Willie’s View: Spring in Kingsbarns, Fife
Willie recounts a visit to the East Neuk of Fife where he was met with blue skies and sunshine, but still a bit of a nip in the air.
I’d stopped off for a walk at Kingsbarns midway between St Andrews and Crail. I must admit I’ve often driven through Kingsbarns never realising there was a road leading down to the sands of Cambo and connecting with the Fife Coastal Path.
On the Cambo sands below Kingsbarns
How Kingsbarns got its name
This long-distance way runs 117 miles around the coast from Kincardine on the Forth to the Firth of Tay and Newburgh. I was to follow it for just a few miles today as part of a circular taking me into the rich farmlands behind the coast.
It’s often dry and sunny in this part of the country making it well suited to arable farming. Indeed, that’s how Kingsbarns got its name as, several centuries ago, this was where the Kings, who had their courts in Crail and Falkland, kept large grain barns.
Kingsbarns whisky distillery
With good quality barley on the doorstep, it’s maybe surprising that Fife isn’t as famed for its malt whiskies as the likes of Speyside. That may soon change though now that Kingsbarns has its own malt whisky distillery.
Kingsbarns Distillery – well worth a tour
Established in 2014, its historic doocot stores the casks it produces.
Fancy a dram? Well, you’ll not be disappointed with their award-winning range. I’m driving so I couldn’t do it justice today.
You can visit Kingsbarns distillery for a tour or a visit to the café.
Willie also enjoys springtime visits to the pretty little Scottish village of Killin, which is situated beside the spectacular Falls of Dochart, and to Glenshee where he shares some of the delights of the area around the foot of Ben Gulabin and into Glen Taitneach.
