Craigtoun Country Park

Craigtoun Country Park is a country park located just out of St Andrews in the county of Fife, Scotland. It is currently owned and run by Fife Council. The park was originally part of the Mount Melville Estate, in 1947 Fife Council purchased 47 acres (190,000 m²) of the estate for £25,000.^[1]

A series of gardens of contrasting styles have been created around the park and are maintained by gardeners all year round. Cypress walk is a row of two parallel rows of cypress trees which lead up to the derelict Category B listed, Craigtoun Hospital^[2] which was once owned by the Younger family who also previously owned the park itself.

The two ponds in the park were man-made by the Younger family, which included construction of the Dutch Village, a small island in the centre of one of the ponds which is painted white and has two turrets with small rooms. It is likely that this was used by the Younger family to entertain guests in the summer months.

Facilities

The park has facilities structured to suit all ages. Facilities are now much reduced from those that visitors prior to 2011 will have experienced. While there are still trampolines and an adventure playground for the kids, and the Craigtoun Miniature Railway (cost £1.50 per ride for adults and £1 for children) many of the old favourites are no longer available. If you are looking to rekindle memories by using the Crazy Golf, Nine hole putting green, Rowing boats or Pedaloes, then you might be disappointed.

A bouncy castle for kids is sometimes in operation, but availability cannot be guaranteed, and the cafeteria is open for a nine week period in July/August. ^[3]

The park also includes large expanses of grass. Of the two man made ponds one was previously used for rowing and pedal boats, the other is unused and is home to many mallards, moorhen and Mute swans. There was also once a large sanctuary for birds that included birds such as the bohemian pheasant, but this has now been left in a state of disrepair.

Since capital constraints in Fife Council, facilities have been reduced for the 2011 season.

However the country park is now free entry and open on a daily basis throughout the year, with the cafe open from 25 June to 28 August, and the Craigtoun Miniature Railway reopened by MRW Railways Ltd from 2 July to 28 August.^[4]

Muscovy ducks

A feature of the park for many years now have been the presence of a breeding pair of Muscovy ducks which were donated to the park by a local who no longer wished to look after them. Initially, six were present at the park; however, only two now remain (as of September 2008). The large male and female, affectionately known as "Boris" and "Anna" by the park staff, are still alive and for a number of years have produced offspring which have on most occasions failed to survive beyond the winter months not without attempt from the park staff.

References

1. ^ "An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland (Site History)". Historic Scotland. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/gardens_search_results.htm/gardenssearchmoreinfo.htm?s=&r=Kingdom+of+Fife&bool=0&PageID=2120&more_info=Site. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
2. ^ "An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland". Historic Scotland. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/gardens_search_results.htm/gardenssearchmoreinfo.htm?s=&r=Kingdom+of+Fife&bool=0&PageID=2120&more_info=Landscape. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
3. ^ "Fifedirect - Craigtoun Park". http://www.fife.gov.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=facility.display&facid=6389BAE1-BFCF-4116-A06E6168C87CE959. Retrieved 2011-07-12. 
4. ^ Miller, Douglas (17 June 2011). "Full steam ahead for the Craigtoun express". St Andrews Citizen (Johnston Publishing Ltd): p. 5. http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/full_steam_ahead_for_the_craigtoun_express_1_1685283. 

External links

• Craigtoun Country Park at fifedirect.org
• Craigtoun Park Railway Website

Coordinates: 56°19′05″N 2°50′28″W / 56.318°N 2.841°W / 56.318; -2.841