Delightful Dunfermline and lovely Leven on the Stagecoach 7
A perfect day out combining Scottish heritage and magnificence, with culture, shopping, park and coastal balm!
Take a stroll round Pittencrief Park in Dunfermline
Start the day with a languid stroll round ‘The Glen’, Pittencrief Park, which was gifted to the people of Dunfermline by Andrew Carnegie in 1902. It offers blissful woodland walks and a children’s play area and also The Glen Pavillion, which is in the heart of the park and is an impressive art deco building.
Check out Abbot House
This beautiful ‘A’ grade-listed building is situated within Dunfermline’s Heritage Quarter. It’s known as ‘the pink hoose’ by locals, due to its striking colour and is next to Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, which are worth also perusing. Abbot House has a splendid walled garden and also comprises a beautiful Gift Shop selling locally made artisan products, a book nook with local, Scottish and antique books, as well as a wonderful independent coffee shop to enjoy a cake and some refreshment before boarding the bus!
Board the number 7 bus from Dunfermline Bus Station
This is a delightful journey as the bus makes its way alongside the glistening, dramatic and often rugged coastline through Dalgety Bay towards Kirkaldy.
Alight the bus at Kirkaldy Bus Station
Soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant town, with its multitude of restaurants, cafes and bars. At Easter, it hosts the Kirkaldy’s Links Market – Europe’s longest street fare! Take a walk down to Kirkaldy Galleries to find out more about the heritage of Kirkaldy!
Visit the Kirkcaldy Galleries
The Kirkaldy Galleries houses a stunning collection of artworks and artefacts, including work by the Scottish colourists and famous artists, including Jack Vettriano.
Enjoy some lunch in Kirkaldy
There’s some great places to eat, including Jocks Grill House, which serves shakes, coffee, cakes and traditional lunch or maybe visit Betty Nicols – a traditional Victorian Bar, dating back to 1741. Bob and Berts Cafe is also highly recommended too!
Back on board the number 7 bus at Kirkaldy
The adventure continues and with it, more wonderful scenery unfolds as Aberdour approaches, then straddling the coast, through beautiful fishing villages before its denouement in lovely Leven!
Alight the bus at Leven
Leven’s a modern town with a real vibrancy but also deep heritage. You’ll feel this as soon as you alight and pass a range of bustling shops and restaurants as you make your way down to the beach….
Take a stroll down Leven Beach
Stunning, simply stunning! This beach stretches for miles and is a prime spot for picnics and leisurely walks along the promenade. Soak up the ambience, hopefully the sun will shine too – there’s nothing better also than the becalming sounds of crashing waves and squawking gulls!
Time for coffee, toasties and cakes at the Beach Coffee House
This is a great place to look out onto the sea and enjoy some delicious scran!
Enjoy a walk round Letham Glen
Letham Glen is an idyllic park in the heart of the town with a well-cared for sunken garden – it’s a great retreat from the bus of the town!
Back on board the number 7 bus to Dunfermline
It’s been a delightful day and now it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the east coast of Scotland’s scenery as the bus makes it’s way back to Dunfermline, arriving back at 21:10
Other great places to visit if you are staying longer!
Dunfermline Palace and Abbey are the most impressive of medieval interiors and important of royal sites, having been founded as a priory way back in 1080.
Aberdour Castle is one of the two oldest datable standing castles., with parts dating from 1200. Visitors can see the large and imposing suite of buildings and a delightful walled garden, with scented flowers and a beehive-shaped doocot, which overlooks the Forth.
Andrew Carnegie’s birthplace in Dunfermline is has been preserved at a museum and his cottage offers fascinating insights into his early life. The museum showcases a remarkable journey from a weaver’s son to a steel magnate and philanthropist.
