Whether you want to spend the day on the beach, come face-to-face with an alligator, take a boat trip to the Isle of May or visit pretty fishing villages taking in one of the many festivals, there's so much to see and do on your Abbeyford Leisure holiday in Fife. Here's ten of the best all within easy reach of our holiday parks.
The Fife Coastal Path, great for walkers
The Fife Coastal Path links all three of our award-winning holiday homes and is not to be missed. Enjoy views of the Edinburgh skyline, the Isle of May, Bass Rock and beyond. The Fife Coastal Path runs from the Forth Estuary in the south, to the Tay Estuary in the north and stretches for 117 miles. Walks take in some of the most stunning parts of the coastal path and offers a range of walking experiences from the easy and level, to the wild and demanding.
Why not buy an official Fife Coastal Path Map or Guide? These are available at The Harbourmaster's House in Dysart or online from Stirling Surveys.
Kingsbarns Distillery & Visitor Centre
Uncover the history behind the name 'Kingsbarns' before stepping into the Doocot where the distillery's first cask of Kingsbarns spirit is resting. Your guide will explain the distillation methods inside the distillery before inviting you to sample a dram or two in one of the tasting rooms.
The Isle of May, a birdwatcher's paradise
The May Princess sails daily on the tide from Anstruther Harbour to The Isle of May between April and September. The crossing takes about 1 hour with 2-3 hours spent ashore. In the early summer the seacliffs are covered with breeding Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots and Shags. Inland, thousands of burrow nesting Puffins can be seen and Eider Duck are in abundance.
There are usually breeding Terns and last year, over a thousand grey seal pups were born on the island. To book, visit www.anstrutherpleasurecruises.co.uk
Craigtoun Country Park The Perfect Family Day Out
Craigtoun Country Park makes for a great family day out. Set within beautiful surroundings attractions include the Rio Grande Railway, boating lake with pedalos and rowing boats, tractor rides, pedal cars, crazy golf, trim trail and much more.
The park is open 24/7 for you to enjoy the gardens and open facilities such as the zip-wire, trampolines & adventure park. friendsofcraigtoun.org.uk
Scottish Fisheries Museum, a great day out for young and old
Set opposite the picturesque harbour at Anstruther, the labyrinth-like Scottish Fisheries Museum tells the fascinating story of the Scottish fishing industry in stirring detail.
Expore the museum's 18 galleries and follow the lives of fisher folk through their customs, skills, dress, creativity and steely spirit. http://www.scotfishmuseum.org
Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve
Located just north of St Andrews. Walk along the beach to Tentsmuir Point for the chance to see hundreds of seals basking on the sandbars. Or visit Tayport Heath for beautiful wildflowers and fantastic views across the River Tay. More information here
The Eden Estuary Centre and Morton Lochs both provide wonderful opportunities to watch waterfowl from dedicated bird hides. There are many waymarked walks and cycle routes through the towering pine trees which form Tentsmuir Forest. Look for red squirrels and roe deer which live in the woodland.
St Andrews Aquarium
The ever changing St Andrews Aquarium houses over 30 displays and is home to over 100 species. Come face to face with the most deadly inhabitants of the watery world.
From British sharks to spiders, lobsters to lionfish, poison dart frogs to piranhas, loveable seals...... and not to forget thier fabulous meerkats.
For more information click here
St Andrews Botanic Gardens, St Andrews' best kept secret?
Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s horticultural gems, St Andrews Botanic Garden is located between the Lades Brae and the Canongate. Set in 18 acres of impressively landscaped grounds, St Andrews Botanic Garden has won international recognition, yet remains one of St Andrews' hidden treasures.
The garden has several main areas, ranging from the rock garden and scree, with pools and waterfalls, to sheltered paths through large plantings of trees and shrubs. Herbaceous borders provide summer colour and the large glasshouses contain cacti and a large collection of alpines besides other plants from warmer regions such as South East Asia. Whatever the season, there is always something to see.
The Scottish Deer Centre, a family favourite
Take a walk on the wild side at the Scottish Deer Centre, one of Fife’s largest attractions. There is over 10 species of deer to see from around the world, Fife’s only wolf pack and rare wildcats, you will find daily tours and feeding events
All this and more set in the countryside close to Cupar.
Further information here: Scottish Deer Centre
