What to See and Do in the Kingdom of Fife and Perth and Kinross

Fife's heritage has left a plethora of Castles, Palaces, Abbeys, fine houses and parks. There is a wonderful coastline with clean award-winning sandy beaches, and rugged headlands. There are forests, rolling hills and the rich, fertile farmlands of the Howe of Fife ("Howe" means "valley"). There is so much for the visitor to explore and enjoy.
Perthshire is the irrefutable Adventure Capital of Scotland and as well as the traditional activities of walking, cycling, angling and golf boasts an additional and unrivalled range of unique outdoor experiences all within a compact area and all with a firm accent on safety and fun! Perthshire is a destination for all seasons, but if you want stunning scenery and vivid colours, come in autumn when the tree-lined hillsides and glens are resplendent with their coat of blazing coppers and golds.

St Andrews students enjoying a break.© R Richmond

There is a wealth of fine country houses and castles to visit in the area, some maintained by the National Trust for Scotland including Hill of Tarvit Mansion House and Garden styled in the Edwardian fashion, with a fantastic private collection of Dutch painting, Flemish tapestries, Chinese porcelain and French furniture. Also, well worth a visit is Kellie Castle, completed around 1606 and once home to the Earls of Kellie, it was restored by the Lorimer family in 1878. The oldest tower, dating back to 1360, is said to be haunted, but today the castle is a tranquil spot. Admire the magnificent plaster ceilings and paneling, and furniture designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. Visit the old stables, now housing an exhibition on Hew Lorimer's life, and see his sculpture studio. Take a stroll in the magical Arts & Crafts garden and enjoy the scent of old roses and the beautiful herbaceous borders. But spare a thought for the 5th Earl of Kellie, who hid in the garden for an entire summer in a burnt-out tree stump after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
In just over five minutes from Edenshead Stables, by car, you are in Falkland - a very pretty town offering an array of tea and gift shops together with the impressive Falkland Palace and Gardens built in the early 1500 was the country residence of the Stuart monarchs. It was from here that they hunted deer and wild boar, went hawking and played royal tennis on courts built in 1539 and still in use today. There are also wonderful gardens and orchard. 

Into Perthshire, Scone Palace is a place that breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. Today, in the 21st century, it is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction to visitors from all over the world. Fifteen hundred years ago, it was the capital of the Pictish Kingdom and the centre of the ancient Celtic church. In the intervening centuries, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of Kings. It has housed the Stone of Destiny and been immortalised in Shakespeare's Macbeth.