Kirkcaldy Heritage (2.2 miles)
The Lang Toun of Kirkcaldy may not have the royal history of Dunfermline but it was an industrial powerhouse in its day and gave Adam Smith - the founding father of economics - to the world. Starting at the railway station, drop in to the adjacent town museum and art gallery. The permanent exhibition on the history of Kirkcaldy is excellent and the upstairs galleries host a large amount of artwork and temporary displays. The building also contains the town library. Alas, the tall wooden bookshelves have been replaced by squat modern units.
Make your way through the memorial gardens and emerge at a roundabout. Go straight over and sweep around the bend at the bus station. The town house and its square are located here. Head down Whytes Causeway to the High Street. Almost opposite you is the entrance to the Mercat Shopping Centre. In days gone by, this mall would throng with people but - like many other medium sized towns - Kirkcaldy has struggled to cope with changing retail habits and footfall has declined drastically.
Turn right towards the western end of the main drag and cut down Nicol Street to reach the seafront. The entire promenade is a mile long but we join it here mid-way. Walk east towards the harbour, which closed to commercial shipping in 1992 but reopened in recent years to accommodate grain imports for the nearby flour mill. Linoleum was the town's main export during the peak industrial years, along with the ubiquitous coal. A good variety of bird life can be found at the harbour's inner basins.
You could turn back up the High Street but it's worth strolling along to the Harbour Bar. Long regarded as one of Fife's best real-ale pubs, the Harbour has six handpumps in action and you are sure to find something to suit your taste. At the time of writing, the future of the business is uncertain following the death of proprietor Nick Bloomfield. Head back towards the town centre, passing the Merchant's House at Law's Close. This is one of the best preserved 16th-century townhouses in Scotland and now hosts an excellent café on the ground floor. Be sure to take a look at the gardens to the rear. A little further up the High Street is the Enlightenments arts hub, which has a friendly coffee shop. Continue along the main drag, passing by Kirkcaldy Indoor Market - still trading indefatigably in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately the cinema has been standing empty for over two decades. Take a right at Kirk Wynd and climb the flight of stone steps to have a look at the Old Kirk and its associated graveyard. Many headstones feature trade symbols.
Kirk Wynd leads to St Brycedale Avenue and the eponymous church is located on the corner. The tall spire is a major landmark and a welcoming café is located within. Churches face challenging times and often a battle for survival. St Brycedale's and the Old Kirk are united under the name of St Bryce Kirk and many community events are hosted. Turn left alongside Fife College and you will approach the gardens where the town walk began. Note the Adam Smith Theatre on your right. Opened in 1889, a wide variety of events are staged here.
