Temple of Decisions

In 1849, Onesiphorus Tyndall-Bruce and his wife Margaret decided they fancied a summerhouse. The location of the summerhouse was to be high in the woodlands of Green Hill on their vast estate and it would be named the Temple of Decisions.

Today the folly may be ruinous, but it still commands extensive views of the surrounding countryside.

The Falkland Estate has an extensive network of paths and tracks. It was while on a long walk around the estate that I spotted the Temple of Decisions and needed to discover more.

The Falkland Estate was acquired by John Bruce when he became the Keeper of Falkland Palace in 1821. During his time here, he built his home Nuthill House and many of the bridges over the Mill and Maspie Burns.

When John died in 1826, the estate passed to his niece Margaret Bruce. In 1828, Margaret married Onesiphorus Tyndalland they continued to make major improvements and additions to the estate, the folly being one. They demolished Nuthill House and built a new and improved residence, the House of Falkland, which is now a school. The house was built between 1839 and 1844 by architect, William Burn. At the same time, they had the garden landscaped and created some new garden features, one of which was the Temple of Decisions.

The folly was designed by Rome born Alexander Roos in 1849, and was inspired by the Temple of Theseus in Athens, possibly as a result of Tyndall's European tour earlier in his life. Roos was selected, as he was already working with William Burn on the main house. When the design was complete, a local mason named George Page, proceeded with the construction work.

Its location was chosen to provide a focal point when viewed from the main rooms of the House of Falkland.

It contained a single room with large pillars at the entrance with a triangular Roman pediment feature above. It is sad to see the pillars and much of the front of the building strewn in front of the folly.

You can imagine that it would have been a romantic place in its day. May I suggest that you select a good stone to sit on and then relax whilst taking in the fabulous view.

The Temple of Decisions is a Category C Listed Building with Historic Environment Scotland.

The walk starts from the Maspie Den car park, next to The Stables Cafe. It is well worth making the detour to see the Maspie Den Waterfall before continuing up to the Temple of Decisions.

Once you have visited the Maspie Den Waterfall, the paths wind up through the woodland of the estate and can be quite steep in places.

The path levels out and you get your first glimpse of the Tyndell-Bruce Monument through the trees to the right. At this point take the path on the left indicated by a stone. This will take you steeply up a forest path.

On the way, you will pass a trunk carved with the word 'Speculate'.

Before long you will reach the folly and the views open out.

Please be careful of the debris and uneven ground if investigating the folly.

Once you have visited the Temple of Decisions, return to the main path and continue up the path to Tyndall-Bruce Monument.

It is 2.5km with 165m of ascent to reach the folly.

Follow the above route, or find on OS Maps.