As the clocks sprang forward by one hour last week – the nights are fair drawin’ oot, as we say here. I love this time of the year because it’s almost like getting another life as there’s light to do things after dinner time, like take a walk along the coast to Seafield, which is what we did a couple of nights ago, as you can see, the tide was quite far out. Sometimes there are seals on the rocks here, but not this time. Until about 20 years ago there was a coalmine underneath the sea here. It must have been very scary to mine in those conditions.
There are some nice red rock formations along that part of the coast. It looks like sandstone to me but I’m not sure that it is as that is a very soft stone but this seems to be able to stand up well to being battered by the North Sea.
It’s difficult to get photos without junk in them. The whole place is littered with stuff which has been lost overboard from ships. Buckets, old ropes, smashed up creels and bits of tarpaulin seem to come in with every tide. Every now and again there is a community clean up weekend, but it’s a never ending task.
This was our destination, Seafield Tower, or what is left of it. It was abandoned in 1733. I don’t suppose you can be sentimental and save all old buildings, there are so many of them around Scotland. This one has clung on to the coastline for hundreds of years and until recently it was really quite safe to have a walk around in it but the heavy seas of this last winter have taken their toll on the tower.
As you can see from this photo, there has been a fairly massive rockfall from the tower and I suppose it’ll eventually all disappear into the North Sea.
I’ve never been to Seafield – it looks beautiful and the ruined tower looks dramatic on the coastline. I see from wikipedia that it’s a Grade B listed building – so maybe something could be done to stop it slipping away?
Margaret,
I was really surprised that it’s B listed as nobody seems to be bothered that it’s falling down. I thought of your grandson, he’d definitely call it ‘smashed’. I meant to say that this is part of the Fife coastal path and you can walk to the village of Kinghorn and on to Aberdour if you’re energetic enough!
So very pretty – the soft blues, creams and reds of your photos are lovely. I sometimes wish that I had a nice, scenic walk to take somewhere – all I have around me is concrete, asphalt and dirt. The parks here aren’t even very pretty 🙁 I live vicariously through your pictures!
Anbolyn,
Luckily there will be quite a few nice pictures coming up soon. You make me realise I should be grateful for what we have here, although I was brought up in a much more scenic location!
You are so lucky to have such beautiful places to walk so close to your home. I’m truly jealous!
Joan,
But there are no lovely hills Joan! Oh well, I suppose I’m just being greedy!
Just a wee note about the rocks at Seafield.
The red rocks in the photos are cross bedded sandstones, and are part of the Limestone Coal Formation (deposited approx 325 million years ago, whilst Fife lay approx on the equator). They were laid down in a vast delta complex, fairly similar to the present day Mississippi delta in the USA.
Interspersed between the sandstones are some limestone beds, which are full of crinoids and brachiopods (fossils). These would have formed during quieter periods of deposition.
PS Great Website!!
Andy Moyle,
Thanks for the fascinating geological info. I’ve always been interested in geology since we were taught it in primary 7 about 40 years ago. I must buff up my knowledge and take a closer look down at Kirkcaldy. Glad you enjoyed ‘pining’.
a few years ago, some land was sold beside the coastal path including Seafield tower at Kirkcaldy, I was under the belief that whoever bought this land were supposed to look after the tower and make it safe at all times along with helping towards the upkeep of the coastal path at this area, can anyone tell me if this is the case.
richard briggs,
The land beside the coastal path at Seafield has been built on by Abbottshall Homes I believe. If they are supposed to be maintaining Seafield Tower then it’s about time they started as it is now in a shocking state after the storms of last winter. It’s positively dangerous.
Katrina
It would be a great shame if Seafield Tower was allowed to deteriorate further. As a child in the late 60’s and early 70’s I used to climb the tower with friends and still enjoy the scenery when I walk my dog as I Am now a resident of the Seafield housing estate and see the tower regularly.
Jim Geddes,
I agree, in fact they should have tried to preserve it somehow. I’ve only known the tower since the mid 1980s and it has changed a lot in that time. Thanks for taking the time to comment. We thought about moving to Seafield last year, but I felt that the sea was just a bit too close!
What are the significance of dates carved on the rocks just below the tower?
George Sherriff,
I think those dates were probably just carved by visitors who felt like leaving a souvenir of themslves. I noticed that some Victorians have scraped dates into parts of Linlithgow Palace and various other places I’ve visited.