Leaving Kinross for Edinburgh, the road, two miles and a half from the former place, crosses the water of Gairney; and two miles further on, passes Blair-Adam, the seat of Lord Chief Commissioner Adam, at the eastern extremity of the Cleish hills. The grounds of BlairAdam are interspersed with thriving and extensive plantations, laid out with much taste. Half a mile in advance the road crosses Kelty Bridge, enters the county of Fife, and, at the distance of four miles and a-half, reaches Cross-gates, where roads branch off to the left by Bruntisland, the shortest road to Edinburgh, and to the right, by Dunfermline.* Nearly a mile beyond Lochend, (Purves,) and then Lochead, (Aitken ;) a mile forward, are the collieries of the Earl of Elgin, and of Wellwood of Garvock, upon the right; and on the left, the extensive collieries of the town of Dunfermline, and Syme of Garnock; a mile beyond these is the town of Dunfermline. After leaving Dunfermline, Brucefield, (Black,) is seen upon the left; half a-mile on, is Hill-house, (Earl of Elgin.) A mile more, Pitreavie, (Shovel Blackwood, the descendant of Sir Cloudesley Shovel,) on the left. Here upon the road-side, is a large stone, called St Margaret's Stone; because Queen Margaret, being fatigued, leaned against it, when she first came to the court of her future husband, Malcolm Canmore, at Dunfermline. Two miles further, the town of Inverkeithing is seen to the left; and beyond, on the right, the ruins of Rosyth Castle, (Earl of Hopetoun,) within high-water mark. A mile and a quarter on, the road enters North Queensferry. Distance from the Rumbling Bridge to Dunfermline, nine miles; from Dunfermline to North Queensferry, six miles. Dunfermline, about four miles distant from the Perth road, is highly deserving the notice of the Tourist. It is a royal burgh of great antiquity, one of the most considerable manufacturing towns in the county of Fife; and remarkable for its abbey, which was the common cemetery of the kings of Scotland, after Iona, or Icolmkill, in the Hebrides, had ceased to be so. This abbey was founded by Malcolm Canmore, who usually resided at a castle, the remains of which are still visible, on an isolated hill, in a valley near to the town. The abbey was bestowed on monks of the Benedictine order, brought from Canterbury, and splendidly endowed. In 1303, Edward I. burned down this magnificent fabric, excepting the church and cells; "be this point, the road passes Dowloch on the right, and Balbugie on the left; and here a road strikes off to Kirkcaldy. Another mile and a-half on, the Tourist enters cause," says Matthew of Westminster," the Scots had converted the house of the Lord into a den of thieves, by holding their rebellious Parliaments there." The cells thus spared, and the principal part of the church, were destroyed at the reformation. The remains of the abbey are extensive and magnificent; the fratery, in particular, with its beautiful window, is extremely striking: adjacent to it is the abbot's house. The old church, part of which is used for parochial service, is supported by massive pillars, twenty feet high, and thirteen and a-half in circumference, ribbed spirally, and two of them marked with zigzag lines. In the area of the church is shown, what is said to be the tomb-stone of Margaret, sister of Edgar Atheling, queen of Malcolm Canmore; also six flat stones, each nine feet in length, under which as many kings are said to lie buried. On digging a grave, a good many years ago, there was discovered a stone coffin, six feet in length, containing human bones; and, at the same time, there were found fragments of a marble monument, finely carved and gilt. In 1818, on preparing the foundation for the New Church, the tomb of the illustrious King Robert Bruce, who was buried here in 1329, was discovered. The skeleton, which measured six feet two inches, was found entire; and, after a cast of the skull was taken in plaster, the remains were recommitted to the earth. Not far from the ruins of Malcolm Canmore's tower, in a most romantic situation, south-east of the town, are the ruins of a once magnificent palace; the south-west wall is all that remains of it. In this palace, the unfortunate Charles the First was born in 1600. The bed on which he was brought forth is still preserved in Broomhall-house. Dunfermline, situated on a rising ground, elevated 271 feet above the level of the sea, enjoys one of those varied and magnificent prospects which are so numerous along the shores of the Forth. The city and castle of Edinburgh, and Arthur Seat, are distinctly seen. From the steeple of the church, the view comprehends many of the most remarkable hills in the southern division of Scotland, Soutrahill in Berwickshire, and the rest of the Lammermuir ridge, Tinto in Lanarkshire, Benlomond in Dunbartonshire, the Campsie hills in Stirlingshire, Benledi in Perthshire, with the Ochils in Fife and Clackmannanshire, and the Pentlands in Mid-Lothian; and, besides these, the windings of the Forth from Leith almost to Stirling. INVERKEITHING, a royal burgh, agreeably situate upon a bay of the Firth of Forth, in which the King's ships of war, stationed in Leith Roads, sometimes anchor, to avoid the winter storms. A considerable quantity of salt is manufactured here from sea water; like other towns upon the coast of Fife, Inverkeithing has an air of antiquity. It received its first charter from King William, and afterwards various charters from other kings; these were all confirmed by James VI. The view of Edinburgh from hence, with its magnificent castle, buildings, lofty spires, and towering monuments, is truly sublime. Two miles beyond this town, the road enters NORTH QUEENSFERRY, a small town upon a promontory on the Forth, opposite to one on the southern coast, upon which South Queensferry is situate. This village is principally occupied by operative boatmen, who hold their houses in feu under the Marquis of Tweeddale, as successor of the abbot of Dunfermline; it is called by Buchanan Portus Margaritae, from Queen Margaret having frequently crossed the Forth at this point. The inhabitants long remained attached to the Roman Catholic faith; and, so late as the time of the Commonwealth, Cromwell's Roundheads were astonished to find here a chapel, founded by Robert the First, used as a place of Catholic worship. By those root and branch men was this chapel assailed, and not one stone left standing upon another; the area of the chapel is now used as a burying-ground by the inhabitants. The ferry across the Forth here is under excellent regulations, the right being vested in a numerous Board of Trustees established by act of Parliament, who have effected many valuable improvements by the erection of piers, and otherwise. The Tourist crosses the Ferry, and landing at Newhalls Inn, east of South Queensferry, proceeds nine miles to Edinburgh. On the right, above the town of Queensferry, is situate the handsome building of Duddingston House, (G. H. Dundas, Esq.) A little to the south, upon an eminence, is Dundas Castle, the seat of the family of that name; part of the building is of great antiquity, and consists of a lofty square tower; the modern part is in the Gothic style of architecture, the views from which are of the most varied and interesting description. About four miles on the road to Edinburgh, on the right, is Craigiehall, (Hope Vere, Esq.) and on the left the entrance to Dalmeny Park. The banks of the river Almond in this neighbourhood are particularly interesting, and well deserve a visit from the Tourist,-the Old Bridge of Craigiehall is peculiarly romantic. A mile in advance on the left, is Barnton House, (W. R. Ramsay, Esq.;) and at the distance of about another mile stands the ancient Castle of Lauriston, formerly the seat of the famous John Law, now the property of Thomas Allan, Esq., whose collection of minerals is the richest and most valuable in Scotland; and upon the right are Craigcrook Castle, (Francis Jeffrey, Esq.,) and Ravelston, (Sir A. Keith, Knight Marischal of Scotland,) passing Dean House on the left, and on the right the new Hospital endowed from the funds of John Watson, W. S. who died 1759, for the maintenance and education of destitute children, the Tourist enters Edinburgh by Prince's Street. |