'In this essential companion, Ian Bradley brings to life, in great detail, the rich history of the religious buildings and communities encountered along the way. Well-researched, the book is not a walking guide, but an in-depth insight into the lives of the pilgrims in whose steps walkers follow. For those attempting the entire 64-mile route or merely dipping into a section at a time, this read will be an enlightening precursor to a trip or perfect for post excursion reading’ – Scottish Field
'An excellent guide to the Fife Pilgrim way, captures the fascinating history…in a light and almost chatty tone which makes it enjoyable to read and understand. We thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking of walking the route' – WalkFife
Packed with over almost 100 images and countless stories, it brings to life the fascinating communities and the characters along the route in whose footsteps modern pilgrims are treading. Setting off with Celtic saints from Culross and North Queensferry, marching with miners through the West Fife coalfields, continuing on with Covenanters and Communists and ending among the martyrs, relics and ghosts of the haunted city of St Andrews, this gripping narrative presents a journey through Scottish history, ancient and modern, with spiritual reflections along the way.
Ian Bradley is Emeritus Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History at the University of St Andrews. He is a Trustee of the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum and has been closely involved with the Fife Pilgrim Way since its conception. Among his many other books are Pilgrimage: A Cultural and Spiritual Journey (2009), Argyll: The Making of a Spiritual Landscape (St Andrew Press, 2015) and Following the Celtic Way (Darton, Longman & Todd, 2018).
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