Pittencrieff House is a beautiful 17th-century Lairds Hose and the former family home of General John Forbes. General John Forbes was born in Edinburgh in 1707 and grew up on his family estate at Pittencrieff. He was a British Army Officer who is best known for commanding the Forbes Expedition, during which British soldiers were sent to capture Fort Duquesne in America, which they eventually achieved in late 1758. The city was renamed Pittsburgh.
Its bright ochre colour is makes it easy to spot.
After several owners came and went, a local merchant called William Hunt purchased the estate in 1800. It remained in this family, until Colonel James Hunt sold the property to Andrew Carnegie for £45,000 in 1902.
The house was restored throughout 1911 and 1912 by Sir Robert Lorimer. It hasn’t been lived in since 1902 and for many years it was a museum. The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust are exploring how it can be used in the future.
From here head towards the glass houses and the Laird’s Garden. In days gone by, this area was used by Pittencrieff House as a kitchen garden and orchard. Now developed round the Laird’s Walk, with views of the Abbey and Palace ruins, the garden is full of colour throughout the spring and summer. Walk down through the centre of the garden to our next stop.
As you go around the trail, tap the ‘previous’ and ‘next’ arrows to move between points. The picture at the top of the page is shows you where you should be.
If the map does not show your current position when you click “Show My Location” , check your phone browser setting and allow Location.
If there’s more than one of you with a smartphone, you can use the What3Words app to help you navigate. It’s free to download – type in the what3words location, tap “use compass” and it will help you find your way. Though remember, this will point to the exact location, not necessarily following the right path, so use the map on each page to help you.
