20 June 2022
Participants: Just me
Where: Balcarres Craig, 123m/404', P 31m, Tump, OS 59, NO 478 045
I had a look for parking in Colinsburgh but couldn't find anywhere suitable so drove a mile down the road to Kilconquhar where there was a public car park. The road between the two was quiet so it was a pleasant walk back up with a view of the hill in the distance.....
On the way I passed an interesting relic of Scotland's past, a former gas street light; there was a sign beside it giving its history:
"The Colinsburgh gas light company was formed on 8th October 1841 and the works were erected the following year on the site directly opposite this last remaining gas lamp post. The village was supplied with coal gas in 1842 and the first street lamps illuminated on the evening of the Colinsburgh October Fair. It was converted in the spring of 1887 to become the first in Scotland to produce gas from paraffin oil."
In Colinsburgh I crossed the main street and followed a right of way through the estate passing this old tower, no indication of what it was for.....
I then joined a paved road passing the imposing Balcarres House, the home of the Earl of Crawford, and then Balcarres Chapel. It was built in 1635 for Lord Lindsay of Balcarres who is buried there.....
Immediately opposite the path to the Chapel was another rough path- the way up to the high point which is crowned by Balcarres Tower, a gothic folly built in 1813. It wasn't the best time of year to visit, the path was pretty overgrown in places. The Tower is locked but there is a good view from it's base across Fife and the Forth to the Bass Rock and the Isle of May......
An interesting walk, and the estate is very welcoming of visitors. I met the current Earl while I was looking round the old Chapel.
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