Kinkell, Fife

Kinkell lies east of St Andrews on Scotland’s North Sea coast. The name appears in places like Kinkell Ness, Kinkell Braes and Kinkell Farm, showing how widely it was used in the past. The braes are now home to a caravan park, a golf course and other modern buildings. Kinkell Braes stretch along the coast, where grey sandstone cliffs rise above the waves. The Maiden Rock is a striking feature of these cliffs, and Kinkell Cave cuts into the rock face. The site was once a busy medieval estate with a chapel, hospital and castle. The castle stood above Kinkell Harbour, a small natural creek that offered shelter from storms. Records name the Moubray, Hepburn and Hamilton families as owners over the centuries. In the late 17th century, Alexander Hamilton allowed Covenanters to hold secret religious meetings at Kinkell. Famous preachers like John Blackadder and John Welsh spoke to large crowds there despite attempts to stop them. Visitors today walk the cliffs and see the Maiden Rock and Kinkell Cave. The volcanic plug called the Rock and Spindle stands beside the harbour, its twisted basalt columns forming an unusual shape. The golf course covers part of the old farmland, and the remains of the castle have not been found. Whins bloom along the rocky slopes in summer, and the ash-trees stand as silent witnesses to the past. The harbour still offers a quiet place to pause by the sea.