Markinch can be explored through a range of themes: historic walking trails, the history of the church and landscapes with their own distinctive character. The Braes Loan Trail is a circular route on the edge of town; the Markinch Town Trail Quiz focuses on the town’s history and architecture. A section of the Fife Pilgrim Way also leads from Markinch through farmland. This gives you a choice of town history, a circular walk or a route linking two places.
Walking: a circular route or a section of a longer trail?
The historic Braes Loan Trail is 2.5 miles, or 4 kilometres, long and follows a circular route along the edge of Markinch. It starts and ends in Markinch, at a car park near bus connections and the main railway station. Along the way, there are views of the Lomond Hills to the north and across the Forth to the south. The opposing directions of the views give the circular route a distinct landscape character: the trail offers different perspectives, while starting and finishing in the same place.
The Markinch Town Trail Quiz has a different focus. It gives an impression of the town’s history and architecture, starts at the Glass Street Car Park and follows pavements. Some steep climbs are among its features. By comparison, the Braes Loan Trail is described as a circular route of a specific length; the Town Trail Quiz is defined by its connection to local history, starting point and climbs. These differences can help you plan when choosing between the trails.
Another walking option is the section of the Fife Pilgrim Way from Markinch to Kennoway, which passes through farmland and also offers views of the Lomond Hills. Unlike the Braes Loan Trail, this is a route between two named places. The three trails therefore have different profiles: a circular route with a stated length, an urban themed trail on pavements, and a section of the Fife Pilgrim Way through agricultural landscape.
Church history and historic stones
The church in Markinch was founded in the 6th century. On 19 July 1243, it was rededicated to St John the Baptist. The foundation and rededication are two separate historical milestones; the date 1243 therefore does not mark the founding of the church.
The churchyard of St Drostan's Parish Church contains heavily weathered early gravestones as well as carved stones from the 18th century. A particularly good example is a curved gravestone from 1800 for Cecilia Smith and her father, George Smith. The different forms and dates give the history of the churchyard a tangible connection to individual surviving stones.
Garden landscapes and nature at Balbirnie and Coul Den
Balbirnie is listed in Scotland’s “Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes” as a historic garden and designed landscape. Balbirnie Park is home to the Balbirnie Stone Circle, with eight standing stones, also known locally as “The Druid’s Circle”. The park near Glenrothes covers 416 acres of parkland and includes a woodland garden. Its network of paths follows the valley of the Back Burn through the park’s woodland; elevated viewpoints offer views across Fife.
Coul Den comprises developing natural habitats that attract many birds, insects and mammals. It includes one of the largest areas of naturally occurring willow carr in Fife. The ponds provide a habitat for amphibians; dragonflies and damselflies are also plentiful there in summer. Balbirnie is therefore characterised by its designed garden landscape and stone circle, while Coul Den is defined by its habitats, willow carr and ponds.
The trails and places offer different points of interest to help you choose: circular walks and views, town history and architecture, or nature and garden themes. This lets you shape your trip around your interests without treating the different trail types or landscapes as interchangeable.
Discover more destinations: Kirkcaldy, Newburgh, Ladybank, Newport-On-Tay, Steelend, St Andrews, Luthrie, Inverkeithing
For the broader travel overview: Fife.
