St Serf's Inch Priory

The St Serf's Inch Priory (or Portmoak Priory) was a community of Augustinian canons based, initially at least, on St Serf's Inch in Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.

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St Serf's Inch

St Serf's Inch or St Serf's Island is an island in Loch Leven, in south-eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was the home of a Culdee and then an Augustinian monastic community, St Serf's Inch Priory.

Loch Leven (Kinross)

Loch Leven (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Lìobhann) is a fresh water loch located immediately to the east of the burgh of Kinross in Perth and Kinross council area, central Scotland. Roughly triangular, the loch is about six kilometres (3+1⁄2 miles) across at its longest. Prior to the canalisation of the River Leven, and the partial draining of the loch in 1826–36, Loch Leven was considerably larger. The drop in water level by 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) reduced the loch to 75% of its former size, and exposed several small islands, as well as greatly increasing the size of the existing ones. There are seven islands on the loch, the largest being St Serf's Inch. Lochleven Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567, lies on one of these islands, and it can be reached by a ferry operated from Kinross by Historic Environment Scotland during the summer months. NatureScot describe Loch Leven as "one of Scotland's top natural assets", due to its rich ecosystem that supports many different species of plants, insects, fish and birds. It is of particular significance to migrating birds, who use it as a stopover when flying between their breeding and wintering grounds, due to its lowland location, shallow nutrient rich waters, large water surface, and islands (which provide safe nesting sites). Loch Leven holds numerous national and international conservation designations, including being a national nature reserve (NNR).

Benarty Hill

Benarty Hill, locally simply Benarty, rises above and to the west of Ballingry, in the west of Fife, Scotland. The summit ridge forms the boundary with Perth and Kinross. It is a prominent feature of the view from the M90 motorway, and from Kinross and Loch Leven. The lower slopes are steep on all sides, but the extensive heath around the summit is relatively flat. From the north you can walk over the hill via the Sleeping Giant path accessed from RSPB Loch Leven visitors centre. The summit is easily accessible from its south side, where tracks and paths lead through the forest and up onto the summit heath. There are views across Loch Leven to the Lomond Hills, and across the Firth of Forth to the Lammermuir Hills and Pentland Hills. Distant views to the north and west are dominated by the Southern Highlands; on a clear day the profile of the Isle of Arran may be visible 80 miles to the west.

Scotlandwell

Scotlandwell is a village in Portmoak, Kinross-shire, Scotland. It is within the Perth and Kinross council area. It lies to the east of Loch Leven, at the junction of the A977 and B920 roads, approximately 4 miles (6 kilometres) west of Glenrothes and 4 miles (6 kilometres) east of Kinross. Scotlandwell is one of the historic sites of Kinross-shire. Named Fons Scotiae by the Romans who founded it nearly 2,000 years ago, the curative waters that bubble up through the sandy ground were used by Red Friars, who maintained a hospital in the village between 1250 and 1587. Thousands of pilgrims came to Scotlandwell to take the water, the most famous perhaps being King Robert the Bruce, who is alleged to have found a cure for leprosy here. The two main historical features of Scotlandwell village are the Well and Wash House.