Balgownie Wood Circuit (4 miles)
An unclassified road leads off the A985, signposted Balgownie. After one mile there is a green Forestry Commission sign and an access road to the woodland. This is on the right-hand side opposite a cottage and there is parking space for a few cars. Balgownie Wood once belonged to Culross Abbey and there are ancient oak trees within. Follow the obvious gravel road which skirts the boundary. When this track sharply bends back on itself, take the narrower path to the left, unless you wish to explore the interior of the wood.
The route leads away from Balgownie across open moorland. Marker posts indicate the walkway was financed by an organisation called Paths For All. We cross the B9037 which has a car-parking area, making this another potential starting location for the walk. We now make our way through a stretch of reclaimed industrial land. Blairhall Colliery once operated here. The path follows the course of an old pit railway and curves round to meet the mighty 8-arch Dean Viaduct which was part of the main Dunfermline to Stirling route and now carries walkers and cyclists on the West Fife Way. Traverse the viaduct and continue along the quiet cycleway for a mile and a quarter until we reach the bridge carrying the Balgownie road over the line. Exit the trackbed at this point and walk the three-quarter mile section back to the starting point. There is no realistic way to avoid this road leg but it is quiet.
