Day 13 – Kirkcaldy and a Return to the City – Scotland Adventure, 2025
Our Scotland Adventure is coming to a close this week. I am melancholy and already missing the Highlands and the surrounding coast. I am also homesick for my family and the peaceful area of Maryland where we live. It’s a difficult conundrum.
On a suggestion of a local, we headed south from Cellardyke to Kirkcauldy to go glassing. Apparently, there was a glass factory nearby years ago and he said there was a lot of sea glass. We drove to Kirkcauldy and found the said beach, but sea glass was not abundant. It was a lovely beach — different from beaches that I’m used to, with smoothed shelves of rock reaching out into the sea. The sand was brown, black, and silty. We timed out visit with low tide. Kirkcauldy beach is popular with dog lovers. There were several dogs living their best lives chasing sea gulls and waves as we walked the beach. The few pieces of glass we found were old, well sanded, and lovely.
I have been so surprised that we haven’t found sea glass artisans on our travels through Scotland. If the economy and tariffs weren’t so horrid at the moment, I would offer to make and sell the jewelry here. What better excuse to come to go glassing in Scotland!
After our beach excursion, we traveled into the town of Kirkcauldy for brunch. I am so grateful to the UK for having a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes that are not just salad and French fries at a restaurant. I was able to enjoy a vegetarian “stack” which consisted of a potato scone, a hash brown, vegan haggis (lentil based), a poached egg, and a tomato. This was accompanied by beans. Excellent brunch with a cuppa.
We wandered the Main Street of Kirkcauldy with the intent to purchase a suitcase at a charity shop to bring the many books we’ve purchased back to the USA. We were fortunate to find such a shop and a case at a decent price. But, Kirkcauldy’s Main Street held a dangerous store — a Waterstones bookseller. James and I shopped around and, of course, picked up more books.
The books I want and need for Elen are not available in the USA. Tariffs are preventing businesses from shipping, thus purchases in the UK and schlepping them in the new suitcase.
We drove then, back to Edinburgh. Traffic was at a near standstill for over an hour. We found our stay — a city apartment in a very old building. Bravely, we returned to the highway to return our car at the airport, bussed back to the city, had dinner, and had a long walk back to the flat.
Edinburgh, actually the majority of Scotland, is not for the faint of heart or legs. Walking is a must, and much of it non uneven cobblestones and bricks. There are many, many stairs throughout the city. We have certainly had our cardio workouts on several days on this adventure. Onward. Only 48 hours remaining of our trip as I write this. And, I am already homesick for Scotland as well. I need to begin saving and planning for my next trip here.
