Diane MacKenzie says

Restoration of the many 'Rights of Way' in and around the village took place in the late 1980's & early 1990's however there has been no regular maintenance for a long time and the local footfall has had limited success in keeping the paths passable and nature at bay. There is no signage to encourage walkers/ cyclists/ historians to divert inland and explore the diverse landscape and communities to the North of the Culross.

This project seeks to open up two of the more overgrown pathways - The Slate Loan and The Moor Road; publicise their existence with signage from the Fife Coastal Path and information leaflets; encourage walkers & cyclists to enjoy a circular route rather than using public transport for one of the legs; position four new benches & historical interpretation boards along the way.

The landscape work will involve clearing and chopping back overgrown vegetation to be shredded for pathway mulching; limited tree surgery with the wood chopped into logs for local fire-wood; and the benches will be created with wood from fallen trees in area. 

The Slate Loan ascends as a narrow lane from the West Car park (the site of the old West Port Toll House and adjacent to the new section of the Fife Coastal Path from Kincardine to North Queensferry) to the West Kirk Road (leading to the West Kirk which was the original Parish Church from the early 12th century until the reformation in 1633 when its status was transferred to Culross Abbey) and onto the Moors Road (the site of King Duncan's encampment prior to the Battle of Culross was to the south of here) completing the connection to Devilla Forest and Cycle Ways to Alloa, Dunfermline, Blairhall, Oakley, Cairneyhill etc.

While the timescales for the work are flexible, the hope is to have completed the project in time for the opening of the new section of the Fife Coastal Pathway scheduled for summer 2011.

Alex Maybury says

This is such good news.

Let's hope you don't have to rein in the current plans.

Diane MacKenzie says

We are delighted with the progress being made on improving the 'Rights of Way' from the village towards Devilla and would encourage you to walk out and see for yourself the difference.

Work commenced with volunteers undertaking weekly work days and using contractors (based within the local area) as required to clear the pathways of overgrown trees, hedges and undergrowth; cutting and chipping the waste material; chopping fallen trees for fire-wood or leaving stacked to provide habitats for insects and birds. Progress has been sure and steady - up the Slate Loan, the West Kirk Road and along the Moor Road - work is currently underway towards the far end of the Moor Road where the dense undergrowth and fallen trees have almost been removed.

Discussions are currently taking place with local land owners regarding improvements to drainage, gates and the removal of a large fallen oak tree.

Scottish Woods at Inzivar will provide the locally sourced oak & larch for the simple benches to go along the pathway and they should be ready to go in place when the clearing has been completed.

Signage plans are being finalised - the locations have been chosen; the wording selected and distances measured - we hope to have them erected in the near future.

Leaflets to illustrate the route and provide historical information are next on the list and work is underway on the art work and design.

Hope you enjoy walking the 'Rights of Way' - the more feet keeping the vegetation down the better!

Diane MacKenzie says

The improvements to the Rights of Way leading to Devilla Forest are nearing completion with the signage now in place and three lovely benches to rest and enjoy the view located along the paths -made by Frances Munnoch and Mark Clark from the fallen oak tree along the Moor Road. The boys have done an excellent job!

Weekly grass cutting throughout the summer has been undertaken by Andrew MacKenzie as part of his silver Duke of Edinburgh voluntary service and as one walker recently commented "You don't need to wear your wellies anymore!"

Six Heritage Information Signs are being prepared and should be in place along the paths in the next few weeks, detailing The Slate Loan; The West Kirk; Wallace Spa; The Moor Road; The Battle of Culross and the Plague Grave.

Additional funding has been secured to sign the route through to Bogside and will be put in place when the road works for the new sawmill have finished. New gates have been sourced for the Moor Road and will be installed over the winter. An unwanted interpretation board has been claimed to re-use for information on the various routes around the village and will go at the bottom of the Slate Loan in due course....work in progress!

A Tuesday Tidy Up day will take place alongside the Waas Plantation in November and would be great to see you if you have an hour to spare - date to be confirmed.

In the meantime, hope you can get out and see for yourself how wonderful the countryside is around the village! Take your clippers and chop any overgrown vegetation as you walk!

Diane MacKenzie says

The sun shone in the village yesterday and a fantastic effort saw the final five poles 'planted' and the heritage signs fixed in place to complete the first stage of the improvements to the Rights of Way.

The route is from the Stables to Blair Mains Road at the A985 and the interpretation signs are for The Slate Loan; West Kirk; Wallace Spa; The Battle of Culross; Plague Grave & The Moor Road - helping to keep history alive as well as enhancing the walk.

When the roadworks and footpath are completed for the new sawmill in Devilla Forest we will be able to install the final few signs guiding walkers & cyclists to Bogside and the Dunfermline - Alloa Cycleway.

In the meantime, thanks again for all your support - much appreciated! Hope you enjoy!