After arriving at Ravenscraig Park, the first visit will be to Ravenscraig Castle. The castle was built around 1460 by King James 2nd for his wife Mary Guelders. The Castle was one of the first in Scotland to withstand canon fire. The king died in an accident in the Scottish Borders shortly after construction began. Mary decided to go ahead as a memorial to him. Mary only stayed in the castle for about two years until her death in 1463, when only the east tower and basement of the central section were built. After her death, ownership of the castle passed on to her son James 3rd but soon after, he gave up the castle and grounds to the Sinclair family in exchange for the earldom of Orkney in 1471. During the coming years they had built another house on the estate called the “Hermitage”.

In 1660, Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland where he attacked and damaged Ravencraig Castle, he occupied the area for five years before leaving. In 1722 a fire destroyed the Hermitage but it was rebuilt in 1726 and renamed “Dysart House” The Sinclair family continued to own the building. Due to the bankruptcy of the 5th earl of Rosslyn, the castle and grounds were acquired by Michael Nairn, who had made his fortune manufacturing linoleum. During the first world war, the castle was used as an ammunition base. In 1929, the Nairn Family gave 85 acres of the estate to the town of Kirkcaldy and was later opened as a public park.

The park was once called the “Three Trees Park” in memory of the three Sinclair brothers and legend has it, they mistakenly killed each other thinking each other were robbers, three trees were planted close to the castle in memory.

The castle is now managed by Historic Scotland and is protected as a “Ancient Monument”. Dysart House was bought by the Carmelite convent and is still occupied by the nuns to this day.

The grounds in the park still have some fascinating features to explore like the “doocot” or “dovecotes”. You will find them on the way down to Pathhead Sands. They were thought to have built around the same time as the castle, and are still used today although no access can be seen from the outside, only through the top. This was generally a status symbol and only large landowners or nobles had them.

Dysart has some other historical values with “St Serf” an historical or legendary holy man who visited around 500AD to a cave to fight off the Devil. He used the cave as retreat or “desertum in latin”, and is thought that is where Dysart got it’s name. The cave is in the grounds of the Carmelite monastery and was once a pilgrimage site in the 16th century.

The West tower of the castle is still standing

On to Seafield Tower to the west side of Kirkcaldy and one of the first sightings is, the broken arm of the old harbour wall. It may seem to have been the conclusion of a massive storm but in-fact, was an industrial mistake around 1900 and the pier was never completed. The whole stretch of coastline offers some fantastic views with plentiful wildlife along with beautiful rock formations. These rock formations seemingly date back millions of years and are believed to have come from a volcanic source such as the Binn hill sitting at the back of Burntisland.

From the banks in front of the harbour wall

Seafield tower was built around the same time as Ravenscraig in the 16th century. The lands of Seafield and Markinch were given to Robert Multrare by King James 2nd in 1443 and the family held on to it for nearly 200 years until 1631 when it was sold to the Arch bishop of Glasgow “James Law” who died a year later. The last owner was the Methven of Raith who abandoned it in 1733.

The structure was made of red sandstone and as a result, it has not weathered well as the rock is much softer. Looking around the area, there are many inscriptions on the ground but it is unclear when they were done even though some have dates.

The whole area is mostly limestone and sandstone which creates and shapes the rock formations into layered rocks and pools in every direction.

When the tide is in and the rocks are surrounded with water, seals can be seen basking in the sunshine.

Seafield Treasure Hunt

Clue 1

At the start of the harbour wall,

Onto the beach, pebbles big and small,

Beneath the graffiti, a lonely stone you will find,

To get the prize it must be mined.

Clue 2

With a view of the old pier,

Four big rocks in an arch are near,

On the stoney wall, is an unearthly orange brick,

To find the treasure you must unpick.

Clue 3

Beside the castle lies a carved seal,

The hidden mysteries still to reveal,

Below the green grass there’s a wee rock pool,

Move the out of place rock to find the jewel.