Pillars of Hercules Project, Falkland
The project is situated one mile north of Falkland. To reach it, park at the Pillars of Hercules and look for the footpath into the wood on the east side of the car-parking area.
The area contains a disused quarry and is within five miles of two working quarries at Angle Park, Ladybank and West Lomond Quarry, Leslie.
The proposal sought to carry out environmental improvement works and to provide a new recreational footpath for public use away from the road. Specifically this involved generally tidying up the disused quarry area, providing a link between the Pillars of Hercules organic farm shop and café, connecting to the historic designed landscape path system to the south and providing a new off-road system for the Scottish Disabled Ramblers Association whose office and buggy store are located on Falkland Estate.
It was also necessary to restore the old stone bridge leading to, and past, the quarry.
The project involved the following organisations undertaking tasks:
- Falkland Heritage Trust - acted as lead organisation in the co-ordination and management of the project delivery.
- Falkland Conservation Group - met on site to help prepare the initial proposal, assisted in tidying up the old quarry, raised and helped to address various issues (such as access and biking problems when first complete), helped out at launch and have advertised its existence locally.
- Scottish Disabled Ramblers commented on initial plans, and then carried out an access audit when project work was completed.
- Falkland Estate Trust, as owners of this ground, agreed to work being undertaken, with increased access implications and reviewed plans.
- Fife Council Countryside rangers - allocated a ranger to support volunteer effort on the ground, through the Conservation Group.
Professional contractors were appointed by tender. Action Environment Ltd undertook the path restoration work and James Innes and Son did the bridge repair, using traditional lime mortar techniques.
The following outputs/targets were achieved:
- An improved visual appearance including the bridge and rubbish clearance
- A public footpath link 750m long between the Pillars of Hercules and the estate road connecting to the Maspie Den restored path system
- Better access by foot and buggy to the organic farm shop and café
- Restoration of the stone quarry bridge using traditional lime mortar and masonry techniques
- Increased general public use including access for disabled scooter users
- Community involvement through the contribution of Falkland Conservation Group, Scottish Disabled Ramblers and others at the Pontification event- totalling just over 100 hours.
It was a target of the project to involve New Deal trainees by extending the existing New Deal Environmental Task Force provision which was part of Falkland Heritage Trust's Designed Landscape Restoration project. However, additional trainees were not available at the time of the Aggregates Levy project, and the work was therefore carried out by contract.
The project was - by all accounts - very successful, and the beauty of the new path (based on a lost nineteenth century path) must be seen to be believed!
Scottish Disabled Ramblers audited the new path. Whilst the gradient past the old quarry would make access by ordinary wheelchair users difficult, it provides a beautiful and inspiring walk for scooter users, and means that disabled people can get to the Pillars of Hercules organic shop and café, without using the road.
Pontification event
Finally, a local historian was so delighted by the new path, that he suggested holding a Pontification event! The meaning of this word surprisingly derives from bridge-building. Given the amount of bridge-building and community-building that had been involved in this project, the Trust took up the challenge and were delighted to be joined by about 50 local people at the event, including members of the Disabled Rambers, the Conservation Group, the bridge-builders and a 93-year-old ex-forester who opened the bridge. Refreshments were provided and served by the organic farm café.
Contact
Falkland Heritage Trust
The Stables
Falkland Estate
Falkland
Fife
KY15 7AF
Telephone: 01337 858838
Email: admin@falklandht.org.uk