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Falkland in East Fife.
  Falkland
is a very beautiful village, especially in the summer months
when the flowers in the gardens and the hanging baskets are
absolutely gorgeous. This also includes the beautiful Falkland
Palace Gardens which are very well worth visiting along with
Falkland Palace.
Falkland was originally
built around an ancient castle, the house of the Earls of Fife
(located in the gardens of today’s palace). King James IV built
(1501 to 1513) his Royal Palace here, a hunting Lodge from which
he enjoyed hunting in the nearby forests and hills.
 Architecturally, Falkland is of enormous interest: not only does
it retain its medieval burgh layout but it was also spared much
of the 19th Century ‘modernisation’. Many of the houses are over
300 years old.
A short historic trail
through Falkland to some of the places and buildings of
interest.
 1. The Hunting Lodge (1607). Though the doorway was
remodelled in the 19th Century, the first floor windows have the
original mouldings and there is an inscriptive panel expressing
the householder’s loyal sentiments.
 2. Horsemarket, the
site of weekly markets, horse-trading and annual fairs. Look out
for the marriage lintels here. You will also find an excellent
example of a traditional Fife forestair, found on the outside of
a 17th C, building, giving access to the upstairs of a building.
3. Sharp’s Close is a
typical ancient wynd, narrow and cobbled, with single storey
weavers’ cottages stepped up the slope. All Falkland’s streets
were once cobbled like this.
 4. Falkland’s Old Burial
Ground is located off the High Street just beyond these
cottages.
 5. The Reading Room of
1850. Here Thomas Drysdale, a local stonemason would read
newspapers, pamphlets and books to other inhabitants of the
Burgh who would gather round to hear the latest news and
stories.
6. The Royal (or real)
Tennis Court, built by James V in 1539, is the oldest
surviving court of its type in the world. It was used by the
Stuart monarchs, their courtiers and servants for recreation.
7.Falkland Palace and
Gardens, built in the early 1500s, was the country residence
of the Stuart monarchs. Here they hunted deer & wild boar, went
hawking & played royal tennis on a court built in 1539, which is
still in use.
 8. Falkland Palace Gardens
are well worth visiting and enjoying in their own right, being
beautifully maintained with large lawns, flowerbeds and many
lovely features. (See above for details).
Anstruther and Cellardykes / Ceres / Crail / Elie and Earlsferry / Falkland / Pittenweem
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