Blairadam

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Begin your adventure at Blairadam

Three enticing trails wind through Blairadam Wood, an attractive mix of mighty spruces and colourful beech woodland. William Adam, the noted Scottish architect, built Blairadam House here in the 1730s and landscaped the surrounding estate. He also built pits to extract coal. Follow the trails to spot red squirrels, lofty trees, elegant bridges and old mine workings. On dark evenings you might even glimpse a ghostly miner, or the fabled beast of Blairadam. Find a map and more information in our Blairadam leaflet.

Notice

• Tree felling works have now commenced in the forest. This means some routes will be closed, alternative routes are available on site. For your safety please follow all on site safety signage.

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Life’s essentials

You can find places to eat, drink and shop in nearby Kelty. There are public toilets in Kelty Community Centre, Main Street.

Walking trails

Keltyhill Glen Trail

A scenic stroll alongside the Drumnagoil Burn to a waterfall that is particularly dramatic after heavy rain.

Firm but uneven gravel surface. Steep slopes down to the glen. Parts may be muddy.

½ miles /
1.0 km
Allow
¼ hours

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The Glen Trail

Meander up the Kelty Burn beneath towering spruce trees that were a scenic highlight of the Blairadam estate in its heyday.

Firm, largely wide but uneven gravel surface. Includes some fairly steep slopes and sections that may be muddy.

1 ¾ miles /
2.8 km
Allow
1 hour

More information...

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This trail criss-crosses the Kelty Burn on stone bridges amid spruce, beech, pine and sycamore woods. Look out for the remains of the ‘100 Foot Bridge’, which once carried a railway over The Glen to Blairenbathie coal pit, and spot the dramatic Kiery Crags at The Glen’s eastern end.

Blairenbathie Mine Trail

Explore the colourful broadleaved woods that shroud the sites of the two Blairenbathie coal pits, as well as the handsome Lochornie Burn Bridge.

Largely wide, firm and smooth gravel surface. Some uneven and potentially muddy sections. Long moderate slopes with some steeper sections.

2 ½ miles /
4.0 km
Allow
1½ hours

More information...

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Though hard to believe today, this peaceful forest was once a busy industrial area. Follow this trail to reach the remains of Blairenbathie’s modern mine, closed in the 1800s and now reclaimed by the forest. Pass through mature oaks, beech and birch to find a much older pit and the restored Lochornie Burn Bridge, with its distinctive tall narrow arch.

Cycling trails

Mountain biking trails

A very productive place

William Adam bought Blairadam in 1773 to build himself a grand home in a carefully designed landscape setting. He was also a shrewd businessman, planting trees for timber and extracting coal from the seams that ran through his land. Evidence of the major works carried out by William and his family can still be seen across the forest today. Discover more about mining at Blairdam and the story of the estate.

Strange sightings

Some say that one of the miners who toiled in the coal pits still haunts the woodland, and has even been caught on camera. Others have reported glimpses of a great black cat here. You’re more likely to spot red squirrels in the canopy and roe deer amongst the trees – but do look out for the modern carving of a wildcat on the brickwork of one of the old bridges.

Local poet Jim Douglas shares his poem about the Beast of Blairadam:

•     The Beast of Blairadam (mp3)
•     The Beast of Blairadam transcript (pdf 351k)

Working in partnership

We have worked with the Kelty Heritage Trails Group and Fife Council to maintain the forest and upgrade the trails here.

Contact: Scottish Lowlands Forest District

Address: Five Sisters House, Five Sisters Business Park, West Calder

Postcode: EH55 8PN

Telephone: 0300 067 6700

Email: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

How to get here

Blairadam Wood lies close to the M90 motorway near Kelty in Fife. It is easy to reach from Junction 4.

Take the B914 west from Kelty (signposted Dollar). After about 500 yards (0.5km), turn right into the Blairadam car park. You can park here and walk or cycle to the start of the trails. Alternatively, follow the road through the wood for about ½ mile (1km) to reach Clentry car park.

The car park is at grid reference NT 128 944.

Using SatNav?

KY4 0JQ is the nearest postcode.

Public transport

The nearest railway station is Cowdenbeath. Regular buses run from Cowdenbeath to Kelty. Find details at Traveline Scotland.

Nearby places

At Cardenden you can discover an ancient tower and a meandering burn in an attractive wooded ravine. From Benarty there are superb views over the Lomond Hills, Loch Leven and the Firth of Forth.

Enjoy easy lochside trails at nearby Lochore Meadows Country Park, or watch spectacular flocks of birds at the RSPB’s Loch Leven nature reserve. The scenic Loch Leven Heritage Trail will take you right around the loch. There are also great trails for walking, cycling and horse riding in the Lomond Hills.