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Glenrothes is a New Town built in the 1940s to house workers at a colliery which promptly failed. Prompt repurposing succeeded in developing Glenrothes as a centre for the electronics industry. It is Fife's administrative centre. Glenrothes is unusual in that its town centre is contained in a shopping mall, the Kingdom Shopping Centre. There are plenty of sculptures and other artworks outside, though, since the Glenrothes has had town artists since early in its development. The modern artwork stands in marked contrast to the two ancient stone circles at Balbirnie and Balfarg.
Possibly the most prominent of the town's landmarks is the River Leven bridge with its tower shaped like an inverted V supporting cables that in turn support the roadway that carries the A92.
Attractions and activities
To the north of Glenrothes rise the Lomond Hills, two volcanic cones that are the twin centrepieces of Lomond Hills Regional Park. The area is extremely popular with walkers, so much so that its trails suffer from erosion. Plans to control the problem are dependent on public cooperation, so walkers are advised to stay within posted limits. The park is also a favourite of mountain bikers and paragliders.
A few miles up the A912 from Glenrothes is Falkland, the most famous feature of which is sixteenth century Falkland Palace. This was a hunting lodge of the Stewart monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots. It includes recreations of the Old Library, the King's apartments and the Queen's rooms and the Chapel Royal. Even more impressive than the palace is the gardens, now maintained by the National Trust.
Glenrothes was designed with a network of cycling paths to complement the road system, making bicycles not only recreational vehicles but feasible means of transportation. Footpaths within the town cater to walkers. No less than four golf courses exist in the immediate environs of Glenrothes, in addition to one in Falkland.
Access and Places To Stay
Glenrothes is centrally located in the peninsula of Fife. It lies on the A911, which connects to the M90 coming north from Edinburgh or south from Perth, as well as on the A92 north from Kirkcaldy or south from Dundee. The town has no official rail station of its own, but Markinch and Thornton stations are only a few minutes from central Glenrothes, and connections can be made to almost anywhere in Britain from Kirkcaldy eight kilometres to the south. Glenrothes even has an airstrip suitable for private aircraft. Motor coaches and local buses are also available.
The Glenrothes area is a great place to sample the sort of luxury hotel that is developed from a historic house. No less than four stately homes in the area are open as hotels. At the other end of the scale, guesthouse and B&B facilities are also widely available, as are self-catering accommodations. Dining in Glenrothes may be fine dining or takeaway or anything in between, and the nightlife scene is quite lively.
Accommodation in Glenrothes
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