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Fife

The Kingdom of Fife (www.visitfife.com) as it calls itself – it was home to Scottish monarchs for 500 years – is a tongue of land protruding between the Firths of Forth and Tay that has managed to maintain an individual Lowland identity quite separate from the rest of the country. Though southern Fife is part of Edinburgh's commuter-belt territory, eastern Fife's rolling green farmland and quaint fishing villages are prime turf for exploration, and the fresh sea air feels like it's doing you a power of good. Fife's biggest attraction, St Andrews, has Scotland's most venerable university and a wealth of historic buildings. It's also, of course, the headquarters of golf and draws professionals and keen slashers alike to take on the Old Course − the classic links experience.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Fife.

  • See

    St Andrews Cathedral

    All that's left of one of Britain's most magnificent medieval buildings are ruined fragments of wall and arch, and a single towering gable, but you can still appreciate the scale and majesty of the edifice from these scant remains. There's also a museum with a collection of superb 17th- and 18th-century grave slabs, 9th- and 10th-century Celtic crosses, and the late-8th-century St Andrews Sarcophagus, Europe's finest example of early medieval stone carving. Founded in 1160 and consecrated in 1318, the cathedral stood as the focus of this important pilgrimage centre until 1559, when it was pillaged during the Reformation. The bones of St Andrew himself lie beneath the altar; until the cathedral was built, they had been enshrined in the nearby Church of St Regulus (or Rule). All that remains of this church is St Rule's Tower, worth the claustrophobic climb for the view across St Andrews. The admission fee only applies for the museum and tower; you can wander freely around the atmospheric ruins.

  • See

    Scotland's Secret Bunker

    This fascinating – and chilling – monument to Cold War paranoia was built in the 1950s to serve as one of Britain’s regional command centres in the event of a nuclear war. Hidden 30m underground and encased in nearly 5m of reinforced concrete, it houses two levels of austere operations rooms, communication centres, broadcasting studios, weapons stores and dormitories, filled with period artefacts and museum displays. The bunker is 3 miles north of Anstruther, off the B9131 to St Andrews. You can book a Go-Flexi 'taxibus' from Anstruther (£2.30) or take a standard taxi (around £20) from St Andrews.

  • See

    Scottish Fisheries Museum

    This excellent museum covers the history of the Scottish fishing industry in fascinating detail, including plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids. Displays include the Zulu Gallery, which houses the huge, partly restored hull of a traditional 19th-century Zulu-class fishing boat, redolent with the scents of tar and timber. Afloat in the harbour outside the museum is the Reaper, a fully restored Fifie-class fishing boat built in 1902.

  • See

    St Andrews Castle

    The castle is mainly in ruins, but the site itself is evocative and has dramatic coastline views. It was founded around 1200 as a fortified home for the bishop of St Andrews. After the execution of Protestant reformers in 1545, other reformers retaliated by murdering Cardinal Beaton and taking over the castle. They spent almost a year holed up, during which time they and their attackers dug a complex of siege tunnels; you can walk (or stoop) along their damp, mossy lengths. The visitor centre gives a good audiovisual introduction and has a small collection of Pictish stones.

  • See

    Isle of May

    The mile-long Isle of May, 6 miles southeast of Anstruther, is a spectacular nature reserve. Between April and July the island's cliffs are packed with breeding kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, shags and more than 80,000 puffins. Inland are the remains of the 12th-century St Adrian's Chapel, dedicated to a monk who was murdered on the island by the Danes in 875. Several boats operating out of Anstruther harbour offer trips to the island.

  • See

    British Golf Museum

    This museum provides a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the game and the role of St Andrews in it. The huge collection ranges from the world's oldest set of clubs (late 17th century, used with feather-stuffed golf balls) to modern equipment, trophies and clothing, and there’s a large collection of memorabilia from Open winners both male and female, including Tiger Woods' sweat-stained Nike cap.

  • See

    Kellie Castle

    An authentic example of Lowland Scottish domestic architecture, Kellie Castle has creaky floors, crooked little doorways, superb decorative plasterwork and some marvellous works of art. The original part of the building dates from 1360; it was enlarged to its present dimensions around 1606. It’s set amid beautiful gardens (open year-round from 9.30am to 6pm or dusk), 3 miles northwest of Pittenweem on the B9171.

  • See

    St Fillan’s Cave

    St Fillan’s Cave was used as a chapel by a 7th-century missionary who reputedly possessed miraculous powers – apparently, when he wrote his sermons in the dark cave, his arm would throw light on his work by emitting a luminous glow. The cave is protected by a locked gate, but a key and an information leaflet are available from the nearby Cocoa Tree Cafe.

  • See

    St Monans Heritage Collection

    Situated on the harbour, St Monans Heritage Collection is a small gallery devoted to the history of the St Monans fishing industry through a collection of 20th-century black-and-white photos and several artefacts. Most of the images were taken by a local photographer and the collection changes regularly.