Old North Road in Fife
A photographic journey along a disused road which was once a major highway
200 years ago the Old North Road was an important highway in Fife. Historically it was part of a road heading northwards from Burntisland. Built in the early 19th century it was a busy route carrying both commerce and travellers but fell out of use some time around 1850 when the road was realigned. The primary remaining recognisable section of the road is about 1 kilometre in length and is now used mainly as a farm track giving the local farmer access to several fields. Most of the rest of this historic road has been swallowed up by modern roads or simply left to become unused and overgrown. Part of the road has been incorporated into the modern A909 and passes over an historic bridge, the Cullaloe Dry Bridge Link on its way from Burntisland to Cowdenbeath - a fact which most of those who use this road are completely unaware. Nowadays that accessible section of the road which is not a farm track is a pleasant, mostly grassy path with its familiar Scotways green signs at both ends Link

Along the way there is the opportunity to deviate from the road with a short climb up to a flat, grassy ridge (head for the huge wind turbine) from where there are spectacular views over the Fife countryside Link and the petrochemical plant of Mossmorran NGL facility - a necessary industrial blot on the landscape but nevertheless quite impressive in its scale Link There is also a prehistoric standing stone just off the road which is worth a few minutes of your time to inspect Link Opportunities also exist to expand this walk to include several small hills close to the route as well as linking up with other routes in the area but this article describes only that section between the A909 and Puddledub.
This walk can become quite overgrown at the height of summer making the path difficult to follow. It is at its best during springtime so if you have a few hours to spare on a sunny spring morning it will reward the minimal effort required. Look out for the many roe deer in the area - they have a habit of jumping up suddenly and scaring wandering Geograph-ers half to death!
Note: There is a limited amount of unofficial parking (2-3 cars) within a few metres of the start of this walk at the entrance to Cullaloe Forest Link Bear in mind that this is an active forestry/farm site and should you choose to park here please ensure that forestry/farm vehicles are not blocked from accessing Cullaloe Forest. There is no suitable parking area at the Puddledub end.
Some information taken from Canmore Link

There is a video of this location on YouTube Link

This is the access point from the A909 for the historic Old North Road which was once an important highway but is now a mere farm access track. It does, however, lead to an interesting hill walk with great views over the Fife countryside.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
To the right of the image is the access point from the A909 Link and from this point the road goes in two directions. Ahead is the primary remaining usable section of the road which heads from this point to Cullaloe Dry Bridge Link and is used as a farm access track to several fields. Behind the camera the road is no more than a grassy track.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
This is the access point from the A909. The road can also be accessed from its other end at Puddledub.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
This is the farm track section of the road which is the only use it now sees (apart from wandering Geograph-ers!). Note the upright stones on either side of the road. These may have been markers to aid coach drivers in poor visibility in which case they may have been whitewashed (or so Canmore Link
suggests).
See Old North Road article Link

See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
This is the farm track section of the road leading to the Cullaloe Dry Bridge. Do be aware that this is part of a working farm so be prepared to encounter cattle on this section!
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
Although the road is now mainly used as a farm track there are these markers along a section of the road. They are on both sides of the road and have something to do with the nearby Mossmorran NGL Plant. They seem to indicate a buried pipeline. The track also gives access to this area for the purposes of inspection and maintenance by NGL personnel.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
From its access point Link the road is now a mere grassy track. Indistinct at times but still relatively easy to follow. Here it climbs up a slight rise, turns sharp right and gains a fairly flat, grassy area from which it is relatively easy going all the way to Puddledub.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
The road climbs up to the grassy area (behind the camera).
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
The road reaches a flat, grassy area from which it proceeds along its mainly flat course to Puddledub.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
Leaving the flat, grassy area Link the road, now a pleasant avenue through trees, proceeds along its way to Puddledub.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
Under the bridge between each arch is a pair of holes - one each side. They are about 12" square.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
The route is a bit of a mixed bag with some pleasant open areas and some rather overgrown places and it can be a bit wet at times but the path is (mostly) obvious and on this section there are marker stones to guide you Link
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
This is a close view of one of the stones in this image Link Chisel marks are plainly visible on the stone and there are other identical stones in places on the road.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
There are two of these route markers sited where the path takes a double twist and it would be easy to go astray.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
The route alternates between pleasant, grassy avenues and thicker areas Link
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
There are one or two features to look out for which will guide you along the path and give you confidence that you actually are on the path!
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
There are one or two features to look out for which will guide you along the path and give you confidence that you actually are on the path!
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
There are one or two features to look out for which will guide you along the path and give you confidence that you actually are on the path!
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
There are one or two features to look out for which will guide you along the path and give you confidence that you actually are on the path! Try hard not to miss this stile - be prepared to climb a barbed wire fence if you do!
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
Once you pass this gate the going gets a bit overgrown but, after a short while, it gets much easier.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
From this gate the road is now a farm track leading to the small hamlet of Puddledub (behind the camera).
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
The farm track approaches the small hamlet of Puddledub and the minor road running between the B9157 and Auchtertool.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
This is the beginning (or the end) of the road at Puddledub. There is no parking anyway near here so it's best to start at the other end Link which means, of course, that you will have to either arrange transport or reverse your route from here but that isn't any real hassle since the return journey is less than three miles.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman
From the Old North Road. The road with traffic is the A909.
See Old North Road article Link
See Old North Road article Link
by Bill Kasman