📌 Dunfermline, Fife
★★★
Taken together, Dunfermline Abbey, Palace and Church have a significant place in Scottish history. But how does it all fit together? The abbey came first in 1128, elevated by David I from a smaller priory founded by Queen Margaret in 1070. But only the nave properly survives (making up the left half of the building in the picture above), as after the Reformation, the choir collapsed and the outbuildings were converted into a royal palace. Dunfermline soon fell out of royal favour however, and the palace soon fell into disrepair. In 1820 the ruined choir became the foundations for a new Abbey Church; this is still in active use today, while the (old) nave and palace are a tourist attraction cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. The building’s biggest claim to fame, however, is that it is the resting place for several Scottish kings and queens, including Robert the Bruce – whose grave can be viewed inside the Abbey Church.
🌍 Location
📌 St Margaret Street, Dunfermline town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 090873
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.069942,-3.463856
🚆🚌 Train / bus to Dunfermline
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily, 29 March to September; Tuesday to Saturday, October to 28 March
🎫 Free
🔗 Abbey & palace: historicenvironment.scot | Church: dunfermlineabbey.co.uk
