Walks

Starting in the car park by the information board, head out back along the main entrance drive (away from the mansion house).

After around 250m, turn left off the drive into a path that skirts the edge of the golf course. Frederick Sharp and his children were all keen golfers. The Sharps laid out a nine-hole golf course in the field in front of the house. The game was known as ‘hickory’ golf, because the club shafts were made from hickory wood imported from North America.

Follow the golf course until you enter a patch of mature woodland. You will soon see the Wemyss family mausoleum on your left, nestled among the trees. Hill of Tarvit was remodelled from an earlier building that stood on the site. This building was Wemyss Hall, home to the Wemyss family until it was sold to businessman Frederick Bower Sharp in 1904. The mausoleum contains memorials in stone and marble that are dedicated to members of the Wemyss family

[An alternative slight extension is to take the path that forks to the left as you enter the woodland and follow it along to the old doocot – stay on this path and it soon rejoins the main Centenary path.]

The path curves round to the left, running parallel to a quiet road just beyond the trees. On your left, lovely views of Kingarrock hickory golf course open up. Look out for roe deer or hares feeding, if it is quiet.

Around 300m after the mausoleum, the path enters another section of woodland at the Ploughman’s Step. If you look closely at the wall at the edge of the woodland you will see this small built-in step. There are two similar steps on the other side of the wall, suggesting that this might have been used as a short cut, perhaps for estate workers who were keen to get home for their dinner!

The Sharps were keen huntsmen and arranged for their estate to be designed accordingly. In this area you can see the non-native Gaultheria procumbens, which was grown to provide cover for pheasants. There is also a superb view of Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse, a fine example of an Edwardian country house, through the trees.

Continue on the path through the woodland until you meet the tarmacked estate road.

At the road, turn left and walk carefully along the edge. There is only occasional traffic, but please take care. The golf course is now on your left. 

Follow this road for around 450m.

The road arrives at Golf Cottage, where golfers collect their clubs to play a round of hickory golf. The cottage also sells takeaway hot drinks and light snacks. 

Leave the road to join the wide gravel path that swoops slightly uphill and to the left to pass in front of the beautiful Hill of Tarvit Mansion.

This path leads you all the way back to the car park.