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Known locally as “The Glen”, the beautiful 76 acre Pittencrieff Park was gifted to the people of Dunfermline by Andrew Carnegie. This short walk takes in some of the park’s best bits before allowing you to explore Dunfermline Abbey, burial site of King Robert the Bruce. Keep a look out for the resident peacocks whilst in the park!
Dog-friendly walk
Car park at start of the walk just off A907/Pittencrieff Street (KY12 8AE). Bus service to Pittencrieff Street or Dunfermline bus station is only a 5 minute walk away from the Abbey. Dunfermline train station is a 10 minute walk away from the Abbey.
Route: Exit the Pittencrieff Street car park to the South, opposite the kids play area. Turn left (East) to head away from the kids play area then at a fork keep left (North East). At the end of this path turn right (South) down a long straight footpath for 240m. Continue straight ahead at the first crossroads – walking between the Pavillion on your right and the Italian Gardens on your left. At the second crossroads turn left (East) towards an orange building which is the Pittencrieff House Museum. Pass the Museum and the Glasshouse on your left-hand side, cutting across the north end of the Laird’s Garden. At the end of the garden, cross over a footpath and continue straight to go down some steps towards Tower Burn. Cross the burn at the footbridge then turn right (South East). Keep the burn on your right-hand side, ignoring a path to the left after 70m and another to the right a further 100m down. When you reach a small play area turn left (North East) and go uphill towards the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. Turn left (North West) before you reach the street and you will emerge onto the corner of Priory Lane and St Margaret Street. Turn left (North) along St Margaret Street for 200m where you will find the front entrance to Dunfermline Abbey on your left (West), just before the Carnegie Library. Explore the grounds then exit from the back of the Abbey (West side) down some steps onto St Catherine’s Wynd. The entrance to Pittencrieff Park is directly in front of you. Pass through the gates and turn right (North East) up the first set of steps you reach. Keep right (North) at a fork at the top of the steps to cross Tower Burn via the footbridge. Turn left (West) so that the burn is on your left-hand side. Follow the track along the edge of the burn for 100m to a fork. Keep right (West) at the fork then only 60m further along turn right (North). Turn right again (North East) at the top of the hill and 150m along you will arrive at another park entrance. Turn left (West) to stay in the park and head towards the Andrew Carnegie Statue. Beyond the statue, at the end of the path turn right (North) then immediately left (South West) towards a play area. The Pittencrieff Street car park is on your right.
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WALK REVIEW: 20th January 2017
I really enjoyed playing the tourist and visiting some of Dunfermline’s main attractions today. I didn’t know what to expect from Pittencrieff Park: I have been to so many country parks lately and they are all so different. Located on a hill (like most things in Dunfermline) on one hand you have the the most elevated parts of the park which are wide open grassy spaces, and on the other you have the glen itself where the place takes on an almost eerie, quirky feel, almost like a little hobbit village. I loved it! Little staircases everywhere, bridges over the burn, waterfalls, shrubs and trees hiding me from the world above. It was like a little maze. I would love to go back there another day and explore more thoroughly :-)
The Abbey and Royal Palace are equally as stunning as you can see from my photos. The tomb of King Robert the Bruce is located here, along with the graves of many former Kings and Queens of Scotland. I didn’t know until recently that Dunfermline used to be the capital of Scotland!
Click here for more walks in this area
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Gillian's Walks 