Leven Silverburn Park (3 miles)
The town of Leven is located right on the North Sea and has good bus connections. The campaign to reopen the railway is ongoing and seems an obvious way of promoting public transport as a mothballed freight line is still in place. From the promenade, follow the shoreline alongside and caravan park and the golf links. Look out for a gravel path to your left which cuts inland and divides two golf courses which back onto each other. This walkway leads into Silverburn Park.
The estate was formerly home to the Russell family which owned the Tullis Russell paper mill in Glenrothes. The mill was a major employer in the area for two centuries (my wife worked there) until its collapse in 2015. The land was gifted to Leven Town Council in 1973 and now provides a pleasant area for locals. The walled garden is a lovely spot to sit and relax. Look out for the retting pond - now covered in a thick layer of algae. Retting was the process of soaking flax fibres to soften them up. Further up the hill is Silverburn House, sadly suffering from severe fire damage and now fenced off to the public. Make your way back to the town centre along the route which separates Leven Links from Scoonie Golf Course. The Caledonian Hotel will come into view as you approach the High Street. It offers excellent pub grub. Also recommended is Stuart's Bakers Cafe.
