Calais Muir Woods are an old woodland in the Dunfermline area adjoining Dulloch Park. The paths in the woods have been recently resurfaced and graded, and are good for an “all abilities” walk or a short stroll. The following route suggestion uses these paths along with other nearby core paths for a longer route. It is only a suggestion and can easily be shortened or adapted. The route as described is shown in red on the map and alternative options are in blue. A walk in this area could also easily be combined with a walk in Fordell Woods.
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Ascent: 50 m / 160 feet
Terrain: Flattish paths and tracks. Paths in Calais Muir Woods are surfaced but others are not. Final section is on rough ground, although this can be avoided.
Start / finish: Duloch Sports and Leisure Centre, Dunfermline
Facilities: Parking and cafe at Duloch Sports and Leisure Centre. Additional parking and refreshments at Duloch shopping centre. On a bus route.
Route Map
Start the walk from the west end of the car park by heading northwards through Duloch park on the surfaced path. At Duloch Pond cross the small bridge and walk around the west side of the pond on a grassy path (can be a bit wet after rain). Follow the path around the pond to reach the southern end and turn left over a bridge onto a rough path into the woods.
The rough path soon joins the surfaced path network (the red waymarked Gypsy Way trail). Turn left and follow it to the northern end of the woods. Follow the path as it bears round to the right. Keep to the path heading around the northern edge of the woods and round to the right ignoring the waymarker for the blue route. Walk southwards as the path bears right along the eastern edge of the woods. After about 150m a rough unsurfaced path heads left through the woods. If you reach the brickwork of a ruined limekiln you have overshot the turning! Follow the path eastwards through the woods out to the main road.
Take care crossing over the road and pick up the path on the opposite side of the road on the left hand side of the Amazon warehouse. Initially this path is well surfaced but after crossing a bridge over the motorway it become an unsurfaced farm track. Follow the track to a T junction and turn right to head south. After about 1km this path reaches the busy Aberdour Road.
Go right on to the pavement over the motorway bridge. 250m after the bridge is a gate on the right which marks the start of a rough core path across the field. This path follows the edge of the field next to the trees but it can be hard to follow and difficult underfoot. If in doubt, an alternative road walk is possible (see later). Keep to the left of the Amazon roundabout following the tree line. It should now be possible to find a bit of a path out to the road.
To avoid this section it is possible to keep to the pavement and turn right into Beauly Crescent. From here there are connecting paths to Cowal Place, Kyle Crescent and Lorn Place. Cross the grass at a play area to join a rough path out to Sandpiper Drive.
Cross over Sandpiper Drive to reach the grass on the opposite side and an entrance back into Calais Muir Woods. From here there is a path directly back to the Leisure Centre. A more interesting alternative though is to turn right and follow the yellow (Enchanted Walk) trail back to the car park.
Photographs from this walk can be viewed on the Dunfermline and West Fife Gallery.
Fife Walking 