Scoonie

Scoonie is a settlement and parish in Fife, Scotland, the parish contains the town of Leven. It is bordered on the north by the parishes of Kettle and Ceres, on the east by the parish of Largo, on the south by the parishes of Markinch and Wemyss, and on the west by the parishes of Markinch and Kennoway. It extends about 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 kilometres) north to south. Its width varies between 5⁄8 and 2+3⁄4 mi (1.0 and 4.4 km). The parish is on the coast of the Firth of Forth, with a coastline of about 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) The area of the parish is 4,107 acres (1,662 hectares).

The River Leven forms the southern boundary of the parish, flowing into Largo Bay. The surface rises gradually northward to 600 feet (180 metres) near Kilmux Wood. In 1951 the population of the parish was 9,518 and is now 9,613 (in 2011). The population of the parish is mainly in Leven. In 1791 the parish population was 1,675, of which 1,165 were in the village of Leven. By 1901 Scoonie had a population of 6,342 of which 5,577 were in Leven. At the most recent census (2011) Scoonie has a population of 9,613, of which 9,004 are in Leven (94%). The old parish church is now a ruin lying in the centre of the burial ground. It was constructed in the twelfth century and all that remains is a roofless structure which may have been the session house or vestry of the church. The name Scoonie is of Gaelic and possibly Pictish origin meaning place of the lump-like hill. This refers to the site of the old kirk which was on a small hill like a mound.

Durie House lies in the centre of the parish. This mansion, built in 1762 as the seat of the Durie family, is now a listed building. On the northern borders of the parish are the historic estate of Montrave and the ruined castle of Aithernie, by the banks of Scoonie burn.