Dunfermline - City Centre & Pittencrieff

Essential Intel

Please check the opening hours of the abbey churchyard before you go.

In Pittencrieff Park there are very steep drops. Follow the warning signs, keep children close and stay away from parapets as you continue the quest.

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Dunfermline City Centre and Pittencrieff, with Explorers helping Walter Wall, a carpet fitter, track down the sites linked to Robert the Bruce and uncover the buried loot from a lost hoard.

The quest covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 1.75 hours to complete. You'll set off from Glen Bridge Car Park on Chalmers Street, investigate the abbey churchyard area, pass St Margaret's shrine, Abbot House gardens, the Library area and the WWII memorial, then head into Pittencrieff Park and towards Pittencrieff House Museum before finishing back near the start area.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes downhill sections, steps, road crossings, Glen Bridge, other junctions and very steep drops in Pittencrieff Park, so take care throughout and cross roads only at traffic lights or when safe to do so.

Getting There

By car: Start at Glen Bridge Car Park, Chalmers Street (KY12 8DF). Park your expedition vehicle here, allowing yourself at least a couple of hours. You're on foot from here, so make sure you have all your supplies and take care as you walk through the car park.

By public transport: Make your way to Glen Bridge Car Park, Chalmers Street (KY12 8DF) to begin the treasure hunt. The Trail finishes back at the start area; the car park is just up to the left and across the road at the end.

Need the Loo?

There are toilets in the park at the end of the Trail, between Clues 22-23. There are also toilets on the right after the Italian Garden in Pittencrieff Park.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join the treasure-hunting crew 🐾

The route includes road crossings, Glen Bridge, steps, downhill sections and very steep drops in Pittencrieff Park, so keep dogs close around traffic, warning signs and parapets.

Food & Drink Stops

Loot-hunting is hungry work, so stock up early. There are plenty of refreshment stops and snack shops before Clue 09, so make sure you have supplies before you go too far.

From Clue 21 onwards, there are great picnic spots for Explorers who prefer to bring their own provisions.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Dunfermline Abbey Church

The Abbey Church is worth a visit and is free to enter. The churchyard is an important part of the route too, so remember to check its opening hours before setting off.

Palace & Abbey

The Palace & Abbey are also worth a visit while you're following the Robert the Bruce trail of clues. The latter is charged for by Historic Scotland, so allow for that if you're planning to add it to your adventure.

Pittencrieff Park

The route enters Pittencrieff Park through the large gates and continues through its grounds. With picnic spots from Clue 21 onwards and toilets at the end of the Trail, it's a handy place to linger once the buried loot has been tracked down - just keep obeying warning signs around the very steep drops.

Pittencrieff House Museum

After crossing the bridge and turning left at the top, the quest takes you to Pittencrieff House Museum. It's a natural extra stop for Explorers who fancy adding a little more local discovery to the day.

Abbot House Gardens

The route turns right after Abbot House into the garden, then leads further into the gardens in search of a stone post with a Scottish flag and animal. It's a good spot to slow the pace and enjoy one of the greener corners of the city centre quest.