The village of Dunino lies about three miles southeast of St Andrews on the road to Anstruther. On the left side of the road, just before the "Welcome to Dunino" sign and a red phone box, there is a road/trail leading down into the woods. Follow this down, across the wooden bridge, and take the trail going off to the right. This trail can be muddy in the Spring, and there are nettles, so dress accordingly! Follow this trail, which parallels Kinaldy burn, until you reach the wall which surrounds the parish church and cemetery.

The little church and cemetery on your left are well worth a look. "The church of Dunino was built in 1826, and is a neat Gothic edifice, with an altar-window in the west gable" (www.ffhsoc.freeserve.co.uk). This is not, however, the first church to stand at this location (www.fife-education.org.uk), and there has probably been one here for a few hundred years. It is thought that an ancient stone circle once stood on the site now occupied by the church, and that some of the stones are incorporated into the fabric of the current church building. The building of Christian churches on older, pagan sites is not an uncommon practice (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk). There are some Templar Tau crosses in the porch of the church (www.brand-dd.com).

(www.themodernantiquarian.com)

In the churchyard, among the usual run of modern and Victorian monuments, there stands a stone that anyone can see at a glance predates everything else on the site. It stands about waist-high, and has some indistinct carvings on it from about 800 AD, well weathered by time. Some believe that these are early Christian markings, making Dunino a very early Christian site (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk, www.themodernantiquarian.com), but it is open to interpretation. A 17th century sundial is inlaid on the top of the stone (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk), but is almost completely obscured by the collection of coins which people frequently leave as offerings.

(L image, www.themodernantiquarian.com)

However, if you turn right instead of left at the trail's end, you will find yourself in Dunino Den, among the trees. The short path down to the Den is surrounded by wildflowers--snowdrops, bluebells or daffodils, depending on the time of year--which will lead you to the edge of a promontory from which you can view the Den, a natural amphitheatre through which flows Kinaldy burn.

At the top of the promontory, known as the Pulpit (www.brand-dd.com) is a hollowed-out pool, about a metre across and half a metre deep. This has been described as both a Druid well and a baptismal font, and it is unlikely that its true age and purpose will ever be known. Unlikely legend has it that this was once a place of human sacrifice, at which time the pool would be filled with blood, and the bodies of the victims flung into the burn below (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk). No one, however, seems to doubt that the purpose of the pool was ritual.

(www.themodernantiquarian.com)

Next to the pool there is a hollowed out foot print, which suggests an ancient site of royal inauguration, as at Dunadd (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk, www.themodernantiquarian.com). While this is certainly possible, the age of the foot print is unknown, and there does not appear to be any historical evidence to back up this use of the site.

(myweb.tiscali.co.uk)

Near the pool and foot print, there is a carved stone staircase, leading down into the Den itself. Careful! These steps are often slippery with mud and moss. At the foot of the steps, carved into the rock face to the left, is a circular Celtic knot, about ten inches in diametre. Again, the age of this carving is in doubt, but it is certainly a beautifully carved piece.

In the Den, at a bend in the burn, stands a prayer tree decorated with ribbons and beads and other bits and pieces left by visitors. These often either represent wishes made by frequenters of the site or offerings of thanksgiving for the beauty of the site itself. If you visit, consider bringing a little something to add to the beauty of the place. Some people also burn candles at the foot of the tree, or in the niches of the cliff face, but please remember that it is dangerous to leave these unattended.

A left turn at the prayer tree and a walk up the hill (past another promontory which makes a great picnicking spot) to the rock cliff face will bring you to a ten foot high Celtic cross carving. The cliff face is sandstone, and one can tell from how weathered the carving is, that it is at least a few hundred years old, though probably not ancient (www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk). Coins, beads and coloured stones are pressed into many of the niches and indentations in the stone.

If you continue around to the right of the cross, you will see a Celtic trinity knot, about nine inches high, carved into the rock on the opposite side from the cross. I only finally found this on my last trip to the Den, and I am sure there are still many things I have yet to discover. If you know of any more, please let me know. Send pictures!

Written on my first visit to Dunino Den:

But I can feel myself standing, as if in two places at once. Here and there, but I know no where.

I am a part of this place, and so it has license to catch my unaware and cut me with an unguarded thought.

I've had these thoughts before and they disturb me, troubling my sleep.

I know not whence they come, but once here, they remain firmly fixed, surfacing from time to time on moments of anger and wonder.

When they do, I fall back into this other time when "here and now" does not matter beyond the fact that I was born here in this place today and years ago.

Name:
Dunino may mean "fort on the uncultivated heath" (www.thefifepost.com) or "hill or fort of the daughters or young women" if the original name was Dunnigheanach (www.themodernantiquarian.com).

Location:
Latitude: 56.2859¡N
Longitude: 2.7479¡W
National Grid Reference: NO 537 107 (www.geo.ed.ac.uk)
Ordnance Survey Map Reference: NO 541 109 (www.brand-dd.com)

Stone Circle:
Site Name: Dunino
County: Fife
Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: St Andrews
Nearest Village: Dunino
Map Ref: NO530110
Megalith Map: Square NO
Landranger Map Number: 59
Condition: Destroyed (5 is best)
(www.megalithic.co.uk)

Ley Lines:
"There is a ley line that runs from Kellie Law past the edge of a crossroads, the edge of where the stone circle stood, across Bel-Craig through an ancient farm, ending at Dunino Law." --suedavie
(www.themodernantiquarian.com)

Population:
1755: 598
1793: 383 (parish records)
1801: 326
1805: 320
1811: 307 (140 M, 167 F)
1821: 343 (151 M, 192 F)
1831: 383 (183 M, 200 F)
1851: 289
1901: 272 (boundary changed)
1951: 183
(www.genuki.org.uk, www.ffhsoc.freeserve.co.uk)

According to 1834 records:
There are 71 persons occupied in agriculture, and but 15 in retail trade and handicraft. There are 99 males above twenty; 12 beyond seventy; and 1 nearly ninety. Within the last twenty years, 2 died above ninety. There are 78 families living in 74 houses, at very nearly 5 in a family. Two new houses are in the progress of building, and there is no uninhabited house. There are no blind or deaf in the parish; and three, a man, woman, and child, in separate families, are insane. (www.ffhsoc.freeserve.co.uk)

Dunino Parish Parochial Registers:
When the restoration of Presbyterian government was ratified by Parliament in 1641, parochial registers were recommended to be kept. From April 30, 1643, in a regular series to the present period, there are eight volumes of parochial records in tolerable preservation. There is a register of deaths since the year 1752. For many years after 1643, nearly the whole heritors and principal tacksmen were elders,an example worthy of imitation at the present day. The office of the elders was no sinecure, nor were they shy of using their authority. It appears that they were not only the protectors of good morals, but assumed a civil and criminal jurisdiction. In 1660, two men and four women were convicted on their own confession, of " promiscuous dancing," that is, of dancing together at a marriage. They escaped with being "sharplie rebuked ;" but the poor piper Jolin Moore, from the next parish of "Carnbie," who acted as minstrel on that occasion, was obliged to put his hand to the pen," not to repeat the offence, "under a penalty toties quoties," which would now be equivalent to a couple of pounds Sterling. Moreover, on the following Sunday, " he was humbled on his knees before the pulpit in face of the congregation," in public penance for his conduct. In 1649, "Alexander Brune was put into the joggs from the second bell to the last bell before sermon on forenoone, and afterwards entered on the place of repentance for the sin of uncleanness with Elpeth Berown." Though it be stated in the record, that during the above period, the Presbytery on several occasions issued their pastoral admonitions against prevailing vices, yet delinquencies were frequently brought before the kirk-session, which would be deprecated in these latter and less zealous days. Weavers are sometimes cited for carrying home their webs to their customers on Suiidays, and millers are cited for grinding corn, and reapers for cutting down corn on that holy day. In 1652, the kirk-session of Dunino not only acted as civil and criminal judges, but were patrons of the parish, and settled the minister. Thus, May 30th of that year, it is stated in the record, " that after the afternoon's exercise, the minister intimated out of the pulpit to the people, that the elders had nominate and chosen unanimously, Mr Alexander Edward, Regent in the Old Colledge, to be minister of their said parish;" and, accordingly, on Wednesday, 13th October following, the presbytery did meet at the church, " for admission of Mr Alexander Edward to the function of the ministrie, and they did admit him." Notwithstanding the active oppression of Archbishop Sharpe in Fifeshire for eighteen years, no county in scotland was more zealous for Presbyterianism against Episcopacy; and during that period, according to Wodrow's history, the inhabitants of " Dunyno," for their opposition, were fined in a sum that would now be equal to L. 1200 Sterling. (www.ffhsoc.freeserve.co.uk)

Physical Description of the Land of Dunino:
"The parish of Dunino is bounded on the north by Cameron and St Andrews, on the east by St Andrews and Kingsbarns, on the south by Kingsbarns and Crail and on the west by Carnbee and Cameron. The lands of Kingsmuir belong to this parish although claimed by Crail. The parish is 3 miles from east to west and 2.5 miles in breadth. With an area of 3315 acres, 2955 are under cultivation, 300 are wooded and 60 are waste land. The highest elevation, Dunino Law from which the parish probably derives its name, is about 300 feet above sea level. It is watered by 3 rivulets that unite into the Kenly or Pitmilly Burn, which empties itself into the German Ocean. Till lately the soil was wet and moorish, especially King's Muir - which is rather a stiff clay; while other parts are sandy or alluvial. Much has been done this century by draining, planting and enclosing, and reclaiming waste land. There are 12 thrashing mills and 1 corn mill. Land valued at2600 in 1797 is now worth nearly12000. Bogs have been converted into corn land. Formerly little wheat was raised, now it surpasses oats and barley. The cattle are of the Fifeshire breed. There are about 200 sheep in the parish. There are 4 heritors. The whole parish presents vestiges of coal workings at a former period although none is worked now, it being brought from St Andrews, Anstruther or any other neighbouring parish. Limestone exists for local use. Much fine marble exists, which when polished has a beautiful yellow and white striated appearance. The freestone is durable and fine in texture. Ironstone has been found. The parish is wholly agricultural. The patron is the United College, St Andrews. The stipend is202-6-6, with a glebe of28. There are 2 public houses in the parish. Though the post town is St Andrews, there are 6 post offices within from 3 to 7 miles. There is no village and the nearest market town is St Andrews, 4 miles distant. East Anstruther is 5 miles distant and Cupar 13. The inhabitants are intelligent, sober and industrious, and certainly more moral than they had been in 1650 (when the weavers were sometimes cited before the Kirk Session for carrying home their webs on Sundays, millers were grinding their corn and reapers were cutting down corn on the holy day). The present church was erected in 1826, and there is no dissenting church in the parish." from A descriptive & historic gazeteer of the counties of Fife, Kinross & Clackmannan, M Barberi, published 1857. (www.genuki.org.uk)

Books:
"Origin of St Andrews - Moon, Magicians & Maidens in Fife" by Richard A. Batchelor (Sheiling Publications - ISBN 0 9516986 1 3)
"Dunino" by Scobie (Vehicule Press - ISBN 0-919890-98-9 / 0919890989)
Dorothy MacNab Ramsay's "Pictish Queen" trilogy also include some scenes involving Dunino.

Links:
MysteriousBritain.co.uk
TheModernAntiquarian.com
Fife-Education.org.uk
Time Worn: Dunino Photos
Megalithic.co.uk
Genuki.org.uk Dunino Parish Records
Dunino Poem
Dunino Puma
Dunino Stones
Dunino Town Info
Dunino Stats
Dunino Book
Dunino Name Origin
Dunino Wiccan Discussion

*If you find any of the content of this site to be misleading, erroneous, or even misspelled, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

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