Kinross

Kinross

High Street, Kinross
Kinross
Kinross shown within Perth and Kinross
Population 4,000 (approx.)
OS grid reference NO1102
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town KINROSS
Postcode district KY13
Dialling code 01577
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Kinross (Gaelic: Ceann Rois) is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is the traditional county town of the historic county of Kinross-shire.

Location and transport

The site of the original parish church and churchyard are located down a small wynd overlooking Loch Leven, a little away from the town.

A map of Kinross from 1945

Kinross was originally linked by railway to Perthshire, Fife and Clackmannanshire until the rail links gradually disappeared. At one time three independent railway companies had their termini at the town. The Fife and Kinross Railway came from the east, the Kinross-shire Railway came from the south and The Devon Valley Railway came from the west. Recently Kinross has expanded considerably, especially since the construction of the M90 motorway - the main north-south artery which bypasses the town. Many people working within a commuting radius of Kinross have settled in the town owing to its convenient central location and excellent local amenities.

Tourism

Loch Leven is also a popular holiday base for tourists, who especially appreciate its proximity to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth and St Andrews (all lying within an hour's drive of Kinross). The burgh is attractively located on the shores of Loch Leven, and there are boat trips around the loch and to Loch Leven Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was famously held prisoner in 1567.

Up to 2014 the annual T in the Park music festival was held nearby, at the former Balado airfield. Balado is also the locale of a now inactive NATO ICBM early warning radar and during the Second World War there was an airstrip and barracks.

Population

There are roughly 4000-5000 people living in Kinross.

Sport and recreation

Kinross offers many opportunities for getting out and being active, with countless options for walking and cycling in the local area. A recently developed path called the Loch Leven Trails has been developed which offers 12.5 km of walking and cycling heritage trail around the shoreline of Loch Leven. It begins at RSPB Vane Farm Nature Reserve via Findatie to Kinross Pier/Kirkgate Park.

The local leisure centre in Kinross - Loch Leven Leisure also opportunities for all ages and abilities to stay active all year round. Kinross also has 3 amateur football teams. Kinross AFC who currently play in the Fife Kingdom Caledonian Football League. Fossoway AFC who play in the Fife 1st division and Portmoak AFC who play in the Perthshire 3rd division.

Notable people

  • Andrew Barlass, American politician and farmer, was born in Kinross.[1]
  • Peter Leitch, recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Kinross was also the home of Flight Sergeant George Thompson whose posthumous Victoria Cross in 1945 is often cited as the best merited of the entire air war. He was the wireless operator in a Lancaster of No. 9 Squadron on a dawn raid against the Dortmund-Ems Canal when the plane was struck by a salvo of two 88mm shells.

Twinned Cities

Schools

  • Kinross High School (Senior school only, now located in Loch Leven Community Campus as of 2010)
  • Kinross Primary School

References

  1. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1876,' Biographical Sketch of Andrew Barlass, pg. 475
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