10 Essential Things To Do In Dunfermline -Scotland’s Ancient Capital

Somehow, even with all the area’s history, these essential things to do in Dunfermline fly under the radar. You won’t find hordes of tourists visiting Scotland’s newest city, but that’s why it makes the perfect getaway! Just a short train or bus journey from Edinburgh or Glasgow, it’s easy to get to and worth dedicating at least a day to.

Hidden behind the housing estates lies the historic core of Scotland’s ancient capital. Amongst the reasons to visit Dunfermline are the burials of famous Kings like Robert the Bruce, resting place of William Wallace’s mother and birthplace of Andrew Carnegie!

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An Early History of Dunfermline

There have been settlements around Dunfermline for thousands of years, but written records go back to the 11^th century. The name probably means Fort of the Crooked Water referring to the old castle that sat high above the gorge of Pittencrieff Glen. It was King Malcolm Canmore who made the town his royal centre for ruling Scotland!

Later monarchs preferred different towns with eventually Edinburgh taking over for good. That didn’t mean Dunfermline was ignored entirely. The last monarch to be born in Scotland was at Dunfermline Palace in 1600, the rather unfortunate Charles I. The town started to decline after the royal family moved down to London and in 1624 a fire destroyed most of the historic buildings.

Explore Dunfermline Abbey

The most popular historic thing to do in Dunfermline is visit the Abbey. This fascinating building is actually two churches joined back to back, the old Medieval Abbey and a newer Parish Church still in use. It might not be as well known as other abbeys around the country, but this is the final resting place of at least a dozen Kings and Queens of Scots. It even has its own royal love story.

When an English-Hungarian Princess called Margaret landed on the shores of Fife by accident, it didn’t take long for King Malcolm to fall madly in love with her. The two were married at Dunfermline in 1070 and the new Queen marked the occasion by founding a much larger church here. This is where she chose to be buried in 1093 and eventually her remains would become a popular shrine.

Margaret’s youngest son King David I raised the profile of the church at Dunfermline to a fully-fledged Abbey and over the years her sons, their Queens and other monarchs would choose this royal centre as their final resting place. As with most Catholic Abbeys, the Scottish Reformation caused serious damage to Dunfermline Abbey. At least it has been restored to a good shape rather than left to ruin like many others.

The Abbey is run by Historic Scotland, you can visit for free to look around the interior. Be prepared for a real contrast inside. Firstly, the Medieval section is pretty much blank, just an enormous room with nice stained glass but very little information. The modern church on the other hand looks almost like a regular Church of Scotland apart from one rather special difference.

Visit King Robert the Bruce’s Tomb

If you didn’t notice the words around the top of the church – “KING ROBERT THE BRUCE” then you might also miss his burial inside. The famous “Outlaw King” had been lost for years but during restoration works, a body was discovered amidst a crumbling tomb. It was the right size and age for Bruce and even the heart had been cut out, so the details all matched up. He was reburied under the floor of the new church but unfortunately not before people pilfered bits and pieces of the King’s bones.

Robert the Bruce’s burial at this particular Abbey is much more significant than you might think. Not just because of how historic Dunfermline was but because it underlined a niggling problem with the warrior King’s reign.

While Bruce had a very legitimate claim to the throne as a descendant of King David I, he had still taken it by force. Ever since he murdered John Comyn in Dumfries, he was desperate to ensure everybody saw him as a legitimate King. That meant his coronation had to be at Scone and the crown needed placed on his head by a MacDuff for tradition’s sake. When it came to his burial, he would have planned it in the same calculating way.

Being buried alongside his royal descendants showed everybody exactly why he was the rightful king. For history buffs like me, there are no more important things to do in Dunfermline than paying respects to Robert the Bruce!

Walk Through Dunfermline Palace

Dunfermline prospered after Malcolm and Margaret had established the town as their base. Cold, draughty castles weren’t comfortable though, so future Royals looked elsewhere. Just like Edinburgh, monarchs preferred spending their nights in the Abbey. Over time their apartments grew into Dunfermline Palace, although very little remains today.

Visiting Dunfermline was a welcome escape from crowded Edinburgh. When James VI married Anne of Denmark, he rebuilt the rundown palace here and gifted it to his new Queen. She loved it and this is where the future King Charles I was born and initially raised.

Charles met a rather unfortunate end and if the following story is true then he never really had a chance. He was a sickly child and the sound of his crying often rang around the palace walls. One night, his father was interrupted once again by the sound of crying. King James stormed towards the sound but was surprised to find it was his son’s nurse screaming rather than Charles himself.

After he calmed the nurse down, she said that a figure like an old man had crept inside. He threw his cloak around the cradle and started to drag it towards the door. That was the point she started screaming and the figure vanished into thin air!

James declared that he wished the baby had just been taken. Not only was he a sickly child but now “The Devil has cast his cloak over him”. Surely nothing good would come from him.

Devil or not, James was right and Charles I had a tumultuous reign. He faced religious strife, civil war and eventually lost his head to the blade of an executioner. Dunfermline Palace was only briefly used by Charles II and that was the building’s final chapter.

Investigate St Margaret’s Cave

The holiest of all Scotland’s Queens, Margaret fed orphans, washed the feet of pilgrims and even sponsored a ferry to help them travel to Dunfermline and on to St Andrews. If you’ve ever wondered about the name Queensferry then this is the lady to thank. She was canonised in 1250 but while her shrine is gone, there’s still one thing to do in Dunfermline related to Margaret!

Like the hermit saints of old, Queen Margaret liked nothing more than praying in a little cave. It might be hard to imagine this historic part of Dunfermline 950 years ago but it would have been a leafy glen, just a short walk from the castle. When the council decided to build a car park right here, the locals were in uproar. The compromise came with this little entrance masking a deep tunnel that drops right down to St Margaret’s Cave.

The cave is currently open during the summer months on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for pre-booked tours only. Have a look here to include this on your visit to Dunfermline!

Pay Your Respects To William Wallace’s Mother

There’s another special lady that’s worth remembering when you visit Dunfermline. Legend says that William Wallace’s mother was laid to rest in the grounds of the abbey. She was with the freedom fighter in Dunfermline when she died and Wallace was determined to bury her somewhere special.

It’s said that her name was Margaret Crawford and a thorn tree marks her burial spot. Wallace was on the run, so he didn’t have time to carve a headstone and planted the tree instead. It was also safer than leaving an obvious mark for English soldiers to desecrate.

The current tree replaced an older one that blew down in a storm and you’ll often find wee mementos underneath! It’s a local legend which sadly can’t be proved, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Imagine Malcolm Canmore’s Tower

All that remains of Malcolm Canmore’s Tower and the very centre of historic Dunfermline is this pile of rubble.

Unfortunately, so much of the stonework has been removed that dating the castle is impossible. We do have some clues though. The tower is a short walk from the Abbey, at the top of a steep gorge high above the winding river. It’s the obvious place for King Malcolm to have built the castle that he and Margaret shared.

Malcolm was the first of the House of Dunkeld and one of Scotland’s most memorable Kings. Depending on your translation, Canmore means either Great Chief or Big Head but he is a slightly contentious figure.

As King he secured the country from relentless Viking pressure in the north and guided it through a dangerous time with William the Conqueror wreaking havoc down south. To reign for 35 years in a time like this was an impressive feat. On the other hand, his reign saw the start of a move away from some Gaelic traditions in the Scottish court. The Scots language started to take root in the Lowlands, separating it from Gaelic in the Highlands.

His marriage to Margaret and time he spent exiled in England as a youth no doubt had a large impact on Malcolm. It’s not quite as simple as that though. The wider European stage was changing and Scotland needed to secure its place there.

Wander In Pittencrieff Park

Once you’ve passed the ruins of the tower, you’re now into the leafy gorge of Pittencrieff Park. Known affectionately as The Glen, this is one of the top things to do in Dunfermline for locals. You’ll often see people jogging or families wandering around the paths.

It’s a bit of a maze, filled with interesting little spots like a beautiful double bridge and octagonal hut. For those visiting Dunfermline with kids, there’s a great kids play park! The flower beds are well tended by volunteers and you can find packed greenhouses beside the old Pittencrieff house!

Eventually, as you wind around you should stumble upon a sign for Wallace’s Well. This tradition links in to the burial of Wallace’s mother. It’s said that the hero was hiding around Dunfermline after his loss at the Battle of Falkirk. Not far from here, you’ll get a fantastic view of the palace and it’s hard to believe that at one point, this stretch of river powered a series of mills!

Don’t be alarmed if you hear the cry of peacocks while you wander around Pittencrieff Park! These are permanent inhabitants of The Glen and are so iconic that they’ve been given the Freedom Of The City!

Learn About Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie has a rather interesting link to Pitencrieff Park. When it was still park of a private estate, Carnegie’s grandfather Thomas Morrison campaigned for public access. The man who owned the grounds wasn’t happy about Morrison’s attempts.

He was eventually persuaded by the courts to open the gates for a single day each year. The owner had one condition though – nobody related to Morrison was to be admitted and that included Andrew Carnegie. Eventually, Carnegie was rich enough to buy Pitencrieff Park so he gifted it to the people of Dunfermline. Nobody would ever be excluded again.

Once the richest man in the world, Carnegie rose to the very top from humble beginnings. The cottage where he grew up is now run as the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. Importantly, it doesn’t just cover his philanthropic acts carried out in later life.

The less attractive side is also explored, giving a balanced story. Such as how some of Carnegie’s employment practices impacted those at the bottom rung of the ladder. That’s why it’s such a great thing to do in Dunfermline!

Visit The Carnegie Library, Museum & Galleries!

Andrew Carnegie is famous for his philanthropic acts, founding libraries, meeting halls and other public buildings. Unsurprisingly, the first ever Carnegie Library was in his hometown of Dunfermline! It’s a great library, but it’s changed a lot since its opening in 1883.

Alongside all of the books you can find a free museum telling the history of the city. Discover the early royal history through the industrial age and right up to modern times. As if that wasn’t enough, a modern extension holds the galleries which feature regularly changing art exhibitions!

Grab Lunch At The Abbot’s House

With all of that effort exploring Scotland’s ancient capital, you’re going to need to refuel. There’s no better place than the bright pink Abbot House! Built in the 16th century as accommodation for the Abbot of Dunfermline, it’s the city’s oldest house and one of the few to survive the great fire of 1624.

You’ll find a great coffee shop inside that also provides delicious sandwiches and cakes. It’s one of my favourite places to visit in Dunfermline and you can often find me typing away in a corner. Through in the other half of the Abbot House is a gift shop with lots of local gifts to purchase. You can even find copies of the Scotland’s Stories book there!

Where To Stay In Dunfermline

While you could visit Dunfermline as a day trip, it’s also an excellent place to base yourself for a night or two. Here are my picks of where to stay:

The City Hotel – A bright, modern hotel right in the centre of the city, perfect for exploring Dunfermline!

Garvock House Hotel – For something a little fancier, try the historic Garvock House Hotel. It’s a little further outside of town but still easily accessed.

Clark Cottage Guest House – Found on the outskirts of Dunfermline, Clark Cottage is a fantastic guest house with an excellent breakfast!

Brucefield Avenue – Great for one or two people who want a central, self-catered apartment!

Barnet Serviced Apartments – Another great option for those looking for self-catering in serviced apartments.

If you’d like to see Dunfermline for yourself, how about visiting on a Scotland’s Stories Tour?

Just click this link to make an enquiry and book your private driving tour today!

If you’re planning on visiting Dunfermline then why not have a look at some other Hidden Sites in Fife?

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