Dean Plantation is a small FLS site located to the west of Dunfermline. A visit in Spring is highly recommended when the area around Pitfirrane Dean Burn is a sea of bluebells. Some of the paths in the woods can be very muddy at times and walking boots are recommended. One of the paths entails crossing the burn and may result in wet feet unless it is particularly dry.
There is a limited amount of parking at the forest entrance on Lundin Road at grid reference NT 061 880. Other options are to walk in from Crossford, or from Dunfermline (William Street car park) via the West Fife Cycle Way. The following are suggested routes that can be followed in the forest, but of course it is perfectly possible to make up your own route. Routes in the forest are not waymarked.
Route Map
Route 1 – Dean Plantation Circuit (red)
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
Ascent: 425 feet / 130m
Start / finish: Forest entrance on Lundin Road at grid ref NT 061 880.
Start from the forest entrance on Lundin Road turning left on to a dirt path before the barrier gate. Keep right, straight on and then right to walk above the ravine of the burn. Stay up high above the burn following the path north to join the main forest road. Go left on to the road and turn almost immediately left on to another dirt path, before the bridge is reached. This second path also follows the burn but in the opposite direction at a lower level. The path crosses the burn a number of times and may entail getting wet feet. go up some steps to the right, after which the path heads westwards along the southern edge of the forest. Keep to the path, with open views south, for 2km to exit the forest on to a quiet road.
Turn right on to the road for 500m to reach the Dunfermline to Alloa cycle route (old railway). Go right on to the cycle way (towards Dunfermline) and follow it for about 600m. Where an electricity line crosses the cycle track, is a rough path to the right down an embankment. Use this path and the field edge to re-enter the forest. Turn left on to another dirt path along the northern side of the forest until it joins the main forest track close to a gas installation. Follow the main forest track left. The track will head back to the forest entrance. However, a more interesting route can be had by following yet another dirt path to the left just before reaching the bridge with the Armco barrier. Cross the burn on a small wooden bridge and follow the path along the northern forest edge until it meets with with a forest track at a Scottish Water installation. Use this track to return to the green barrier at the forest entrance.
Route 2 – Dean Plantation from Crossford (blue)
Distance: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
Ascent: 330 feet / 100m
Start / finish: Crossford
This route leaves Crossford on a rough track from Lundin Road, opposite Kirkwood Crescent. On reaching a farm go right through a gate onto a track across the fields to reach the forest (stick to the track, don’t wander across planted fields).
Turn left on to the obvious path along the edge of the woods and follow it to a point at grid ref NT 061 873 where the views, left, have opened out. Go right at this point onto a narrow path to reach a small burn. Keep left at a junction following the burn which will join the main river through the woods. Cross over the river and turn left onto the path on the opposite side. Follow the path alongside the river to reach a forest track. Go right onto the track for about 50m and turn right again on to another path in the trees. The path now heads south above the river. Stick to the path until it bears left leaving the river, crosses some wet ground, and arrives at the forest gate.
Once out of the forest, turn right to walk down Lundin Road for about 200m to reach a path on the left signed for Dunfermline. Take this path across the fields until it becomes an obvious track that turns firstly right and then left. At Knockhouse Farm, turn right on to the farm’s access road and follow it back to Crossford.
Route 3 – Dean Plantation and Berrylaw (magenta)
Distance: 6.3 miles / 10km
Ascent: 430 feet / 130m
Start / finish area: Dunfermline (William Street car park)
A signed path for Berrylaw starts from William Street 400m south of the car park. This path heads out of Dunfermline across fields to Knockhouse Farm where it passes around the right hand side of the farm and continues across the fields. On reaching the end of the path at Lundin Road, turn right up the road to the forest entrance.
Turn left into the forest on to a dirt path before the barrier gate. Keep right, straight on and then right, to walk above the ravine of the burn. Stay up high above the burn following the path north to join the main forest road. Go left on to the road and turn almost immediately left on to another dirt path before the bridge is reached. This second path also follows the burn but in the opposite direction at a lower level. The path crosses the burn a number of times and may entail getting wet feet. go up some steps to the right, after which the path heads westwards along the southern edge of the forest. Keep to the path, with open views south, for 2km to exit the forest on to a quiet road.
Turn right on to the road for 500m to reach the Dunfermline to Alloa cycle route (old railway). Go right on to the cycle way (towards Dunfermline) for 4km to return to the car park. Watch out for cyclists along this section.
Fife Walking 