Walks from Dunfermline

The vista back onto the Forth Bridge keeps changing; The Rail Bridge viewpoint is stunning. A longer route following the Fife Pilgrim Way almost the whole way, mostly off-road or on small roads and tracks across farmland, woodland, playing fields and fields of sheep, with long moderate slopes becoming steep over Castland Hill. Surfaces vary from tarmac and firm gravel to rough, muddy grassy field edges and with a long pavement stretch into Dunfermline. Follows the Fife Pilgrim Way (Inverkeithing to Dunfermline section), waymarked with thigh-high wooden posts. Rosyth is described as Scotland's only Garden City. A post office, convenience store, café and takeaway lie a few minutes off the route near Hilton Road. Extensive woodland.

Lunch: The route avoids most habitation in the middle; a post office, convenience store, café and takeaway are a few minutes off-route near Hilton Road. Many places to eat in central Dunfermline and in Inverkeithing.

Warnings: A long, busy and unpleasant stretch along and across the A985, though it has a wide bank/verge. The route is a little unclear across farmland near Wester Gellet and at Douglas Bank Cemetery. Graded strenuous; muddy in places.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Mostly off-road paths and farm tracks through quiet countryside, with pavement sections through the towns at each end. Good underfoot for much of the way and but boggy ground around Hill of Beath. An off-road cycle path from the Leys Park Road car park parallels the suggested roadside start and keeps the walk off-road.

Warnings: Navigation becomes difficult around Hill of Beath where recent works have disrupted the old paths, and the ground there can be boggy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.