Dunfermline to Clackmannan (11.5 miles)
The West Fife Way follows a large part of the railway that formerly ran between Dunfermline and Stirling. Opened in 1852, the line saw its last passenger train in 1968 and it is now possible to walk or cycle as far as Clackmannan in a completely traffic-free environment. The path has a tarmac surface and begins at the top end of William Street, Dunfermline. This is just under a mile from the middle of the High Street and there is a car park here. The first few hundred yards take us past a housing development which sits on the actual trackbed. As we gain a little height towards the embankment level, a nice view over Dunfermline reveals itself, with the Forth Bridges clearly visible.
The old railway passes through a peaceful rural landscape and several stone bridges are encountered along the way. Oakley lies three and a half miles down the line and is the only realistic point to jump off and take a bus back to Dunfermline should you want to truncate this walk. Although the station buildings here are long gone, the trackbed does open out at the location of the old goods sidings. A mineral line to Comrie Colliery branched off here and was in use until 1987, at which point the line back to Dunfermline town centre was lifted and the old Upper Station finally demolished. The 8-arch Dean Viaduct is crossed on the outskirts of Oakley.
The signal box at Bogside Station is still in place while the wooden waiting-room building decays quietly among the vegetation. At Slack Wood, we enter Clackmannanshire where the official name of the trail changes to the Clackmannan Way. The towering Ochils soon come into view. We pass the tall chimney of a long-closed brickworks before the route ends after crossing the Black Devon river on a short viaduct. The railway carried on from here to a junction with the present-day freight line from Dunfermline (via Culross) and then proceeded to Alloa and Stirling. You can follow a rough path for half a mile or so along the old embankment before dropping down to the main road.
Otherwise head from the official end of the way into Clackmannan town centre where there is an hourly bus service back to Dunfermline (Service 8). Clackmannanshire towns are included on the Fife Dayrider ticket. Alternatively, travel 2 miles in the other direction for a look around Alloa. You can also walk to Alloa from the end of the cycleway by following a minor road parallel to the course of the dismantled railway before picking up the main A907. Cross over to find the pavement.
Alloa was a former brewing powerhouse but the industry declined as the 20th century wore on and the last major brewery (Maclays) shut its doors in 1999. Happily, Williams Brothers took over the old George Younger bottling plant on the banks of the Forth in 2004 to put Alloa back on the brewing map. It's not possible to tour the brewery but the beers are widely available in supermarkets across central Scotland and casks are produced for real-ale pubs.
PUB STOPS - Trusty Wetherspoons outlet The Bobbing John can be found in Alloa town centre.
The best place for real ale in Dunfermline is the Commercial Inn, just off the High Street. At least half a dozen ales are always available and in excellent condition. The pub has a traditional interior and hasn't changed much over the years. It doesn't have to.
You could also visit the Guildhall & Linen Exchange, a Wetherspoons establishment which offers a rotating selection of beer. Another possibility is the East Port Bar which has at least a couple of ales on tap within a more modern sports bar setting.
