A project to resurrect the mediæval Fife Pilgrim Way is now well in hand.

There were two main routes across the county (or kingdom as the locals still refer to it at times,) starting at Culross and North Queensferry and ending up at St Andrews.

The ancient route went through the nearest small town to Son of the Rock Acres, Markinch, the ancient capital of Fife.

There are some hopes the restored route(s) will bring modern day pilgrims (and other tourists) to the town.

A year or so ago there was an information day about the Pilgrim Way at St Drostan’s church. On display were several representations of monastic and pilgrim life, rendered in knitwear.

Trees and pilgrims:-

Church:-

Monks:-

Monks’ garden:-

Monastery vegetable patch:-

Photos from March 2017. Gap finally closed.

From South Queensferry:-

New bridge in full, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

From approach road to North Queensferry, Forth Road Bridge in background:-

Northern support pillar and cable stays:-

Northern cable stay tower:-

All three cable stay towers:-

South cable stay tower and support pillars. Work still being done where gap was closed:-

These were taken in late December 2016, so I’m a bit late getting round to posting them. The first three are views from North Queensferry, the later ones are from South Queensferry.

North support pillar:-

North cable stay tower:-

Central and south cable stay towers:-

Last gap in bridge:-

Close up on final gap. This is the one where I heard the support pillar’s foundations had been a bit suspect:-

Looking over Port Edgar Yacht Club:-

New bridge in full (except for last gap):-

Three Bridges Panorama. From left, Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge, Forth Bridge from South Queensferry side:-

These were taken around nine months ago before the gap in the roadway was finally closed.

From north bank of River Forth:-

Closer view:-

North cable stay tower and northern support pillar, from North Queensferry:-

Central and south cable stay towers from North Queensferry:-

These were taken at twilight a couple of days later. From South Queensferry:-

Showing still to be completed roadway gap at south end:-

Near full span at twilight from South Queensferry:-

Yesterday I had to travel about Fife and the Edinburgh area.

In St Andrews I spotted British Legion poppies (the small ones made of metal; presumably manufactured for those who think that the normal paper ones do not sufficiently show off their “patriotism” or generosity – but I call it their ostentation) at a checkout in the “M&S Food” there.

Later in a supermarket in North Queensferry, on the way home from a dinner at my eldest son’s, just inside the door was a stack of tins (well, nowadays they’re “plastics”) of Roses, Quality Street, Celebrations and Heroes.

Christmas has long since started in August – that was always when annuals were published – but Remembrance Day? They’re still beating the drums at the Edinburgh Tattoo for goodness’s sake.

Photos taken on 3/6/2016.

North and central cable stay towers from South Queensferry. First Forth Road Bridge to right:-

South cable stay tower:-

Southern approach pillar and cable stay tower:-

Gap between southern approach pillar and cable stay tower portion – still unfilled 7 months later:-

First Forth Road Bridge with Queensferry Crossing behind:-

Northern approach pillar – section now joined to north cable stay tower section:-

Northern cable stay tower from North Queensferry:-

Central and southern cable stay towers from North Queensferry:-

Photos taken 11/2/2016.

North Support Pillar:-

North cable stay tower:-

Service boat near north cable stay tower:-

Centre cable stay tower from North Queensferry:-

South and centre cable stay towers and south support pillar from South Queensferry. I have read there’s a problem with this pillar as it’s leaning a bit:-

South, centre and north cable stay towers plus first Forth Road Bridge to right:-

New bridge seen through the original Forth Road Bridge:-

Queensferry Crossing is the name of the New Forth Road Bridge, now under construction. Personally I think they ought to have embraced the pun and called it the Fifth Bridge since there are now two bridges at Kincardine-on-Forth plus the Forth Bridge (the rail bridge) and the Road Bridge.

I started taking photographs in October 2014 but haven’t got round to posting them till now. The first three are from the North Queensferry side.

This is a support pillar for the carriageway on the north side:-

The northern cable stay tower:-

Centre and southern cable stay towers:-

These three are from the South Queensferry end.

South support pillars and bridge starting to be winched out. Note temporary cable stay arrangement:-

All three cable stay towers:-

Original Forth Road Bridge plus new crossing’s centre and north cable stay towers:-