The Monks' Road

Start location: unclassified road SE of Peacehill Farm (NO 394 251)
End location: Bottomcraig, Balmerino (NO 368 245)
Geographical area: Fife
Path Type: Coffin Road
Path distance: 5.5km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Back to Search

Route Description

This is a very pleasant route and takes you along a variety of pathways and scenery eventually taking you past Kilburns, then past Peacehill Farm and out onto the minor road at NO394251.

OS Landranger 59 (St Andrews, Kirkcaldy & Glenrothes) or 54 (Dundee & Montrose)

Heritage Information

This path is known locally as the Monks' Road and is thought to have been used as a coffin road. If this was a coffin road then it must have been used by people carrying their dead either to Balmerino Abbey or to the church on the minor road to Balmerino Abbey to be buried. There are stones part of the way along this route which may be coffin rests where the coffin could easily be lifted from the shoulders and left while the coffin bearers took a well earned rest. It was probably primarily used by the inhabitants of Wormit and Woodhaven while people living to the east may have travelled to the Forgan Church for funerals.

Click here to view this path on a map

Image Gallery