Fife Attractions
The Fife peninsula extends from the broad Forth estuary in the south to the Firth of Tay in the north. Where once the Picts held sway and where trade with the Friesians, Flemings and Normans flourished in the Middle Ages, now tourism and young, ambitious service and electronics companies centered on Glenrothes in the so-called "Silicon Glen" provide employment for the local people. The region is administered from the town of Cupar.
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Falkland Palace
Originally a hunting lodge, Falkland Palace is now property of the Queen. The Palace features beautiful tapestries and furniture in the interior. The palace grounds also boast beautiful gardens.
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Hill of Tarvit Mansion House and Garden
The Hill of Tarvit Mansion was built in the late 1600s, and expanded shortly thereafter. The home displays 17th and 18th C Scottish and English furnishings, along with Flemish tapestries.
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Inchcolm Abbey
This Augustinian monastery, founded in 1123, is located on the island of Inchcolm which is also a bird sanctuary.
North Queensferry - Deep Sea World
The aquarium, opened in 1993, allows visitors to view its coral reefs from within a 122yd/112m glass tunnel. The tanks feature the largest collection of Sand tiger sharks in Europe. Daily shark feedings. There are also pirate and special exhibitions.
All values are in local currency
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Family | 40.00 |
| Adult | 12.50 |
| Concession or reduced rate | 10.50 |
| Child 14 & under | 8.25 |
| Child 2 & under | FREE |
Parking
Free
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
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Pittenweem - Kellie Castle and Garden
This 16th C castle belonged to the Earls of Mar and Kellie. Some portions of the castle date to the mid 14th C.
Aberdour, Scotland
The harbor at Aberdour (pop.1,200); 4mi/6km east of the Forth bridges), where the beaches are justifiably described as "silver sands", is overlooked by Aberdour Castle. Started in the 14th century by the Douglas family and then extended in the 16th/17th centuries, the castle boasts some fine paintings on its walls and staircases.
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
November 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | Closed | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Abernethy, Scotland
Abernethy (pop. 900; 8mi/13km to the northwest of Falkland) was once the capital of the Pictish kingdom and in the ninth century a stronghold of the Scottish church. The only relic of a glorious past is the 78ft/24m high tapering Round Tower, one of two such round towers on the mainland (the other is in Brechin). The base of the tower dates from the ninth century, while the upper section dates from the 11th or 12th century. A Pictish stone with religious motifs sits at the foot of the tower.
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Auchtermuchty - Festival
Auchtermuchty's annual two-week festival takes place in mid-August. The festival includes events for the whole family, including street performances, pageants, and lots of samples of Scottish food and drink.
Balgonie Castle
Balgonie Castle (2mi/3.5km east of Glenrothes) dates from the 14th century when the huge keep with its 10ft/3m thick walls and chapel were built. Little remains of the extensions that were completed ca. 1702. The castle fell into disrepair from the middle of the 19th century but in 1985 Raymond Morris the 30th laird of Balgonie started work on its restoration. Now the medieval tower is used for banquets and weddings are frequently solemnized in the chapel.
Balmerino Abbey
Destroyed during the Reformation Balmerino Abbey itself was founded by Cistercian monks in 1229. It is said that Queen Ermingade the second wife of William "the Lion" laid the foundation stone.
Inverkeithing, Scotland
The little market town of Inverkeithing (pop. 2,600; 5mi/8km to the southeast of Limekilns) was founded in the 12th century and ranks as one of the oldest "burghs" in Scotland.
Kinross, Scotland
(Near Loch Leven)
Kinross is located on the western side of Loch Leven between Edinburgh and Perth.
Kinross House and Garden
(Fife)
On a stay in France the court architect Sir William Bruce visited Vaux-le-Vicomte, a castle near Paris built by Le Vau. Its parkland was designed by Le Notre and was regarded as a masterpiece of landscape design. Undoubtedly what Bruce saw in France inspired him when he came to design his own house and garden at Kinross. In the two-story Palladian structure, which Daniel Defoe described as the "finest and most perfectly balanced piece of architecture in Scotland", perfect symmetry combines with the restrained design of Ionic columns, Corinthian pilasters, angular gables and small chimney stacks.
Leuchars, Scotland
Leuchars (pop. 2,500) lies 10mi/16km to the east of Balmerian Abbey beside St Andrew's Bay. The Norman Church of St Athernase was started at the beginning of the 13th century by Sair de Quinci and the chancel and apse have not been altered since. The main nave and tower date from the 17th century.
Limekilns, Scotland
The narrow streets of this old port (pop. 1,100) were once used as hunting grounds for the feared "Pressgang", ship owners' agents who went in search of "volunteers" to man the ships that exported coal and chalk worldwide. Robert Stevenson immortalized the town's "Ship Inn" in Limekilns in his "Adventure of David Balfour". The hero sought a boat in the inn to carry him safely across the Forth.
Loch Leven, Scotland
Loch Leven (10mi/16km north of Aberdour on the M90) is best known for the pink-fleshed trout that swim in its waters. Lochleven Castle and its 14th century tower house stands on one of the islands in the lake. It owes its place in history to Mary Stuart who after a year's incarceration escaped from the island with the help of the young Lord George Douglas and her page William. This night-time escapade is recorded in Scott's "The Abbot" (1820).
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Hours
April 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Parking
Free
Facilities
Gift shop
Kinross House and Garden
(Fife)
On a stay in France the court architect Sir William Bruce visited Vaux-le-Vicomte, a castle near Paris built by Le Vau. Its parkland was designed by Le Notre and was regarded as a masterpiece of landscape design. Undoubtedly what Bruce saw in France inspired him when he came to design his own house and garden at Kinross. In the two-story Palladian structure, which Daniel Defoe described as the "finest and most perfectly balanced piece of architecture in Scotland", perfect symmetry combines with the restrained design of Ionic columns, Corinthian pilasters, angular gables and small chimney stacks.
Loch Leven - St Serf's Church
The ruins of the monastery church of St Serf are situated one island of Loch Leven.
Wemyss, Scotland
The A955 leaves Kirkcaldy and follows the east coast of the Fife peninsula to the pleasant resort of Wemyss. It continues east through Coaltown, Buckhaven and Leven before reaching the idyllic East Neuk Villages on Largo Bay.
