🧭 Ancient Face Unearthed in Fife

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what’s coming your way today:

• Ancient Face Unearthed on East Lomond

• Fife’s Hedgehog Haven

• 68 Events to See This Weekend

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🪨 Ancient Face Unearthed on East Lomond

Fife’s hills have long held secrets of Scotland’s past, but a recent discovery on East Lomond hill fort has archaeologists especially excited. A University of Aberdeen student volunteering on a summer dig uncovered what may be a rare carving of a Pictish face.

The find was made by Jodie Allan, who at first thought she had picked up a piece of scrap stone. But on closer inspection, faint markings revealed two eyes and a nose, leading experts to suggest it could be a human portrait carved more than 1,300 years ago.

East Lomond sits at the southern edge of the Pictish kingdom, and the site has already produced evidence of a wealthy, well-connected settlement. Researchers say the stone could offer fresh insight into how the Picts saw themselves, more intimate and personal than the more famous grand Pictish symbol stones. [STV]

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🥇 AYT Foods, Fife’s first Afro-Caribbean grocery store, founded in 2023 by Temitope Ajayi-Salami in Dunfermline, has been crowned Consumer Products Start-Up of the Year at the UK National StartUp Awards.

• 🤝 Seescape, the Fife sight loss charity celebrating its 160th anniversary, hosted a star-studded fundraiser at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy with appearances from Gordon Brown, Barbara Dickson, and Provost Jim Leishman, raising over £5,000 to support people who are blind or partially sighted.

• 🏥 NHS Fife is urging patients to attend planned surgeries or notify staff if unable, after nearly 120 missed operations last year wasted theatre slots and prolonged waiting lists across Queen Margaret and Victoria Hospitals.

• 🌊 Volunteers collected 24 bags of rubbish in just one hour during a beach clean at Limekilns and Charlestown, part of the Great British Beach Clean 2025.

• ⛰️ Fife Council is set to begin stabilising the cliff face west of Dysart Harbour, the historic Outlander filming location, with £200,000 committed to the project and set to begin on September 30th.

• 🌬️ Fife Council has launched its ‘Let Your Home Breathe’ campaign, urging residents to act early against condensation, damp and mould with simple ventilation tips to protect health, homes and reduce costly repairs. Check out their tips here.

• 🚧 The Forth Road Bridge public transport corridor will close overnight (9:30pm to 6am) on October 1st (southbound) and October 2nd (northbound) for the removal of inspection gantries. Traffic will divert via the Queensferry Crossing or Kincardine Bridge, while pedestrian and cyclist access remains open.

• 🏦 Bank of Scotland’s St Andrews branch will shut on January 20th, one of 49 Lloyds Banking Group closures UK-wide.

FEATURE OF THE WEEK

Each week, this section shines a spotlight on something standout in Fife, anything from a unique home for sale or a new local business, to an exciting upcoming event or a hidden gem staycation spot. Got something you think other locals should know about? Just hit reply to this email and tell us about it!

🦔 Fife’s Hedgehog Haven Up For BBC Award

Sharon and Andy Longhurst set up Burntisland Hedgehog Haven in their Burntisland home nearly three years ago and have since treated an incredible 567 hedgehogs. What started after rescuing a sick hog on the roadside has grown into a round-the-clock operation with a maternity ward in their garden, an intensive care unit in the garage, and a team of volunteers running “hedgehog ambulances” across Fife.

From hoglets needing milk every two hours through the night, to hedgehogs tangled in football nets or suffering chemical burns, the couple have seen it all. Around 65% of the animals they treat survive and are returned to the wild.

The Longhursts’ dedication has now seen them shortlisted in the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards, with winners to be announced on BBC Radio Scotland's Mornings programme with Kaye Adams on September 29th. In the meantime, they continue to raise funds for the £800-a-month running costs of incubators, food, bedding, and vet bills, all to keep Fife’s hedgehogs safe. [BBC]

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Below you’ll find what’s on in Fife over the next few days. For a longer outlook, Fife Insider+ members see two weeks of events every Sunday night. Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

🌟 Featured Event

📅 Friday, 26th September

Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📁 Markets | 🕢 9am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street | 🎟️ Free

Macmillan Coffee Morning - This September we are pleased to be taking part, once again, in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.
📁 Food | 🕢 10am | 📍 Craigtoun Country Park | 🎟️ Donations

Little Niblicks: Numbers - Bring along your baby or toddler to enjoy the sights and sounds of the museum.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 11am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Charity Quiz Night - Raising money for Alzheimer's Scotland and Brittle Bone Society.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £7

Friday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

Life Drawing - Artists of all levels welcome, from those established to those just curious to try life drawing or starting out.
📁 Art | 🕢 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £7

Soul Station - Resident DJ Martin Duffy keeps us entertained, so bring your dancing shoes.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

James V: Power, Propaganda and Politics - Join us in the Chapel Royal with Senior Lecturer, Amy Blakeway, for a fascinating talk on James V.
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £9.50

Lhamo Grace Live in Fife - Songs, music, banter, laughs, silliness, seriousness, beauty + joy.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 BArty's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.75

Hamilton - In celebration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Broadway production, Hamilton comes to the big screen.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £6.50+

Kinky Boots the Musical - Story of Charlie Price who has reluctantly inherited his father’s Northampton shoe factory.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £18

Buddy Holly and the Cricketers - All Holly’s hits, and some from his rock ’n’ roll pals, are played live on stage by these five amazing young actor-musicians.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £26

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Hilarious, heart-warming ride as three friends hit the road across the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £20+

Rewrite the Night: Student Late - Get ready to party and make new friends as Inklight take over the Wardlaw Museum.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £8+

Chris McCausland: Yonks! - Masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

📅 Saturday, 27th September

Time Attack and Racing Hondas - Time Attack is not racing but pits man (and women) and machine against the clock for the ultimate lap time.
📁 Sport | 🕢 8:30am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ £15+

Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuart’s Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9:30am & 2:30pm | 📍 11 College St, St Andrews | 🎟️ £46+

Autumn Fairies Needle Felting Workshop - Create your own gorgeous needle felted autumnal woodland tree spirit fairy!
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Deborah Cameron Creative Artist Studio, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £55

Line & Wash Urban Sketching - A great style to learn for representing moments quickly when out and about!
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Unit 52 Art Studio, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £40

Chess Challenge - Join us for a match an hour before the museum opens and play for another hour as visitors arrive.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10am | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ Free

Creative Writing Workshop - Unleash your imagination & hone your writing skills!
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 The Art Project, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £22.50

Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

PLANT Fruit (and Food) Fest - Day of events devoted to harvesting and food and there will be stalls with local produce, jams etc.
📁 Food | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 The Dolphin Centre, Tayport | 🎟️ Free

Methil Mill Archaeology Dig Open Day - Get ready to uncover the hidden history of the Methil Mill and the people that worked there.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 11am | 📍 Poplar Road, Methil | 🎟️ Free

Former Champ - Glasgow power-pop quintet.
📁 Music | 🕢 12pm & 7:30pm | 📍 Anstruther Town Hall | 🎟️ £10+

Coast and Climate Drop-In - Have a go at some climate-related experiments (you may get wet) or get crafty at our craft station with recyclable materials.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Free

Afternoon Disco - Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a boogie?
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £8

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Hilarious, heart-warming ride as three friends hit the road across the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 2pm & 7:30pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £20+

Needle Felting Workshop - Learn how to make adorable felted cards.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Off The Rails Arthouse, Ladybank | 🎟️ £16.96

Kinky Boots the Musical - Story of Charlie Price who has reluctantly inherited his father’s Northampton shoe factory.
📁 Theatre | 🕢 2:30pm & 7:30pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £18

Daytime Clubbing - Feel-good daytime clubbing experience exclusively for the over 30s!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 4pm | 📍 Truth Nightclub, Leven | 🎟️ £9.05

Superstox Scottish Championship - Superstox Scottish Championship, Stock Rods APEX Garden Buildings Series Finale, and more.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £15

2L Banger Scottish Championship - Action from BriSCA F2 Saloon Stock Cars, 2L Banger Scottish Championship & Micro F2.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Cowdenbeath Racewall | 🎟️ £18.50

Falkland Palace Ghost Tours - After-hours journey through the dark history and ghostly legends of Falkland Palace.
📁 Tour | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £15+

Mairi Campbell: Living Stone - Distinctive blend of live music, song and viola as well as striking visual art, creating a rich, multi-sensory experience.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £13+

CYMT Family Silent Disco - Get ready to dance the night away in silence with CYMT Silent Disco.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Corn Exchange, Cupar | 🎟️ £6

Auchtertool Quiz Night - Join us for a fun night of testing your knowledge at the Auchtertool Quiz Night!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Auchtertool Village Hall | 🎟️ £10

Cheap Escape - Supported by No Glory.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £6

Boozy Bingo - Fun Bingo! We're ready to host our first boozy bingo and this will be a night not to miss.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Burntisland Golf House Club | 🎟️ £22.38

Supreme Queen - Get ready for an amazing night with Supreme Queen, one of the most famous Queen tribute bands.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £29

Ben Portsmouth: This Is Elvis - Ben is not just a tribute artist; he is the real deal, being regarded as the closest living performer to the legendary Elvis Presley.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £27.50+

Forgan's St Andrews Ceilidh - Head to Forgan’s and experience one of our unforgettable ceilidhs.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10pm | 📍 Forgans St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

📅 Sunday, 28th September

INTAKE: Car Show and Hot Hatch Trackday - Mingle with fellow enthusiasts, admire a stunning lineup of cars, and more.
📁 Sport | 🕢 8am | 📍 Knockhill | 🎟️ £8+

Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuart’s Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9:30am & 2:30pm | 📍 11 College St, St Andrews | 🎟️ £46+

Autumn Yoga Day Retreat - Treat yourself to a day of wholesome self-care.
📁 Sport | 🕢 9:45am | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £90

Lego Play Day - Open throughout the day for families to get creative with Lego.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Rosyth Community Market - Fabulous selection of stalls selling a huge variety of food, crafts and more!
📁 Markets | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ Free

Kokedama & Macrame Hanger Workshop - Create your own indoor hanging Kokedama Plant Macrame Hanger.
📁 Art | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £65.63

Culross Community Market - Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Culross Green | 🎟️ Free

Falkland Estate Monthly Market - Enjoy browsing the monthly Makers Market held in our beautiful and unique spaces here at the Stables.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 The Stables, Falkland Estate | 🎟️ Free

Write ON - Friendly and no pressure creative writing group for amateur and unpublished writers.
📁 Art | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Diesel Day - We will be running diesel-hauled brake van rides on our standard gauge line throughout the day.
📁 Family | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Lathalmond Railway Museum | 🎟️ £6

Special Dunhill Tasting of Anthonij Rupert Wines - Special evening of fine food and wine.
📁 Food | 🕢 1pm | 📍 The Physician, St Andrews | 🎟️ £65

Herb Lover Plant Pot Workshop - Paint, decorate and seal two herb plant pots to take home.
📁 Art | 🕢 1:30pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £60.21

The Sting - A couple of grifters attempt to pull off a con on a notorious gangster.
📁 Movie | 🕢 2pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £3

Joan Eardley Inspired Acrylic & Pastel Workshop - Paint a landscape scene inspired by the work of Joan Eardley, with all materials provided and 2 tutors to give individual help
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 King’s Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £45

Dreel Burn Community River Session - Afternoon of river-related activities to celebrate and share our achievements since launching the Dreel Burn Project.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ Free

The McCommitments - A band celebrating the iconic 1991 movie soundtrack "The Commitments," transports you to Dublin's Northside.
📁 Music | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £27.50

National Theatre Live: Inter Alia - Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facie.
📁 Movie | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

Magic Workshop for Children - Witness some amazing tricks and learn cool magic secrets!
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 3pm | 📍 Boys Brigade Hall, St Andrews | 🎟️ £5

The Return of the Legends - All household names, all Strictly favourites, all kings of the ballroom, and all re-uniting again!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £38.50+

📅 Monday, 29th September

Pumpkin Picking - Join us at our very own pumpkin patch at Hill of Tarvit.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 9am | 📍 Hill of Tarvit Mansion House | 🎟️ £4

Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuart’s Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 9:30am & 2:30pm | 📍 11 College St, St Andrews | 🎟️ £46+

Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📁 Family & Children | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

🎉 Multi-Day Festivals & Exhibitions

Unearthed - Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed and explore prehistoric creatures.
📅 Sat, 8th February - Sat, 27th September | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Rewrite the Future - Explore how today's choices can shape a fairer, more sustainable tomorrow.
📅 Sat, 31st May - Sun, 28th September | 🕢 9:45am | 📍 Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Fife Climate Festival - Month-long celebration of community climate action across Fife.
📅 Sat, 20th September - Sun, 19th October | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Fife | 🎟️ Varies

The Lost Words - Featuring original artwork by artist Jackie Morris and spell-poems by writer Robert Macfarlane.
📅 Sat, 28th June - Sun, 26th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
📅 Tue, 4th March - Tue, 28th October | 🕢 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

Falkland Palace’s Halloween Trail - Explore the spooky Halloween Trail at Falkland Palace, it’s the perfect family day out.
📅 Mon, 6th - Fri, 31st October | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £3

Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

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Cheers,

Duncan

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