St Margarets Cave

What it’s like

A free guided tour down into the underground cave where legend says Margaret used to pray, on fixed slots across the summer.

This one's a guided tour rather than a wander round, and it's free, which makes a nice change from most underground attractions that charge you for the privilege. You book a slot, turn up, and someone takes you down into the cave itself. It only runs Friday to Sunday, and only from early June to early October, so it's not something you can pencil in for a rainy Tuesday in February.

The tour slots are short and fixed. Fridays and Saturdays it's 11am, 2pm and 3pm, Sundays it shifts to 12.30, 1.15 and 2pm. Because it's pre-booked only, you can't just turn up on the off chance, you'll need to book through Dunfermline Carnegie Library, by phone or email, to get a place.

The catch is the access. Getting down to the cave means a number of steps, which rules it out if anyone in your party has mobility issues or you're not up for carrying a buggy. If that's not an issue for you, it's a quick, atmospheric stop that costs nothing beyond your time. There's a car park at Chalmers Street, and the Granary Café next door at the Carnegie Library does homemade food and hot drinks if you want to build a bit more of a morning around it.

The tour itself is brief and timed.

Facilities

Need to know

Booking

Pre-booked tours on selected days

Parking

Chalmers Street Car Park

Food

The Granary Café at adjacent Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries serves homemade food and hot drinks

• Booking has to go through the library reception rather than online
• Tours are short and fixed to the timetable, so plan your day around the slot
• The Granary Café next door does homemade food if you want to make a morning of it
• Season only runs June to October, and only three days a week

Plan your visit

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