Cow Hill

This Victorian monument marks a site of great historical significance in the history of Scotland, but only by pure chance. It stands on the Black Stone, traditionally believed to be the spot where King Alexander III fell accidentally to his death while riding along the coast to his hunting lodge at Kinghorn on a stormy night in 1286. The kingdom was placed under the rule of six Guardians, comprising bishops and nobles, while the Scots sent for Alexander's infant grand-daughter, Margaret 'the Maid of Norway', to assume the crown. After her unexpected death in Orkney left the throne vacant, Alexander's brother-in-law, Edward Plantagenet, seized the opportunity to meddle in Scottish affairs and proclaimed himself overlord of the Scots with the right to nominate Alexander's successor. His choice from among the Scottish candidates fell upon John Balliol, whom he installed as a puppet-king; but when the Scottish nobles refused to fight in Edward's wars in France, he marched north to depose Balliol. Edward was also influenced by Geoffrey of Monmouth's prophecy that Britain would one day be ruled by one king (bretwalda) for the whole island. What ensued was the long struggle of the Scottish Wars of Independence, lasting almost sixty years, followed by intermittent warfare over the next four centuries as generations of Scots fiercely resisted all attempts to dominate Scotland until Cromwell's conquest in 1650. The Monument, designed by Hippolyte Blanc, replaced an earlier stone cross on the site. One of the subscribers was Queen Victoria. It was unveiled on 19th July 1887, by the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, a direct descendant of King Robert the Bruce. NT2573 : Alexander III statue, west door of St. Giles

The inscription reads, TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS ALEXANDER III THE LAST OF SCOTLAND'S CELTIC KINGS WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED NEAR THIS SPOT MARCH XIX MCCLXXXVI ERECTED ON THE SEX-CENTENARY OF HIS DEATH

Alexander, seated on his throne, is shown receiving visitors at court, though the Monument gives no indication of who they are. I suspect he is being introduced to Yolande de Dreux, his young second wife. It seems it was his eagerness to visit her at Kinghorn that caused him to ignore his courtiers' advice not to travel beyond Inverkeithing on a wild and stormy night. Sculpted panel by David Rhind. It deserves a clean.

Looking towards the King's Crag. It is traditionally believed that Alexander fell from the cliffs, though his fatal accident may have been less dramatic. "For in the same year [1296] on 19 March the king was delayed by the ferry at [South] Queensferry until dusk on a dark night. When advised by his companions not to go beyond Iverkeithing that night, he spurned their counsel, and with an escort of knights hurried by a precipitous track towards Kinghorn Regis. To the west of that place beside the shore his horse stumbled in the sand, and alas! the noble king, too negligently attended by his followers, broke his neck and expired." -- Scotichronicon, c.1440 NT2586 : Alexander III Monument poem

The earliest extant poem in the Scots language laments the death of King Alexander III and the end of the 'golden age' associated with his reign. Quhen Alysandyr oure kyng wes dede That Scotland led in luive and le. Away wes sonce of ale and brede, Of wyne and wax, of gamyn and gle; Oure gold wes changed into lede. Cryst! Borne into Virgynyte, Succour Scotland and remede, That stad is in perplexyte. [When Alexander our King was dead, That Scotland led in love and peace, Away the abundance of ale and bread, Of wine and wax, of game and merriment. Our gold was changed into lead— Christ! born into virginity, Help Scotland and cure That troubled state.] Andrew de Wyntoun, Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, 14thC

Near Kinghorn in Fife.

An old pier seen in full at low tide.

With the large hillside caravan holiday park in the background.

From Pettycur Harbour area.

In Fife.

At low tide this would be a vast expanse of sand.

With the island of Inchkeith on the horizon.

Above Petticur harbour.

Beside the Fife Coastal Path.

In St James Place, Kinghorn, this Church of Scotland 'Kirk by the Sea' has stood for over 750 years. It has an unobstructed view across the beach to the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh. It also has a 'Sailors Aisle' dating from 1609 which marks its naval connections and contains a model of the first 'Unicorn' ship.

The modern caravan park overlooks the slip of a long gone shipyard, a local industry in Victorian times. Behind the caravans lie Kinghorn harbour, Kinghorn itself on its clifftop and, in the background, Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth.

Some hardy souls brave the cold waters of the Forth on what passes for a warm summer's day at these latitudes! On the left, and above the roofs of the buildings on the shore, is the railway station and viaduct carrying the trains which used to bring many visitors to this Fife village. In the background you can see Largo Law and along the coast as far as Earlsferry.

These lumpy rocks are pillow lavas. They were formed in the Carboniferous when this was an active volcanic area. Pillow lavas are formed when lava, usually basaltic, is erupted in shallow water.