Dysart and St Serf

 Looking down on Dysart Harbour. Dysart is around 10 miles South West of Largo and between West Wemyss and Kirkcaldy.

The Harbourmaster's House which has been converted into a coastal centre highlighting the Fife Coastal Path.

St Serf's Tower.

The outside of St Serf's cave. This natural chambered cave is in the grounds of a Carmelite Monastery and yesterday under the Fife Doors Open scheme the caves were opened to the public for the first time in 80 years. The queues were enormous but it was well worth the wait.

 Inside the cave which formed the Chapel of the Holy Rood.

More photos from inside the caves. St Serf was the Abbot of the Monastery of Culross and was said to have used the caves as a retreat from the world in the 6th Century. He died in 543.

Some Butterflies at Last

Red Admiral Butterfly.

This week's sunnier weather has at last brought some butterflies to the buddlia in the garden. Small tortoiseshells and small whites have been present occasionally but today was the first time that I had seen red admirals and peacock butterflies.

 Peacock Butterflies.

Tentsmuir Forest

I had been to Tentsmuir Forest near Leuchers before but not for some time. The barrel shaped ice house is a prominent building in a clearing in the forest and is a focal point for walkers. It was built in the 1880's to store salmon which had been netted from the beach.

A World War 2 pillbox and some anti-tank blocks. Polish Forces based in Scotland constructed these
defences.

 

In some parts of the forest the ground is covered by reindeer moss. It looks as if it woul be soft but it is wiry to the touch.

Some fungi growing on the branch which was overhanging a burn.

There were numerous clumps of heather.

Periwinkles Cosying Up

Periwinkles (Littorina littorea) had taken over this small trapezoid shaped stone on the beach at Lower Largo. The stone was only around 7 to 8 inches long but on each face of the stone the periwinkles were tightly packed together.

Some Falkland Artistry

Walking through the woods in the Falkland Estate came across these intricate wooden carvings, presumably carved using some of the wood from the trees that were damaged in the winter storms.

Also came acoss a decorated tree-trunk.

Rainbow Over Largo Bay

The sunshine and showers weather yesterday produced this rainbow over Largo bay looking from Lower Largo Pier towards Dumbarnie Links. 

Kelp Forest at Low Tide

At low tides the upper fringe of the kelp forest can be seen on rocky shores such as that between  Lundin Links and Lower Largo. It mostly consists of oarweed (Laminaria digitata).

Looking towards the Bass Rock a tangled mass of kelp can be seen. The kelp forest provides a habitat for a diverse community of plants and animals. Scottish Natural Heritage have published an excellent booklet on Scotland's kelp forests.

Oarweed has a smooth, flexible stem (or stipe) and a shiny leathery blade divided into thin straps which spread out like the fingers of a hand. It is smooth to the touch and lies flat on the shore when the tide is out.