We all love St Andrews (I hope). It’s got shops, beaches, cafes, bars, and, of course, our university. It’s great but also fairly small, and sometimes we all just need a change of scenery. As a Fifer, I feel the struggle. So where can you go and what can you do when the three streets of St Andrews start to feel claustrophobic? Over the years, I’ve built up a fairly substantial list of places and things to do. Here is your guide to Fife if you want to escape the Bubble for a bit.
The Best Places in Fife…
Cupar
Cupar is a former market town just under 10 miles away from St Andrews. One of my favourite things about it is Haugh Park. The park is really nice for picnics in the summer and crisp walks in autumn and winter. It’s full of tall trees which, in this season, carpet the ground in shades of red, gold, and orange. The River Eden also runs through Cupar and Haugh Park. And in the spring, the park is bordered by hundreds of daffodils and other flowers!
One of the main highlights of Cupar is Cairnie Fruit Farm and Mega Maze. During the year, there are different fruits and vegetables that you can pick depending on the season. In summer, there are strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, while in autumn, you’ll find pumpkins. There is also a mega maze, which, during Halloween week, is turned into a Halloween torchlight maze.
Overall, Cupar is a really great town: only 30 minutes away by bus, and a nice change from St Andrews.
Falkland
Falkland is a cute wee town close to the Lomond Hills. It’s probably best known for Falkland Palace, which is interesting for its rich heritage, and a must-visit for history nerds. But I think the best parts are the lesser-known ones: Falkland Estate is a beautiful place for walks and picnics, and it even has a cafe. It’s a huge section of land with farmland, walks, bridges, and cycle paths as well as a fantastic view of the Lomond Hills, where you can catch a sunset or sunrise, making for great photos.
Falkland also has a nice town centre with a fountain, a church, pubs, cafes and gift shops. The fact that some scenes of Outlander were filmed here just makes it extra special!
Loch Leven
Slightly off the beaten path, this one is actually one of my recent favourites. Loch Leven Larder is surrounded by stunning countryside with a warm and welcoming interior, perfect for a visit on those chilly autumn mornings when I just want some cosiness. The shop is well stocked with lots of cute Halloween and autumnal products; they have a section for scented soaps, candles, and wax melts, which smell utterly heavenly. The cafe and restaurant areas are nice places to catch your breath after a long walk, and the soup is delicious. It’s similar to Balgove Larder in St Andrews, both being perfect spots to soak in the cosy autumnal atmosphere that we all crave this season.
Tenpin Bowling
If you’re anything like me, you love a good bowl. Luckily for us, there are plenty of good bowling venues in Fife! Tenpin Bowling is an old favourite of mine, I loved competing against friends and family (and still do to be honest).
Tenpin in Glenrothes is really lovely because it’s right next to the Kingdom Shopping Centre. Beyond bowling facilities, it has karaoke rooms and laser tag, all of which can be pre-booked. The karaoke rooms are perfect for letting loose and singing your heart out. Believe me—I’ve tried it, and it’s incredibly freeing!
The Hollywood Bowl in Dunfermline is a bit bigger and a great option as well. It has all your typical arcade games as well as pool tables, a bar and a diner. It’s situated right next to an Odeon, Nando’s and a McDonald’s. What more could you want?
Hill of Tarvit Mansion and Garden
Anyone who watches Antiques Roadshow will already know of the Hill of Tarvit. It’s not far from Cupar and was once an Edwardian mansion for the Sharp Family before being handed to the National Trust for Scotland. You can visit the interior, wander around the extensive grounds and admire the golf course.
If you ever find yourself a little bored in St Andrews, maybe take some time to visit some of the best parts of Fife. If you have a Young Scot card, you can easily (and cheaply) get to most of these places by bus. Fife really is a lovely place that offers something for everyone: from countryside to shopping centres, museums, historical landmarks, group activities and walks or cycle paths.
