Fife 2020
Adventures in Fife, autumn and winter 2020
Contains 1959 photos, the last of which were added 3 years, 9 months, 10 days, 26 minutes, and 54 seconds ago.
A trek to Dysart to buy furniture, enjoying the glorious Ravens Craig beaches on the way.
Only got caught in one or two torrential downpours, in between the sunshine, and soaked through. Lunch at Koku Shi.
(Also featuring a trip to Edinburgh the day before for doughnuts, bbl vegan deli, and my wee brother.)
In the afternoon I took my office to the beach for a W3C call. Meanwhile my brother explored Seafields and he took most of these amazing photos.
A walk to and around Ravenscraig Castle, exploring the walls and towers on the beaches.
Ravenscraig, from Dave's perspective.
Dave and I took our laptops to the rocks at Seafields for a bit. It was nice for a while but not long before we were rained off. We could see the cloud looming from a way off so we managed to pack up before we got wet. It rained on us on the walk home, then was sunny again by the time we got back. Obviously.
Later we tested our local chippy and found it excellent.
Sunset beach stroll in Kirkcaldy.
Dave and I hiked from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves and back. It was a gorgeous day. Dysart and West Wemyss are seriously cute. We saw lots of seals basking in the sun, and met a nice cat. There are gorgeous smooth sand and craggy rock beaches, as well as multiple castles en route. In the Wemyss Caves are 1500 year old Pictish rock carvings. We found one, but will need the guided tour for the rest. We got ice cream and chips in East Wemyss and limped home, after 16 miles in total (GPS).
Photos of the walk to Wemyss Caves by Dave. (See also my photos, notes, GPS etc.)
A nice Freegler offered me some things I need, but was in Glenrothes. Glenrothes is only one stop on the train, and right next to the Lomond Hills, so I thought I'd make a day of it and go for a hike before picking up the stuff. But also it turns out Glenrothes doesn't have a central station, but is in between two that are quite far from town.
Dave and I started the hike at Markinch station; one hour to the Pitcairn Center which was the 'real' start of the hike. We walked through woods and fields and ascended East Lomond (aka Falkland Hill). It was perfect hiking weather; overcast and not to warm and not too cold, and all the beautiful autumn colours are out. There were some people dressed as knights filming swordfights in the carpark near the base of East Lomond, and a few small families out for a hike as well.
We descended the steep way, and made a loop back to the Pitcairn Center, with only a slight detour off the trail through some bushes. This took three and a half hours, which was longer than I expected.
Then we marched south for another hour, around Glenrothes town center, to pick up our Freegle items (and met a nice doggo called Duncan). Fortunately nothing heavy. After that it was just 45 minutes back along a cycle path to Markinch for the train home.
The hike itself was perfect, but the extras at the beginning and end totally wore us out; 17 miles in total. GPS trace here.
Dave's photos from the hike up East Lomond and around Glenrothes.
I made myself some handwarmers, which Dave promptly borrowed and stretched. So I made Dave some handwarmers. He wanted fingers on his too which is quite fiddly. Good use of small scraps of yarn.
A walk from Kirkcaldy to Dysart through Ravenscraig, followed by some lounging on the vast damp expanse of Kirkcaldy beach, and lunch and a Nice Sit Down in a good chair at Anderson's cafe.
Misc Kirkcaldy photos; settling in.. Beach and Beveridge park.
Back to Dysart because I freakin' love it; still nice in the rain. Later, a sunset stroll in the Seafields direction to catch some vibrant skies.
Woke up at sunrise cos the clocks went back. In the afternoon I ran from Kirkcaldy to Pettycur Bay with a pause to look at the pretty town of Kinghorn (GPS trace). Rain threatened ominously, but actually held off. Some brisk wind and some warm sun. Really nice trail.
Another hike from Kirkcaldy to the Wemyss Caves, this time with an extra leg to Buckhaven. We did a guided tour of the Caves by a member of the Save Wemyss Caves Society which was super interesting in terms of ancient and local history. Learnt both about the Picts, and the local gangs..
10 miles in total - see GPS trace.
Also some pictures from the night before - an evening walk to the Seafields Tower, and takeaway from Koku Shi.
A run to Seafields (GPS trace) and some time sitting on the nearby beaches when the sun was out. Becoming convinced Fife has its own microclimate, although you've gotta take the opportunities when the clouds part cos they most certainly do not last.
Hike along the beach from Leven to Upper Largo, then inland, up Largo Law which was a slippery muddy vertical lurch. Said hi to sheeps on top. The sun came out at the perfect time, then disappeared for good. Lundin Links and the Largos are really cute. Nice beaches, cute holiday cottages. Lots of golf courses. GPS trace.
Dave's photos from the Leven to Largo Law hike.
Walked to Burntisland from Kirkcaldy (GPS trace) the back way. I was scoping it out as a cycle route, but the last third is completely inaccessible to a bike (at least with my level of ability) even when the paths aren't completely flooded (which they were). Stopped for a nice lunch at The Fix, and wrote for a bit, then picked up groceries from Grain & Sustain. Train home with a full backpack.
The caravan behind my flat got set on fire at midnight. Photos show the plume of smoke shortly after 6 firepeople put it out. I was too slow to capture the tower of flame.
Drizzly walk to Dysart.
Misc sunrises from my window. This week has had bright clear mornings and rainy grim rest-of-days.
Except for Thursday, which was clear all day, though freezing, and in the evening the sky and sea were vivid, almost glowing. I've never seen it so intense.
Weather was extremely indecisive, but I managed to make it out to the beach at Seafields during a gap in the rain in the evening. Pretty windy though.
Walked to Burntisland today along the coastal path to pick up supplies from Grain & Sustain. Rain swept along the coast at one point, but timed it (totally on purpose of course) so that it was going in the opposite direction to us and we just passed through it for a few minutes. Almost got wet feet on the tramp across Burntisland's enormous beach. Then, because it's Sunday and the train schedule is silly, also walked back. Glad to have Dave along to carry the groceries. A lovely sunset and bright moon. GPS trace, 12 miles total.
An afternoon sitting on the rocks at Seafields with my notebook for nanowrimo. Saw and heard lots of birds, and very few humans. Stayed until I was too cold to write.
A walk through the woods in Beveridge Park, and out to Raith Lake, where again I sat and scribbled until my fingers froze.
Continually impressed by and grateful for the presence of the sun here, even if it's only for a few hours a day.
Miscellaneous beautiful days in Kirkcaldy.
An evening of an imminent storm that never came, with gorgeous vibrant skies reflecting on the beach at Seafields.
Multipurpose crochet scarf/band thingie in colours of both the trans pride flag and the winter evening sky in Fife.
I helped out with a beach clean in Burntisland this morning, and got one heavy bag of rubbish after 2 hours. The Burntisland beach is immense and gorgeous, so it was a good opportunity to explore it more while the tide was out. I got out to the Black Rock for the first time. Got very wet feet, and there are lots of sinkholes. It was beautiful day.
I met strange tiny sand aliens, who were waving their little arms, waiting for the sea to come back for them..
Dave caught up with me later. We had lunch at The Fix, picked up groceries from Grain & Sustain, then walked around the port a bit while we waited for the train back.
Hiked to Balwearie Castle, just outside of Kirkcaldy. GPS trace.
Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride along the promenade, was a nice breath of fresh air. (It's hard to make myself go out on my bike, so making myself go to things like this is good.)
Misc Kirkcaldy skies..
Photos by Dave of the Greener Kirkcaldy community bike ride. And some others around Ravenscraig later in the day.
Walk to Dysart and back on a crisp day.
Along the Fife Coastal Path from Inverkeithing to Burntisland. A beautiful coastline, incredible views, and ending with a truly spectacular sunset. Who said December in Scotland had to be grim?
Dave's photos from the Dalgety Bay hike.
Beach walk as snowclouds loom.
