About the area

BURNTISLAND
is a small town lying at the Southeast corner of the Kingdom of Fife, on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, with a population of 5000 persons. The town was once poetically described as having its head to the hills and its feet in the sea, which presents an eye-catching picture. From the Binn Hill which protects the town to the North, down to the Links and the expanse of Burntisland Bay. On a clear day one has a breathtaking view stretching from the famous Forth Bridges, the Pentland Hills past Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh right down the Lothian coast to North Berwick and the Bass Rock.

Since the days of the Romans in AD83 when Agricola landed near Burntisland and made his camp at Dunearn, 700 feet up and one mile to the north, the town has always been a place of some importance.

The coat of arms reflects those days - a shield shape containing a full rigged sailing ship, with two mariners on deck, surmounted with a portcullis. Above are the words 'Potus Gratiae' - Latin for 'Port of Grace' as the Romans named it. Underneath is the words 'Colles Praesidio Dedit Deus' - 'God gave the hills for a protection.'

There have been many suggestions on how the town was named but it can be explained. There was a small island at the harbour entrance. The early fishermen supplied food to the inhabitants of the castle, which is on a promontory overlooking the harbour, and the site of the former island. The fishermen then built huts on the island. Eventually a fire reduced the huts to ashes and that island was called Burntisland.