgh's shoemaking quarter.2 miles6 min by road
  2. The Mercat Cross and its unicorn finial among white houses.Culross Mercat CrossThe market cross of Culross, crowned with a unicorn, in the little square where the cobbled streets meet.2 miles5 min by road
  3. Ruined stone walls and arches beside a church tower with a Saltire flagCulross AbbeyThe monastery ruins at Culross nearby.3 miles6 min by road
  4. Dunfermline Abbey and PalaceDunfermline Abbey and PalaceThe royal abbey at Dunfermline.7 miles12 min by road
  5. Abbot HouseAbbot HouseDunfermline's oldest house.7 miles12 min by road
Directions
The Lockit Well set into a stone wall in Culross.AttractionsThe Lockit Well2.3 miles
CafeThe Mercat, Culross2.3 miles
The Red Lion's whitewashed front and door on the cobbles of Culross.RestaurantsThe Red Lion, Culross2.3 miles
Ochre gabled houses overlook a walled garden with clipped topiary and gravel pathsAttractionsThe Hanging Gardens Culross2.3 miles
The Gallery at Culross on its street in the old burgh.ShoppingThe Gallery at Culross2.3 miles
The Cat's Close street sign on an old stone wall.AttractionsCats Close2.3 miles
The Culross Town House, a grey stone tolbooth with a tower, facing the Forth.AttractionsCulross Tolbooth2.3 miles
Ochre crow-stepped gabled houses line a cobbled street beside a stone wallAttractionsCulross Palace2.4 miles
Cochrane's bust with the Scottish and Chilean flags behind.AttractionsAdmiral Thomas Cochrane Statue Culross2.5 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the grave, and when each is next free.

West End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Fife
  • 16 miles from the grave of Lilias Adie
Check datesA man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsOld Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Fife
  • 17 miles from the grave of Lilias Adie
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Fife
  • 17 miles from the grave of Lilias Adie
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Fife
  • 18 miles from the grave of Lilias Adie
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in FifeAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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