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Maiden's Rock

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Fife

Scotland

Maiden's Rock

South Street, St Andrews
South Street, St Andrews Credit: Richard Webb

Maiden's Rock is a prominent coastal feature located in Fife, Scotland. This headland, also known as Maiden's Point, is a significant landmark along the Fife coastline. Situated near the town of St. Andrews, it extends into the North Sea, offering stunning views and a captivating atmosphere.

The rock earned its name from a local legend that dates back centuries. According to the tale, a young maiden was imprisoned on the rock, awaiting her execution. As the tide rose, she leaped into the sea, choosing death over her impending fate. The rock stands as a somber reminder of this tragic event.

Physically, Maiden's Rock is a rugged and imposing structure. It juts out into the sea, forming a natural promontory that attracts both locals and tourists. The rock is composed of solid sandstone, displaying intricate patterns and layers, which have been shaped by the relentless force of the crashing waves over time. This geological feature adds to its allure.

The headland offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding coastline. On clear days, visitors can see as far as the Isle of May and the East Neuk of Fife. The rugged cliffs and the sound of the crashing waves below create a dramatic and awe-inspiring setting.

Maiden's Rock has become a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and photographers, who are drawn to its natural beauty and historical significance. It stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and captivating landscapes that Fife has to offer.

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Maiden's Rock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.332139/-2.7674642 or Grid Reference NO5215. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

South Street, St Andrews
South Street, St Andrews
Department of Medieval History, St Andrews University Ornate doorway in South Street.
Department of Medieval History, St Andrews University
Ornate doorway in South Street.
Abbey Street Maps are not too forthcoming on the name of this street so assumptions have been made. Looking towards the castle.
Abbey Street
Maps are not too forthcoming on the name of this street so assumptions have been made. Looking towards the castle.
The Fulmar One of several fishing boats moored in St Andrews harbour
The Fulmar
One of several fishing boats moored in St Andrews harbour
Arctic Tern and Solaris Fishing boats moored in St Andrews harbour
Arctic Tern and Solaris
Fishing boats moored in St Andrews harbour
Samuel Rutherford's Grave, St Andrews Cathedral After losing his charge as minister at Anwoth in Galloway, due to his nonconformity to Episcopacy, Samuel Rutherford was banished to Aberdeen. In 1638 he became the Professor of Divinity at St Andrews University. The inscription reads (note unusual spelling of Samuel Rutherford): M S . R Here lyes the Reverend Mr. Samuell Rutherfoord Professor of Divinity in The University of St Andrews who died March the 20 1661. What tongu what Pen or Skill of Men Can famous Rutherfoord commend His Learning justly rasid his fame True GODliness Adornd His Name He did converse with things ABOVE Acquainted with Emmanuels Love Most orthodox He was And sound And Many Errots Did confound For Zions King and Zions cause And Scotlands covenanted Laws Most constantly he Did contend Until His Time was At An End Than He wan To the Full Fruition Of That which He Had seen in vision.
Samuel Rutherford's Grave, St Andrews Cathedral
After losing his charge as minister at Anwoth in Galloway, due to his nonconformity to Episcopacy, Samuel Rutherford was banished to Aberdeen. In 1638 he became the Professor of Divinity at St Andrews University. The inscription reads (note unusual spelling of Samuel Rutherford): M S . R Here lyes the Reverend Mr. Samuell Rutherfoord Professor of Divinity in The University of St Andrews who died March the 20 1661. What tongu what Pen or Skill of Men Can famous Rutherfoord commend His Learning justly rasid his fame True GODliness Adornd His Name He did converse with things ABOVE Acquainted with Emmanuels Love Most orthodox He was And sound And Many Errots Did confound For Zions King and Zions cause And Scotlands covenanted Laws Most constantly he Did contend Until His Time was At An End Than He wan To the Full Fruition Of That which He Had seen in vision.
Grounds of St. Mary's College, South Street, St. Andrews The college is part of the University of St. Andrews, and the School of Divinity is based here. The arch hidden under the vegetation is apparently a kind of folly, and not part of some ancient wall. It seems the vegetation was removed at some stage, but this photo was taken a long while ago! The arch and the garden in front and behind is in OS square NO5016. Immediately to the right everything, including the college buildings, are in NO5116.
Grounds of St. Mary's College, South Street, St. Andrews
The college is part of the University of St. Andrews, and the School of Divinity is based here. The arch hidden under the vegetation is apparently a kind of folly, and not part of some ancient wall. It seems the vegetation was removed at some stage, but this photo was taken a long while ago! The arch and the garden in front and behind is in OS square NO5016. Immediately to the right everything, including the college buildings, are in NO5116.
Feeding the doves of St. Mary's College, South Street, St. Andrews Sadly this is a sight you are unlikely to ever see again. The quadrangle of St. Mary's College used to be home to a large number of doves, which were fed by the college. The doves were long regarded as the mascot of the College. This photograph shows a gentleman in a smart uniform feeding them. Look closely and you will see some opportunistic pigeons amongst the doves. The doves are no longer here. The official website has a brief note that the doves had "to be removed for health reasons". It doesn't explain whether this was for the health of the doves, or the students and staff, nor where the doves were removed to. This seems to have happened about 1994. However we can probably assume that the pigeons are still around.
Feeding the doves of St. Mary's College, South Street, St. Andrews
Sadly this is a sight you are unlikely to ever see again. The quadrangle of St. Mary's College used to be home to a large number of doves, which were fed by the college. The doves were long regarded as the mascot of the College. This photograph shows a gentleman in a smart uniform feeding them. Look closely and you will see some opportunistic pigeons amongst the doves. The doves are no longer here. The official website has a brief note that the doves had "to be removed for health reasons". It doesn't explain whether this was for the health of the doves, or the students and staff, nor where the doves were removed to. This seems to have happened about 1994. However we can probably assume that the pigeons are still around.
St Leonard's School St Leonard's is an independent school which originally took girls only. This is the south wing of the main school building, with the school tower behind it. From the street, the school presents a rather forbidding aspect, but it has extensive gardens and playing fields inside the grim-looking walls.
St Leonard's School
St Leonard's is an independent school which originally took girls only. This is the south wing of the main school building, with the school tower behind it. From the street, the school presents a rather forbidding aspect, but it has extensive gardens and playing fields inside the grim-looking walls.
Slipway, St Andrews Small wooden slipway at East Sands.
Slipway, St Andrews
Small wooden slipway at East Sands.
Lifebuoy, St Andrews The lifebuoy is near the slipway at East Sands. The ruins of St Andrews Cathedral can be seen in the distance.
Lifebuoy, St Andrews
The lifebuoy is near the slipway at East Sands. The ruins of St Andrews Cathedral can be seen in the distance.
The Pends, St. Andrews These arched gateways, known as the Pends, stand astride the road to the south and allowed the Augustinian canons of St. Andrews to control traffic to and from the priory and the harbour.
The Pends, St. Andrews
These arched gateways, known as the Pends, stand astride the road to the south and allowed the Augustinian canons of St. Andrews to control traffic to and from the priory and the harbour.
Tower of St. Rule's Church Pilgrimages to St. Andrews were encouraged in the 12th century by Queen Margaret, the Anglo-Saxon wife of Malcolm Canmore (r.1057-93), who was canonised in 1251. Her confessor and biographer, Turgot, bishop of Durham, became the first bishop of the revived diocese of St Andrews at the head of a community of Celtic, or Culdee monks (from the Gaelic 'Cele De', meaning 'servant of God'). The foundations of a later church, built on what may have been the site of their church, can still be seen to the north of the cathedral on the cliffs overlooking the harbour. By the end of the reign of Margaret's son, Alexander I (r.1107-24), attempts were made to establish Roman church organisation by introducing a community of Augustinian canons who founded a priory. This tower is the only surviving part of their first church which may well have been built to house the relics of Andrew. A pre-Norman structure, it was built in two stages, probably in the 1120s and the 1140s, and has come to be popularly associated with St Rule. No trace remains of the nave which was added at a later stage. The tower is 32.92 metres (108 ft) high and offers a spectacular view of the adjacent burgh and surrounding countryside. The staircase dates from the 16th century.
Tower of St. Rule's Church
Pilgrimages to St. Andrews were encouraged in the 12th century by Queen Margaret, the Anglo-Saxon wife of Malcolm Canmore (r.1057-93), who was canonised in 1251. Her confessor and biographer, Turgot, bishop of Durham, became the first bishop of the revived diocese of St Andrews at the head of a community of Celtic, or Culdee monks (from the Gaelic 'Cele De', meaning 'servant of God'). The foundations of a later church, built on what may have been the site of their church, can still be seen to the north of the cathedral on the cliffs overlooking the harbour. By the end of the reign of Margaret's son, Alexander I (r.1107-24), attempts were made to establish Roman church organisation by introducing a community of Augustinian canons who founded a priory. This tower is the only surviving part of their first church which may well have been built to house the relics of Andrew. A pre-Norman structure, it was built in two stages, probably in the 1120s and the 1140s, and has come to be popularly associated with St Rule. No trace remains of the nave which was added at a later stage. The tower is 32.92 metres (108 ft) high and offers a spectacular view of the adjacent burgh and surrounding countryside. The staircase dates from the 16th century.
Cathedral precinct wall, St. Andrews The cathedral's remarkably well-preserved boundary wall, fortified by a series of round and rectangular towers, dates from the 16th century. It is one mile long and encloses an area of over 12 hectares.
Cathedral precinct wall, St. Andrews
The cathedral's remarkably well-preserved boundary wall, fortified by a series of round and rectangular towers, dates from the 16th century. It is one mile long and encloses an area of over 12 hectares.
Cathedral archway, St. Andrews
Cathedral archway, St. Andrews
St. Andrews Cathedral, remains of the West Front This must be a heart-breaking scene for anyone with an interest in Scottish history or a love of and respect for old buildings. It's all too easy to blame the Protestant reformers for the appalling condition of the Cathedral today - and I suppose they bear responsibility for its loss of protection in the post-Reformation era - but their iconoclastic attack in 1559 could never have wrought damage to the extent seen here. This is clearly a result of not just neglect but the subsequent quarrying of the stone over generations for use in the town and surrounding area. Destruction in war apart, this must qualify as one of the worst acts of vandalism ever perpetrated on a church building in the whole of western Europe. Between 1273 and 1279 the west front was wrecked in a storm and rebuilt under Bishop Wishart (1271-79) who was buried in front of the high altar. The new front, seen here, was built two bays further east of the original gable. The central door was the main processional doorway used by the canons, while parishioners and pilgrims entered by a door on the north side of the nave. "..the tacit assumption that all ecclesiastical buildings of Scotland were in fair or good condition when that outburst [of 1559-60] took place is preposterous". -- David Hay Fleming, Reformation in Scotland, 1931
St. Andrews Cathedral, remains of the West Front
This must be a heart-breaking scene for anyone with an interest in Scottish history or a love of and respect for old buildings. It's all too easy to blame the Protestant reformers for the appalling condition of the Cathedral today - and I suppose they bear responsibility for its loss of protection in the post-Reformation era - but their iconoclastic attack in 1559 could never have wrought damage to the extent seen here. This is clearly a result of not just neglect but the subsequent quarrying of the stone over generations for use in the town and surrounding area. Destruction in war apart, this must qualify as one of the worst acts of vandalism ever perpetrated on a church building in the whole of western Europe. Between 1273 and 1279 the west front was wrecked in a storm and rebuilt under Bishop Wishart (1271-79) who was buried in front of the high altar. The new front, seen here, was built two bays further east of the original gable. The central door was the main processional doorway used by the canons, while parishioners and pilgrims entered by a door on the north side of the nave. "..the tacit assumption that all ecclesiastical buildings of Scotland were in fair or good condition when that outburst [of 1559-60] took place is preposterous". -- David Hay Fleming, Reformation in Scotland, 1931
Ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral The Cathedral, founded about 1160 in the reign of Queen Margaret's great-grandson, Malcolm IV (r.1153-65), was intended to be the longest church in Scotland, having an interior measuring 109 metres from east to west. In 1192 the claim of the Archbishop of York to supremacy over the affairs of the Scottish church was finally rejected when a papal bull recognised the latter (excepting Galloway) as "a special daughter" of Rome. Thereafter, St. Andrews, as the richest church in the kingdom enjoying the revenues of over two hundred parish kirks, assumed the leadership of Scottish ecclesiastical affairs. In 1472, it became the metropolitan church in Scotland (including Orkney and the Isles, previously under Trondheim) when its bishops were elevated to archbishops.
Ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral
The Cathedral, founded about 1160 in the reign of Queen Margaret's great-grandson, Malcolm IV (r.1153-65), was intended to be the longest church in Scotland, having an interior measuring 109 metres from east to west. In 1192 the claim of the Archbishop of York to supremacy over the affairs of the Scottish church was finally rejected when a papal bull recognised the latter (excepting Galloway) as "a special daughter" of Rome. Thereafter, St. Andrews, as the richest church in the kingdom enjoying the revenues of over two hundred parish kirks, assumed the leadership of Scottish ecclesiastical affairs. In 1472, it became the metropolitan church in Scotland (including Orkney and the Isles, previously under Trondheim) when its bishops were elevated to archbishops.
North wall of the cloister, St. Andrews Cathedral The blocked-up doorway at the west end of the south wall was the day-time entrance used by the canons to process into the church from the cloister. The cloister garth may well have been laid out as a herb garden. "The old church here was a noble structure; it was longer than St Paul's in London, by a considerable deal, I think, by six yards, or by twenty-five foot. This building is now sunk into a simple parish church, though there are many plain discoveries of what it has been, and a great deal of project and fancy may be employed to find out the ancient shape of it." -- Daniel Defoe, A Tour Thro' The Whole Island of Great Britain, 1724-6
North wall of the cloister, St. Andrews Cathedral
The blocked-up doorway at the west end of the south wall was the day-time entrance used by the canons to process into the church from the cloister. The cloister garth may well have been laid out as a herb garden. "The old church here was a noble structure; it was longer than St Paul's in London, by a considerable deal, I think, by six yards, or by twenty-five foot. This building is now sunk into a simple parish church, though there are many plain discoveries of what it has been, and a great deal of project and fancy may be employed to find out the ancient shape of it." -- Daniel Defoe, A Tour Thro' The Whole Island of Great Britain, 1724-6
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Maiden's Rock is located at Grid Ref: NO5215 (Lat: 56.332139, Lng: -2.7674642)

Unitary Authority: Fife

Police Authority: Fife

What 3 Words

///splashes.bumps.irrigated. Near St Andrews, Fife

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Kinkell Braes Maiden's Rock Brownhills

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 56.332139,-2.7674642
Maiden's Rock
Natural: rock
Lat/Long: 56.3321859/-2.7673209
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Barrier: stile
Lat/Long: 56.3299821/-2.768014
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Golf: pin
Lat/Long: 56.3309548/-2.7674127
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Golf: pin
Lat/Long: 56.3301671/-2.7614521
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Golf: pin
Lat/Long: 56.3303015/-2.7646668
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Golf: pin
Lat/Long: 56.3312071/-2.7601227
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Leisure: playground
Lat/Long: 56.329606/-2.7740498
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Addr Housenumber: 24
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320577/-2.7730822
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Addr Housenumber: 17
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320701/-2.773664
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Addr Housenumber: 16
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320739/-2.7738775
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Addr Housenumber: 23
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320603/-2.7732639
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Addr Housenumber: 4
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320722/-2.7744244
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Addr Housenumber: 22
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.332061/-2.7734162
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Addr Housenumber: 25
Addr Street: Old Course Drive
Lat/Long: 56.3320598/-2.7729528
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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