The Heritage Quarter
A short loop round the medieval heart of the city: the High Street’s civic buildings, the Abbey, the Palace and Carnegie’s first library.
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1
Mercat (Market) Cross
Market Cross · 1868 base, 1992 shaft · Category B listed building
The burgh’s market cross, topped by a unicorn and moved back in 1992 to what is believed to be its 1396 site.
↓ About 20 m to the next stop
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2
Former Guildhall
Civic Building · 1805–11 · Category A listed building
Archibald Elliot’s classical guildhall and linen exchange, whose tiered steeple is a High Street landmark.
↓ About 150 m to the next stop
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3
Abbey Precinct Wall, Canmore Street
Medieval Wall · Medieval · Scheduled monument
About 15m of rubble walling thought to be part of the north wall of the abbey precinct.
↓ About 100 m to the next stop
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4
The First Carnegie Library
Library · 1881–83 · Category B listed building
The first of Scotland’s public libraries given by Andrew Carnegie, now part of Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries.
↓ About 130 m to the next stop
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5
Abbot House
Townhouse · Later 16th century · Category A listed building
A pink-harled 16th-century townhouse beside the abbey, with remains of a 15th-century building inside it.
Opening: Coffee shop: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm; closed Monday · full times
↓ About 110 m to the next stop
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6
Dunfermline Abbey (the Nave)
Abbey · 12th century · Category A listed building
The Romanesque nave of the abbey church begun by David I in 1128 and consecrated in 1150.
Opening: 1 April to 30 September: Daily, 10am to 4.30pm · full times
↓ About 40 m to the next stop
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7
Dunfermline Abbey Church
Parish Church · 1818–21 · Category A listed building
William Burn’s Gothic Revival parish church of 1818–21, built over the abbey’s choir, with ‘King Robert the Bruce’ spelled out round its tower.
Opening: 1 April to 30 September: Daily, 10am to 4.30pm · full times
↓ About 150 m to the next stop
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8
Dunfermline Palace
Royal Palace Ruin · 16th century · Scheduled monument
The ruined royal palace that grew from the abbey guesthouse; Charles I was born here in 1600.
Historic Environment Scotland says the palace ruins are closed while conservation works are ongoing; the abbey nave and grounds are open.
↓ About 210 m to the next stop
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9
City Chambers
Town Hall · 1876–79 · Category A listed building
J C Walker’s richly carved French-baronial town hall, with its six-stage clock tower.
↓ About 190 m to the next stop
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10
Mercat (Market) Cross (back to the start)