Fife Pilgrim Way
The Fife Pilgrim Way follows a medieval pilgrim trail across Fife. Modern day walkers can enjoy this 64 mile route, starting at North Queensferry and Culross and finishing in St Andrews.
ExploreThe Fife Coast and Countryside Trust is an independent charity working with partners for a healthy environment that supports wellbeing and sustains the balance between people and nature.
Spread across more than 70 sites, FCCT maintains the Fife Coastal Path, Fife Pilgrim Way, the Lomond Hills Regional Park, local nature reserves, and award-winning beaches. The organisation has its headquarters at Harbourmaster’s House in Dysart where it manages a coastal visitor centre.
Mission Statement
Connecting Environment and People
Vision
We lead in the care of Fife’s outdoors. Working together with you, we create a healthier environment that supports wellbeing and sustains the balance between people and the natural world.
Friday, September 11 Sep 2026
An ambitious partnership project to restore the Back Burn to its more natural state in..
FCCT offer a range of events, activities, conservation activities, guided walks and family friendly events to encourage the younger generation to develop a love of the environment.
This section includes an extensive range of downloadable resources, including themed walks
and information leaflets, which are sure to enhance any visit to Fife.
Continuing our deep dive into the Back Burn for #WorldRiversDay...
People have lived near the Back Burn for thousands of years. Neolithic artefacts have been found in the Balfarg area dating up to 4,900 years old, and there were hillfort communities living on the Lomond hills (where the burn originates) during the Iron Age.
During these times, people may have used the burn for water and food, and it may have been important to their sense of place, identity and spirituality.
The land surrounding the burn was very marshy (the local place name ‘Balbirnie’ means ‘farm of the damp place’), so eventually people started draining land and shifting watercourses into straighter lines to create more space for farming.
The earliest Ordnance Survey maps show sections of the burn that are already altered and unnaturally straight. This suggests these modifications for farming (for water and to drain rainfall) may have taken place centuries ago.
Other local industries also used the burn for water, like the John Haig & Co whisky distillery. Coul Reservoir was built around 1900, and sluice gates and weirs were installed to control the flow of water to the distillery. The blue sluice gate above the reservoir can still be seen, a remnant of these operations (see our before and after river restoration pictures).
In the 18th and 19th century, Balbirnie estate parkland was re-designed and the burn modified to provide picturesque views. The addition of weirs created waterfall features, and hard banking was added to contain the water within its channel. The burn provided scenic value to visitors and continues to do so today.
#Markinch #CoulReservoir #BackBurn #riverrestoration #nature #wildlife #history #heritage #industry #whisky #loveFife
Could you help Fife Climate Forest to put down roots? We`re recruiting a full-time Seasonal Connectivity Tree Officer.
The successful candidate will work with partners to identify, assess and progress woodland creation and other tree and hedgerow opportunities. They will be educated to SCQF Level 8, which includes an HND or equivalent in forestry, countryside management, land management, environmental management or a related subject.
Demonstrable relevant experience will also be considered.
🍎 £31,761.26 to £34,914.86
🍎 Fixed term to 31 May 2027
🍎 Based at our Pitcairn Centre, Glenrothes
🍎 Closing date Sun 11th October
Visit our Vacancies page for the job description and an application form: https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/.../work-with-us/
@climateactionfife @thetreecouncil @woodlandtrustscotland @fifecollege
#FifeClimateForest #FifeTreeWardens #trees #jobsintrees #treejobs #jobsinfife #fifejobs #outdoorjobs #countrysidejobs #hedgerows #communitywoodlands #vacancies #hiring #werehiring #jobsinwoods
In the run-up to #WorldRiversDay on Sunday, we`re celebrating the Back Burn - which you may know by a different name altogether!
This burn earns a new name with almost every mile it travels. In its upper reaches, it`s known as the Conland Burn, a name thought to be derived from the Gaelic for ‘group of enclosed fields’, probably relating to the nearby West Conland farm.
Downstream of the Coul Reservoir it is then known as the Coul Burn, a name which can be seen on maps as far back as 1684. ‘Coul’ is also a name of Gaelic origin, meaning ‘back’, as in, the place at the back. The back of what, we don’t quite know. However, coincidentally, the ‘Back Burn’ is exactly what the burn is called between Markinch and Windygates, but in this instance it’s a Scots derived name meaning ‘burn at the back’.
Confused? Well to add to that, the burn is also known as the Balfarg burn, the Balbirnie burn and the Markinch burn at various points, and eventually joins the Kennoway burn for a short stretch before finally joining up with the River Leven.
This burn clearly goes by many names, and the correct one depends on who you ask! Look out for tomorrow’s post where we’ll discover the long and varied relationship between people and the Back Burn.
You can read about the Back Burn river restoration project here: https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/back-burn.../
📍Map excerpt from John Adair, The East Part of Fife, 1684. ‘Coul’ can be seen faintly underneath the Lomond Hills, as well as other names the burn has gone by including Balfarg, Balbirnie and Markinch.
#BackBurn #riverrestoration #Glenrothes #Markinch #CoulReservoir #history #heritage #rivers #burns
Are you a Fife Tree Warden, or curious about getting involved in planting, caring and speaking up for Fife`s trees? Please join us at our Fife Tree Wardens Network Day.
This annual gathering is a mix of indoor talks and hands-on outdoor workshops and it`s free to attend. And it`s in the inspirational setting of @standrewsbotanicgarden which you will enjoy walking around in the afternoon. Please visit our events page to book your free place, or email any queries to [email protected]
🌳 Sat 3rd October
🌳 10am - 4pm
🌳 St Andrews Botanic Garden
https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/.../fife-tree.../
@climateactionfife #FifeTreeWardens #FifeClimateForest #networking #volunteering #trees #communitywoodlands #daysout #outdoors #helpinghands #teamwork #thankyou
🌿As the Back Burn River Restoration project completes, it`s been shortlisted for a prestigious Nature in Scotland Award!
The project has been delivered through a solid partnership with SEPA and Fife Council. SEPA`s River Restoration Specialist, Lynda Gairns, says: “SEPA are delighted with the work completed at the Back Burn to improve the river’s ecology and surrounding area.
"The improvement works have returned the river to a more natural state and it’s great that this has been recognised by being in the running for a Nature of Scotland award. Credit goes to the strong partnership and the local community for making this happen.”
https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/back-burn.../
@rspb.scotland @scottishepa @fifecouncil @cbec_eco_engineering_uk #NatureofScotlandAwards #awards #riverrestoration #loveFife #rivers
