The St Margaret Pilgrimage, Dunfermline

The annual St Margaret Pilgrimage takes place on Sunday 14 June 2026 in Dunfermline, Fife.

Schedule

12:00pm: Angelus
St Margaret’s Cave, Glen Bridge Car Park, Chalmers Street, KY12 8DF.

1:00pm: Prayer Service
St Margaret’s tomb at Dunfermline Abbey, St Margaret St, KY12 7PE.

2:00pm: Procession with relic of St Margaret
Led by Archbishop Cushley, from Louise Carnegie Memorial Gateway, Bridge Street, KY12 8AT (opposite Seven Kings Pub) to St Margaret’s Memorial Church, East Port, KY12 7JB. The procession will feature pupils, teachers, clergy, the Knights of St Columba, The Order of Malta and The Scottish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

3:00pm: Holy Mass
St Margaret’s Memorial Church, East Port, KY12 7JB, celebrated by Archbishop Cushley and priests of the Archdiocese.

Getting there

Train: Dunfermline City Station, St Margaret’s Drive, KY12 7HT

Services run via the Fife Circle Line with regular direct connections from Edinburgh Waverley (approx. 50–60 minutes depending on service). It’s a 5–10 minute walk uphill into the city centre.

Bus: Dunfermline Bus Station, Queen Anne St, Dunfermline KY12 7BB

Reegular service from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The station is in the centre of town and five-seven minute walk to both St Margaret’s Church and the Procession start.

City centre parking

There are several parking options within walking distance of the High Street, St Margaret’s Church and the start of the procession.

• Kingsgate Centre Multi-Storey Car Park, James Street, KY12 7QU Paid
  Large, central, and close to St Margaret’s Church (paid).
• Glen Bridge Street Car Park KY12 8DF Paid
  Good option for getting to the start of the procession (2 min walk)
• Tesco Car Park Winterthur Lane, KY12 7BD Free
  A few minutes’ walk from the start of the procession

Places to eat

1. Café Wynd 10 Cross Wynd, KY12 7AP. Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm
A popular independent café just off the High Street. Known for brunch dishes, homemade soups, sandwiches, and excellent coffee in a relaxed setting.

2. Fresh 2-4 Kirkgate, KY12 7NB. Sunday 8:30pm-4:30pm
Bright, casual café near the centre offering, toasties, baked potatoes, soups, and cakes.

3. Prost Coffee Abbot House, Maygate, KY12 7NE. Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm
Perfect coffee spot in a historic building with a garden space. Serves speciality coffee, light lunches, and baked goods.

Background

The roots of the summer pilgrimage date back to June 1250 when the relics of Saint Margaret were translated to a new shrine in Dunfermline Abbey following her canonisation by Pope Innocent IV.

A pilgrimage to Dunfermline soon emerged and continued until the late 16th Century. It was then resurrected in 1899 and continued again until 1974.

Archbishop Cushley revived it in 2015 and it has continued since then, except a hiatus due to the pandemic.

Weather

Please check the forecast before setting out – most of the events are outdoors.