Done at Dunfermline!

With a day to spare I paid a long awaited visit to Dunfermline Abbey, hoping to see the tombs of several Kings of Scotland as well as Sybilla of Normandy. Unfortunately I could only get access to the Norman nave as there was a funeral in the Abbey church. I wandered around the grounds, but the palace and other ruins were also inaccessible for no explicable reason.

I met a nice couple who were visiting from Inverness who were similarly disappointed. There was a note on the west gate saying that the ticketed areas were currently closed and a telephone number to call for further advice. This I did, but the chap at Historic Scotland didn't seem to know why or when it would be open again!

I went for a coffee while I waited for the funeral party to leave hoping I'd then be able to get into the church but everywhere was locked up including the Norman nave!

Very disappointing. However I had a pleasant if chilly stroll around the old town and met some very friendly people, so all was not lost. I hope to return in April.