Cowdenbeath Loop (4.3 miles)
Trains deposit passengers in the middle of Cowdenbeath High Street. Take the lane that runs up the side of Iceland supermarket and Stephen's bakery. This strip of land formerly carried a mineral railway. As the path curves to join a flight of stairs, note the old buildings upon the industrial estate to your left. This was the site of the Coal Board workshops and hundreds of men were employed here until the late 1980s. We merge with a very obvious railway path and a bridge under the main road lies ahead. You are traversing the original main line alignment through Cowdenbeath. The tracks were redirected in the early years of the 20th century in order to site a new station in the centre of town. The old route was retained as a freight loop until the mid-80s.
The tarmac surface runs for a quarter of a mile until we enter woodland. The path edges closer to the working railway to a point known previously as Cowdenbeath South Junction. We parallel the line for a few hundred yards before branching on to the concrete road that serves Fordell Industrial Estate. Turn right upon reaching the pavement alongside the B981. This takes us over the railway and towards a road junction. Branch left into Hill of Beath village. The titular hill stands nearby and to your left is Keirs Park, home to Hill of Beath Hawthorn Football Club who have achieved great success in regional circles. We soon pass a statue of an international football legend. Jim Baxter was a local lad and starred for Rangers and Scotland.
The housing on your left peters out and the entrance to Dalbeath Nature Reserve lies 300 years ahead. Mining and quarrying operations took place here and the area has now been restored as a haven for wildlife. An information board provides more details and it's worth wandering the short distance down to the pond. Back on the main road, follow the pavement to the intersection with Moss Side Road and turn off here. Walk down to meet a cycle path leading into a broad grassy area. This takes us back towards the town centre and we pass Central Park - home of Cowdenbeath Football Club since 1921. It's alternative guise is Cowdenbeath Racewall - a famous venue on the British stock-car racing scene. A coal mine was located next to the stadium until the late 1960s. Pass under the railway bridge to arrive back on the High Street.
