Going to Fife and staying in Kirkcaldy a few days in July. Any good aviation spots around, or in the proximity? Wifey is taking some course in some kind of physical traning in Burntisland and I’m left alone between 7am and 7pm for two days or so. Excellent time to do some travelling that can be done within a day.
Any pointers and recomendations?
By: DCK - 27th June 2011 at 18:36
I won’t be driving a car. I have no death-wish for the time being. 😀
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th June 2011 at 18:18
I pointed it out to my wife just now, but she replied she didn’t care as it can’t be worse than where we normally live. 😀
Thanks for the very good tips!
Just seen where you live. Methinks she will be revising her views !!!!
Planemike
By: DCK - 27th June 2011 at 18:02
Please don’t stay in Kirkaldy unless you have to. The Kingdom of Fife is a wonderful area but Kirkaldy not so much.
I pointed it out to my wife just now, but she replied she didn’t care as it can’t be worse than where we normally live. 😀
Thanks for the very good tips!
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th June 2011 at 12:01
Kirkaldy used to be the linoleum capital of the world and as such had a very distinctive aroma, now long since gone. You know you always needed to know that !!!
Planemike
By: Bomberboy - 27th June 2011 at 11:14
Please don’t stay in Kirkaldy unless you have to. The Kingdom of Fife is a wonderful area but Kirkaldy not so much.
Having been ther a number of times, I would tend to agree with you although it does have a lovely seafront promenade looking into both the Firth of Forth and the North Sea, and at the ‘southern end’ is a permanent mobile home type burger bar in the car park, that has only served me with good edible fast food so far.
Bomberboy
By: OldMan - 27th June 2011 at 09:16
Please don’t stay in Kirkaldy unless you have to. The Kingdom of Fife is a wonderful area but Kirkaldy not so much.
By: Bomberboy - 27th June 2011 at 00:26
Don’t know how much is left to see further up North at Ezell, and if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could take the long-ish drive up to Banff.
Mind you you will see some p*****g wind turbines and a go kart track there as well.
IIRC, the tower is still extant and there is a nice memorial on the main road headed towards Inverness.
Bomberboy
By: Dr. John Smith - 27th June 2011 at 00:11
Fife/Scottish Aviation Spots
Oh, I should have mentioned that the ‘Secret Bunker’, a now declassified cold war nuclear bunker is only two miles from Crail and is a cracking museum. There is also Dunino airfield down the road and is quite off the beaten track!
And, “afore ye go” you can check out the website at
http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/
Err..isn’t the website address something of a giveaway?
There’s also a pretty complete listing of defence installations throughout Fife on the Subterranea Britannica website at http://www.subbrit.org.uk/location/fife Some are still there, albeit derelict, some are long gone, and one “secret bunker” (at Burntisland) is now a shop!
By: pagen01 - 26th June 2011 at 23:00
How about a Scheduled Ancient Monument…
no really..the best preserved WW2 naval aerodrome in Scotland in my opinion.
Well said Ross, I would love to visit RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw) sometime.
The Scottish heritage system seems so much more in tune with the importance of aviation sites than the English one, the online resource is fantastic as well.
By: Drem - 26th June 2011 at 22:50
Old airfield wise, Donibristle to the West of Kirkcaldy and to the East, Crail, Dunino and Stravithie.
Perhaps a wee nose at Leuchars at a distance as well.
By: Short finals - 26th June 2011 at 21:42
You are not going to be too far from the Museum of Flight at East Fortune, which is in East Lothian and is well worth a visit.
http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_flight.aspx
Here are a few photos I took there a few years ago.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=24101413@N03&q=east%20fortune
By: Phantom Phil - 26th June 2011 at 21:22
Secret Bunker and Dunino
Oh, I should have mentioned that the ‘Secret Bunker’, a now declassified cold war nuclear bunker is only two miles from Crail and is a cracking museum. There is also Dunino airfield down the road and is quite off the beaten track!
By: Phantom Phil - 26th June 2011 at 21:15
RNAS Crail – HMS Jackdaw
I love this part of Scotland and have only just came back from there today! I’d recommend visiting the now disused Crail Airfield as it’s like a time warp. Most buildings still exist including the four story control tower. Once you have had a look around visit the Crail museum in the village where they have many photo’s and manuscripts from aviation years gone by.
There is obviously RAF Leuchars down the road from Cupar and St.Andrews where you will get the odd 6 Sqn Typhoon knocking around.
P.S – the Golf Hotel at Crail does really good grub!
By: Chewbydoo - 26th June 2011 at 21:14
Glenrothes seems to be quite active has a good cafe. Portmoak Gliding site is about 4 miles further on, just take the signs for Scotlandwell.
By: Ross_McNeill - 26th June 2011 at 21:13
How about a Scheduled Ancient Monument…
no really..the best preserved WW2 naval aerodrome in Scotland in my opinion.
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/74208/details/crail+airfield/
Regards
Ross
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June 26, 2011 at 9:05 pm