Scotland's Towns: Spare no expanse in Fife

Regeneration is key and there is a bright outlook for a region that boasts a beautiful coastline, picturesque villages and vibrant towns.

Lying within easy reach of Edinburgh, and with the new road bridge over the River Forth nearing completion, Fife seems set to play a central role in Scotland in the 21st century.

In recent years tourism has given Fife a huge boost and it has been voted the country’s Number One Outdoor Destination for eight years in a row.

To travel there in style, why not take a trip on a train over the Forth Bridge – recently made Scotland’s sixth Unesco World Heritage Site.

Looking to the left as your train trundles over the tracks there is the quaint village of Culross which has shot to fame as a setting in the hit Outlander TV show.

Immediately to the right is North Queensferry Light Tower, the world’s smallest working light tower while nearby is Deep Sea World with the UK’s longest underwater viewing tunnel.

Deep Sea World is just one of the many national attractions in Fife with others including the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, the Scottish Deer Centre and the British Golf Museum.

Fife, of course, is known as the Home of Golf and it is easy to see why, as it boasts 50 courses ranging from the famed fairways of St Andrews and several traditional seaside links to beautifully landscaped parkland.

There is also a nine-hole hickory course at Kingarrock, in the grounds of the Hill of Tarvit, so aficionados can play golf as it was played 100 years ago.

Still on the train it is possible to travel on to Dunfermline, once the royal capital of Scotland and still dominated by the historic Palace and Abbey.

Here you can find the beautiful Pittencrief Park and the birthplace of one of the town’s most famous sons, the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

From Dunfermline, the train takes a scenic route, passing the Silver Sands of Aberdour, the evocatively named Burntisland and on to the historic town of Kirkcaldy, the birthplace of Adam Smith, another of Fife’s world famous sons.

The train then winds on to Leuchars, the stop for St Andrews with its renowned university where Prince William met Kate, his future wife.

In between are all the picturesque villages along the East Neuk and one of the best ways to visit these is to take a walk along the Fife Coastal Path which stretches for 117 miles from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Tay and offers an unrivalled walking experience.

It includes award-winning beaches, internationally important estuaries and wildlife reserves as well as the small fishing villages of the East Neuk.

For those who would rather explore on two wheels, Fife has big appeal with a network of some 300km of cycle routes.

A series of mountain bike route cards have been produced for the region and these are available on welcometofife.com.

Adrenaline seekers can try land yachting or zapcatting in St Andrews, watersports on Elie beach, waterskiing at Scotland’s National Waterski Centre or a track experience at Knockhill, Scotland’s national motorsport centre, near Dunfermline.

Visitors can step back in time at Falkland Palace, Cambo Estate near St Andrews and Hill of Tarvit near Cupar – all stunning with beautiful gardens and perfect places to spend an afternoon.

For whisky lovers there is Kingsbarn Distillery, Fife’s first boutique distillery which opened last year, as well as Eden Mill at St Andrews, the first combined brewery and distillery in Scotland.

There is so much to see and do but it would be a shame to miss out on Lochore Meadows, Fife’s biggest free visitor attraction with over 1,200 acres to explore.

To come to life in Fife, watch the animated video here at www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1CZgvwidLI and for more information on visiting the Kingdom of Fife, just go online and visit welcometoFife.com for full details.

Three iconic figures that are helping to drive regeneration

THE names of Andrew Carnegie and Adam Smith are known the world over and a new bid to publicise their birthplaces is aimed at not only boosting the fortunes of the towns where they were born but also the economy of the wider region and, as a result, the economy of Scotland.

Until now it could be said that not enough recognition has been given to Dunfermline as the birthplace of philanthropist Carnegie and Kirkcaldy as the first home of Smith, the economist and moral philosopher.

This is all set to change with the opening of Dunfermline Museum and Art Gallery linked to the world’s first Carnegie Library and the Adam Smith Heritage Centre and Close in Kirkcaldy.

Opening in October the former is a spectacular new facility in the heart of Dunfermline’s "Heritage Quarter". Designed by award-winning architect Richard Murphy, the building will integrate with the existing library and the 16th century Abbots House.

The galleries will bring the past, present and future of Dunfermline to life, by showcasing historic collections and by conserving and interpreting historic objects for future generations.

Visitors will be able to find out about Scotland’s Kings and Queens, who lived and now lie buried in Dunfermline and discover the connections between Saint Margaret of Scotland, King Robert the Bruce and King Charles I as well as learn how the two world wars affected Fife and its people.

In Kirkcaldy, the Adam Smith Global Foundation is preserving the last remaining physical symbols of his life in the town. A funding package of over £1 million was put together to renovate the Adam Smith Close, which connected his property to the town and the 15th century workshop in what was his garden. The improvements have created a visitor attraction including a heritage centre and a timeline where visitors can read about the major events in Smith’s life.

Experts from across the globe, including Harvard University in the US, have been involved and the exhibition contains copies of his letters containing some of his economic wisdom ... and a plea to his mother for new stockings.

This will act as a catalyst for further improvements with plans to rejuvenate the old merchants’ quarter in the town centre into an Adam Smith Merchants’ Quarter with artisan shops, a cafe culture and education centre.

"They are small steps but it is in the right direction as we have managed to rescue an important building," said Marilyn Livingstone of the Adam Smith Global Foundation.

"It has all been done through the Kirkcaldy Ambitions partnership which includes Fife Council, Kirkcaldy 4 All and the Adam Smith Global Foundation so it shows what can be achieved if we all work together.

"There is a lot of international interest in Adam Smith and we want to capitalise on this."

Jennie Lee is another iconic Fifer helping to inspire community regeneration under the banner of "Be Jennie Lee" which aims to help communities realise their greatest assets – people – by inspiring communities with her story.

Born a miner’s daughter in Lochgelly, she served as a Labour MP from 1929 to 1931 and from 1945 to 1970, playing a key role in the formation of the Open University, an act described by Prime Minister Harold Wilson as the greatest of his time in government.

Fife towns are maximising every single opportunity

Towns in Fife are working with what they have, being resourceful and capitalising on their built heritage and natural assets to create unique and distinctive centres that provide a home to commerce, culture, living and leisure.

With an eclectic mix of towns across the Kingdom, Fife suits the wanderer and ponderer, the serious shopper and the "something different" seeker.

St Andrews is a shining example of a vibrant town centre and the villages dotted along the beautiful East Neuk are home to skilled craftsmen and women who have opened up attractive outlets for their wares. Dunfermline is steeped in heritage sitting comfortably alongside new development such as the new museum and art gallery (opening in 2017).

Kirkcaldy has suffered in recent years by some big brand closures but this "lang toun" cannot be kept "doon" for long, with over 40 new independent businesses opening recently and the town having just won Best Largest Town in Fife and the Gold Medal in Beautiful Scotland awards. Kirkcaldy was Scotland’s representative in Beautiful Britain last year winning the silver gild. Four of the town’s businesses have won national awards this year including the Scottish Independent Retailer award for Coffee Shop of the year. Bill Harvey from Kirkcaldy 4 All, the towns Business Improvement District (BID) company formed in 2010 and successfully secured another five-year term said: "A series of small actions are adding up to have a big effect. We have got a strong collaboration of groups and we have had some notable successes for the businesses and for our town – we are all working together and demonstrating that Kirkcaldy has spirit, drive and determination"

"Kirkcaldy 4 All has worked hard to secure reduced parking charges for town centre users and a reduction in the season ticket parking cost for the people who work in the town. We will continue to be resourceful to deliver what we can for the town and the businesses within it.

"We are also focused on tourism and events and we help deliver with our partners events such as the biannual Bavarian Beer and Music Festival, the Adam Smith Food festival, Christmas Lantern workshops and parades and the UK’s only Beach Highland Games."

Unusually, Kirkcaldy’s beach is very close to the town centre and Kirkcaldy takes full advantage of this natural asset with investment in a new sea wall which has created a lovely seafront promenade, enjoyed by cyclists, joggers, families and walkers and at one time by Kirkcaldy’s world famous son Adam Smith.

Kirkcaldy’s waterfront is also home to Europe’s oldest and longest streetfair the Links Market which in town around Easter time.

Kirkcaldy’s waterfront is just one jewel in this town of many surprises with fabulous views across the Forth to the Bass rock, the Lothians and Edinburgh.