Aberdour to Dalgety Bay - 31/03/2019

We parked at Silver Sands Car Park in Aberdour and headed west to Dalgety Bay, or, more specifically to st Bridget's Church, which I had read was associated with the Covenanters. I could not see from the map how a circular walk could be made  without extending it inordinately, so it was going to be a 'there and back' walk.

Aberdour is an attractive village and it glowed in the warmth of spring sunshine as we set off.

Aberdour Pier. NT1985

Aberdour Harbour. NT1985

We followed the Coast Path to the Main Street and then turned off at Wester Aberdour, still following the Coast Path and a cycle route.

Lodge House, Wester Aberdour. NT1885

Being a Sunday and a lovely day, there were lots of people around and it was also Mother's Day, our first without our own mother and we had been to her grave together that morning. As we walked through Downans Plantation on a path lined with dancing Daffodils, I thought of mum and how she told me her mother never used to like Daffodils and then suddenly changed her mind about them. That had been in response to my own confession of the same. "I'm not very keen on Daffodils." Since she told me that I have changed my mind too. They are far from being my favourite flower, but they are amongst the bravest, blooming as they do in early spring with their showy, cheery faces.

Daffodils in Downans Plantation, a tribute to mum on Mother's Day. NT1884

Seawards, we caught interrupted glimpses of Inchcolm Island and relived memories of our visit there with our older brother 13 years before.

Inchcolm Island from Fife Coast Path. NT1884

The Daffodil theme continued into the next gridsquare.

Approaching Dalgety Bay. NT1784

We were soon at St Bridget's Kirk and what a delightful place it is.

St Bridget's Kirk, Dalgety Bay. NT1683

Rev. Andrew Donaldson was appointed minister here in 1641 and made many changes in his parish by building a school and insisting on education for all. Donaldson was a staunch Presbyterian and was ejected from his charge in 1664 because he ignored the order which Charles I was trying to impose on the Church in Scotland for a return to Episcopacy. Refusing to leave his parish, he had to be marched off the premises by soldiers. He began to preach 'illegally' and was cast into Linlithgow Prison for doing so. Furthermore, 23 families with whom he had had contact were heavily fined for their association with him. For more information about Andrew Donaldson, see this archived book.

We spent some time exploring the ruins of this fascinating place. What an ideal location for a church and lovely place to be buried. There are many interesting and ancient graves here too. I decided I would return here for my birthday picnic in May and bring dad who would love it too.

Graves at St Bridget's Kirk. NT1683

Window in St Bridget's Kirk. NT1683

There is also a keep built into the kirkyard's walls for the 'beadles' to keep their eyes open for body snatchers, as this was a lucrative operation in its time. Legend has it, however, that some of the 'beadles' would signal over the water to Edinburgh whenever there was a fresh body to snatch.

St Bridget's Watch-house or 'keep'. NT1683

I must mention here, writing retrospectively, that I have now paid several visits to this ancient churchyard and it remains one of my favourite spots in Fife. One visit was with my good friend and walking companion, Jane, who frequently accompanied me on my gridsquare forrays in Dorset and was (and she says, still is) an avid reader of my former blog. Jane came to see me in June and this seemed a good walk to do given she hadn't brought her hiking boots and time was limited. It was lovely to walk with her and see this location again in its summer dress. We even made it a square or two further into Dalgety Bay proper but we were too busy chatting for me to take photographs!

There was an opportunity to bag one more gridsquare by taking a footpath to the south of the one we'd come on. Obviously we grabbed that opportunity.

Path to Sewage Works. NT1783

Path to the Oil Terminal. NT1783

Just before the Oil Terminal, we headed north to rejoin the Daffodil-lined path we'd taken before and walked back into Aberdour.

Number of new gridsquares: 6
Number of miles walked: 6.28
Walk worth repeating: given I have already done so, Yes. (Although I'd be interested to hear of a more circular alternative)