Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

128  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION CENTR AL SC O TLAND  129

e Falkland Palace estate and gave it to the people Culross pros pered in the
of Dunfermline. Carnegie emi­ 16th century due to the
Falkland, Fife. Tel (01337 857397).
3 Ladybank, then bus. Open Mar– grat ed to Pennsylvania in his growth of its coal and salt
Oct: 11am–5pm Mon–Sat, noon–5pm teens and through iron and steel, industries, most notably
Sun (until 4pm Nov–Feb). & 7 « became one of the wealthiest under the genius of Sir
∑ nts.org.uk men in the world. He donated George Bruce. Descend­
some $350 million for the benefit ed from the family of
This stunning Renaissance of mankind. Carnegie Birth­ Robert the Bruce, Sir
palace was designed as a hunt- place Museum tells his story. George took charge of
ing lodge for the Stuart kings. the colliery in 1575 and
Although its construc tion was 5 Abbey Church created a drainage sys­
begun by James IV in 1500, most Tel (01383) 724586. Open Apr–Oct: tem called the “Egyptian
of the work was carried out by daily (Sun pm only). = Wheel” which cleared a
his son, James V, in the 1530s. E Carnegie Birthplace Museum mine 1.5 km (1 mile) long,
Under the influence of his two Moodie St. Tel (01383) 724302. Open running underneath the The 16th-century palace of industrialist George Bruce,
The central courtyard of Falkland Palace, bordered by rose bushes French wives, he employed Mar–Nov: daily (Sun pm only). 7 River Forth. at Culross
French workmen to redeco rate ∑ carnegiebirthplace.com The National Trust for
w East Neuk cobbled lanes and colourful the façade of the East Range Scotland began restoring the y Antonine Wall
cottages of Crail; legend goes with dormers, buttresses and town in 1932 and now provides
Fife. 3 Leuchars. @ Glenrothes & Falkirk. n Falkirk Wheel, Lime Rd,
Leuchars. n St Andrews (01334) that the stone by the church medallions, and to build the a guided tour. This starts at the (01324) 620244. 3 Falkirk.
472021. ∑ eastneukwide.co.uk gate was hurled across to the beautifully propor tioned South Visitor Centre, housed in the Open Mon–Sat.
mainland from the Isle of May Range. The palace fell into ruin one­time village prison.
A string of pretty fishing villages by the Devil. during the years of the Common- Built in 1577, Bruce’s palace The Romans invaded Scotland
peppers the shoreline of the A number of 16th- to 19th- wealth and was occupied briefly has the crow­stepped gables, for a second time around
East Neuk (the eastern “corner”) century buildings in the village by Rob Roy (see p123) in 1715. decor at ed windows and red AD 140, in the reign of Emperor
of Fife, stretching from Earlsferry of Anstruther contain the After buying the estates in pantiles typical of the period. The Antonius and built a 60­km
to Fife Ness. Much of Scotland’s Scottish Fisheries Museum, 1887, the third Marquess of Bute interior retains its original painted (37­mile) earth rampart across
medieval trade with Europe which tells the area’s history became the Palace Kee per and ceilings, among the finest in Central Scotland from the Firth
passed through these ports, with the aid of cottage interiors, subsequently restored the build- Scotland. Crossing the square of Clyde to the Firth of Forth.
a connection reflected in the boats and displays on whaling. ing. The richly pan elled interiors past 1577’s Oldest House, head The rampart was fur ther
Flemish-inspired crow-stepped From the village you can go to are filled with superb furniture for the Town House to the west. defended by ditches and forts
gables of many of the cottages. the nature reserve on the Isle of and contem porary portraits of Behind it, a cobbled street known at strategic points. One of the
Although the herring industry May, which teems with seabirds the Stuart monarchs. The royal as the Back Causeway leads to best­preserved sections of the
has declined and the area is and a colony of grey seals. The tennis court, built in 1539 for King The 12th-century Norman nave of the tur reted Study, built in 1610 fortifications can be seen at
now a peaceful holiday centre, statue of Alexander Selkirk in James V, is the oldest in Britain. Dunfermline Abbey Church as a house for the Bishop of Dun­ Rough Castle, west of Falkirk.
the sea still dominates village Lower Largo recalls the local blane. The main room is open to
life. The harbour is the heart boy whose seafaring adven tures visitors and should be seen for its
of St Monans, a charming town inspired Daniel Defoe’s novel r Dunfermline t Culross Norwegian ceiling. Continuing u Falkirk Wheel
of narrow twisting streets, while Robinson Crusoe (1719). After Fife. * 50,500. 3 @ n 1 High St Fife. * 400. 3 Dunfermline. north to the ruined abbey, fine Lime Rd, Tamfourhill, Falkirk. Tel (08700)
Pittenweem is the base for the disagreeing with his captain, (01383) 720999. @ Dunfermline. n (01383) 720999 church and Abbey House, don’t 500208. 3 Falkirk. Open 10am–
East Neuk fishing fleet. he was put ashore on an (Palace: 880359). « ∑ nts.org.uk miss the Dutch­gabled House 5:30pm daily. & for boat trip. - =
The town is also known for un inhabited island where Scotland’s capital until 1603, with the Evil Eyes. ∑ scottishcanals.co.uk
St Fillan’s Cave, the retreat of he survived for four years. Dunfermline is dominated by the An important religious centre
a 9th-century hermit whose ruins of the 12th-century abbey in the 6th century, the town of P Palace, Town House and Study This impressive, elegant boat lift
relic was used to bless the army E Scottish Fisheries Museum and palace, which recall its royal Culross is reputed to have been Open Apr, May, Sep: 11am–5pm Sat– is the first ever to revolve and
of Robert the Bruce before the St Ayles, Harbour Head, Anstruther. past. The town first came to the birthplace of St Mungo in 514. Mon; Jun–Aug: 11–5pm daily (Jun: the centrepiece of Scotland’s
Battle of Bannockburn (see p47). Tel (01333) 310628. Open daily. & 8 pro minence in the 11th century Now a beauti fully preserved Wed–Mon); Oct: 11am–4pm Sat–Mon. ambitious canal regeneration
A church stands among the 7 - = ∑ scotfishmuseum.org as the seat of King Malcolm III, 16th­ and 17th­century village, & 7 limited. = « scheme. Once important for
who foun ded a priory on the commercial trans port, the Union
present site of the Abbey and the Forth and Clyde canals
The Palace Keeper Church. With its Norman nave were blocked by numerous
Due to the size of the royal and 19th-century choir, the roads during the 1960s. Now
household and the necessity for abbey church contains the tombs the Falkirk Wheel gently swings
the king to be itinerant, the office of 22 Scottish kings and queens, boats between the two water­
of Keeper was created by the including that of the renowned ways creating an uninterrupted
medieval kings who required Robert the Bruce. The ruins of the link between Glasgow and
custodians to maintain and palace soar over the gardens of Edinburgh. This huge, moving
replenish the resources of their Pittencrieff Park. Dunfermline’s sculpture rotates continuously,
many palaces while they were most famous son, the philan- lifting boats 35m, a height
away. Now redundant, it was thropist Andrew Carnegie (1835– equivalent to 11 traditional
a hereditary title and gave the 1919), had been forbid den locks, in just 15 minutes. Visitors
custodian permanent and often James VI’s bed in the Keeper’s Bedroom en trance to the park as a boy. can ride the wheel on one of
luxurious lodgings. at Falkland Palace After making his fortune, he the boats that leave the Visitor
bought the entire Pitten crieff The rotating Falkirk Wheel boat lift Centre every 40 minutes.
For hotels and restaurants see pp175–6 and pp186–7

128-129_EW_Scotland.indd 128 10/23/17 11:57 AM 128-129_EW_Scotland.indd 129 10/23/17 11:57 AM