The Heartlands of Fife has something for everyone. From idyllic harbours and beautiful beaches to charming accommodation and endless outdoor activities. Our Heartlands of Fife guide will cover where to stay, what to do and where to eat in this beautiful part of the country.
Please note this blog is part of a paid partnership with Welcome to Fife and Heartlands of Fife Local Tourism Association.
Where to stay:
Banchory Farm
Banchory Farm feels a world away yet has everything on its doorstep. We stayed at Drinkbetween East, a charming cottage in an idyllic setting with the cutest highland cow neighbours – Emma, Heather and Poppy.
Located in the heart of Fife near Kinghorn, the cottage sleeps 4 people. It has the perfect blend of new world comforts whilst still retaining its old world charm; it is such a cosy place. There’s a private garden with fire pit overlooking the picturesque countryside, which is perfect for a sunny day. And when the weather is not so nice, there’s a log burner and Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser to help stay cosy indoors.
During our stay we had an incredible hamper from Macauley’s an award winning greengrocer in the area. We also had meat from Puddledub, a local farm renowned for their world class smoked and cured pork.
What to do:
Cluny Activities
Located in Kirkcaldy, Cluny Activities has so many amazing experiences to choose from. From Segway riding and cricket lane hire to clay shooting and archery, there is something for everyone. The instructors are so enthusiastic and make sure everyone is having fun. It is such an adrenaline rush and we feel everyone should experience at least one of their activities on offer.
Paddbleboard Fife
Paddleboard Fife offers paddleboarding sessions at the lovely Kinghorn Loch. Paddleboarding is an absolutely incredible experience suitable for all abilities and most ages, we recommend everyone to try it! The session is led by Gordon a highly experienced and friendly instructor. Although we have been paddleboarding in the past, we were a bit rusty and needed some reassurance. Gordon made us feel at ease very quickly and we even learned a few new tips and tricks along the way.
The Ecology Centre
Discover The Ecology Centre and roam their beautiful grounds full of amazing biodiversity. It is such a tranquil place home to growing spaces, wild flower meadows and ponds. Don’t forget to check out their cafe serving delicious food & drinks whilst you are there!
Lochore Meadows
Explore the lovely Lochore Meadows which has over 1,200 acres to explore. You can hire mountain bikes from the Outdoor Education centre and enjoy a number of different trails for different skill levels. You can also enjoy watersports and fishing on the loch.
Aberdour Castle and Gardens
Discover a filming location from Outlander season 1 and explore the grounds of Aberdour Castle. The castle was built in the 1100s and is home to a beautiful walled garden.
Kirkcaldy Galleries
Spend a few hours exploring Kirkcaldy Galleries which is home to a library, art gallery, museum and cafe. The art gallery has different exhibitions to suit different interests and entry is free. Among the many impressive art works, the gallery also holds one of the largest collections of works from William McTaggart and Samuel Peploe. One of our highlights was seeing the incredible restoration of The Madonna.
kinghorn, burntisland and Aberdour
During you visit to the Heartlands, check out the lovely coastal towns of Kinghorn, Burntisland and Aberdour. Highlights include Pettycur Harbour, Kinghorn Harbour Beach and Aberdour Black Sands Beach.
Where to eat:
Aberdour Bistro
The Aberdour Bistro is a warm and inviting licensed bistro located in Aberdour. The bistro features a fantastic varied menu showcasing the best fresh and local ingredients the area has to offer. We loved the creative and extensive cocktail list and were blown away with the Bistro Breakfast and Smashed Avocado. Not only was the presentation amazing, you could taste the incredible quality of the ingredients. The meat from local butcher Tom Courts is incredible. It is definitely one of the best breakfasts we have ever had.
Tornado Bagel
Located on the High Street of Kinghorn, Tornado Bagel is a fantastic new local spot serving up a creative take on the classic bagel. The menu is extensive and is full of delicious bagel creations. There is definitely something for everyone’s tastes here. We went for the Italian Bagel and the Eggs Benedict Bagel, both of which were incredible. We can’t recommend this place enough! Beautiful food, coffee and the staff are so warm and welcoming.
The bothy at boglily farm
The Bothy at Boglily Farm offers you a taste of the incredible produce produced right there on the farm. The food was incredible as to be expected. We sampled the monstrous double bacon cheese burger as well as the mouth watering black pudding Mac and cheese. Both absolutely delicious. We also tried their milkshakes with a twist, made with their award winning buffalo ice cream. They definitely did not disappoint! You will be left wanting more and luckily they have everything for sale to take home in the amazing farm shop next door.
One of the highlights of our visit was getting to see and interact with all of the wonderful farm animals. We absolutely loved watching the baby goats, they are adorable. You can also book to feed them during your visit.
Merchant's House Cafe
The Merchant’s House Cafe located in Kirkcaldy, is home to amazing cakes and also a substantial menu of other amazing food items. We had the pulled pork sandwich, served on your choice of bread with a beautiful side salad. We also had the delicious Nutella Waffle with fresh strawberries and cream. We loved our food here and the quaint interior of the cafe. For dessert we had possibly one of the nicest things we have ever tried, the Nutella donut, absolutely incredible!
We hope you have enjoyed reading out Heartlands of Fife guide on where to visit, eat and stay. You can discover more ideas for planning your trip here.
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