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Cupar is one of the best places in Scotland to see a unicorn. There is one acting as a finial to the town's mercat cross. This market was one stimulus to Cupar's growth. Another was its role as a judiciary centre. Late in the thirteenth century King Alexander III called a meeting of the three estates in Cupar. This assembly of burgesses, clergy and nobility was a predecessor of the Scottish Parliament.
The black death struck the city in 1350, but after than it continued a slow development until the nineteenth century when the arrival of the railroad sped things up.
Activities and attractions
Cupar is famous for its architecture and monuments. St. John's Church, built in 1878, is a relatively small church with quite a tall tower looming 46 metres overhead. An older structure, Cupar Old and St Michael of Tarvit, has a tower that dates back to 1415. One of the bells in its belfry is from 1485. In the city park stands a War Memorial surmounted by an angel. The old prison is worth a visit, and so is Preston Lodge.
The early twentieth century mansion called Hill of Tarvit sits three kilometres south of Cupar. The renowned Scottish architect Robert Lorimer remodelled what was then called Wemyss House in the early years of the century. The house was meant to house the owner's extensive art collection. It was equipped with electricity, central heating and a nine hole golf course to the south of the building. In 1946 Hill of Tarvit and its collection was deeded to the National Trust for Scotland. The house and its gardens are now open to the public.
Half a mile from the mansion stands a somewhat older building. Scotstarvit, a six story tower shaped like the letter 'L', was built around 1500 by Sir John Scot. Its style was obsolete at the time of construction, and some authorities believe Sir John was attempting to manufacture an ancient family relic. The impulse remained much later, for one of the fireplaces from Scotstarvit was removed and used in Hill of Tarvit. The tower must be reached by a footpath after parking by the roadside, and may normally be viewed only from the outside.
Walkers may be interested in part or all of the Oban-to-St. Andrews Coast to Coast Walk, which passes very near the town, or any of a variety of shorter footpaths. Cupar's nine hole golf course is unusual in that many of its greens are cut into the hillside. While it is a pleasant course to play, one or two of the holes may seem somewhat long.
Access and Places To Stay
Cupar lies on the A92 running from Kirkcaldy in the south to Dundee across the Firth of Tay to the north. It has regular rail service to Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as motor coaches to most major cities. The nearest major airport is in Edinburgh.
Cupar accommodation can be as simple as a B&B or as elaborate as a luxury hotel, or it could embrace self-catering facilities. Dining options are many and varied, and there are enough pubs to provide nights out for an entire holiday.
Accommodation in Cupar
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