How To Find 8 Incredible Hidden Sites In Fife

The Kingdom of Fife doesn’t get nearly enough attention in my opinion. This is where I grew up, so there might be an element of bias here, but I think there are some incredible hidden sites in Fife. It’s a region full of history, attractions and culture but lots of them are a little off the beaten path.

Many people will take a quick trip to Dunfermline and then ignore everything else until they get to St Andrews. Both of those are worth visiting but hopefully I can convince you to spend a little more time in the Kingdom. Here’s how to find 8 of Fife’s most incredible hidden gems!

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The Hidden Side of Falkland Village

For fans of Outlander, the village of Falkland itself isn’t hidden at all but it this place is far more than just a filmset! The grand Falkland Palace was a favourite royal holiday home of the Stuart monarchs such as Mary Queen of Scots. She was known to play “real tennis” here and you can still visit the oldest tennis court in use today.

The Palace experienced darker days before Mary’s time. David the Duke of Rothesay and heir to the throne was kidnapped by his uncle the Duke of Albany and imprisoned here in Falkland. A few months later, the prince was found dead. Albany claimed it was due to a tragic illness, but people whispered he’d been starved to death.

Don’t leave Falkland after just a visit to the Palace though! Head right through the village, past the excellent Stag Inn on your right and down the narrow street until you reach the car park for Maspie Den. You’ll know you’re going the right way when you spot a little sign aptly labelling this “The Hidden Place.”

You’re now in the Falkland Estate at the foot of the Lomond Hills. There are a variety of woodland walks around here as well as a route to the top of either East or West Lomond. My personal favourite is the stroll through Maspie Den.

You’ll pass the beautiful Falkland House before heading over and under footbridges, through tunnels and past a couple of small waterfalls in a great circular route. It will take you a couple of hours and is a great walk for kids and dogs. Make sure to check out the vegetarian Pillars of Hercules cafe and farm shop on your way back!

Dive Into Fife’s Hidden Caves At Wemyss!

This next stop out on the Levenmouth Coast might be the least known of Fife’s hidden gems. The Wemyss Caves (pronounce weems) contain the most concentrated collection of Pictish carvings in the world. Anybody can pick up keys to access the caves from local shops, or you can join one of the guided tours run by the Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society.

Inside, you’ll see evidence of just how long this area of Fife has been inhabited. While it’s impossible to date stone, many of the carvings are Pictish, created between 300 and 900AD. They include Pictish beasts, Z-rods, crescents, double discs and even what seems to be a longship.

If you’re short on time visiting this hidden site in Fife, then you want to head straight to “Jonathan’s Cave”. The best carvings of animals, discs and the longboat are in there! If you want to figure out where each carving is beforehand then this link will take you to a 3D map! – http://4dwemysscaves.org/

Explore The East Neuk of Fife

The East Neuk of Fife is the eastern corner and it’s filled with a string of beautiful fishing villages. This is a region that’s been gaining more popularity in recent years, but there are still a few spots that fly under the radar. St Monans is one of my favourites, with its 650-year-old clifftop church founded by King David II.

Legend has it that David founded the church here for one of two reasons. The first theory was that David came to the shrine of St Monan to pray for help healing an old wound. As he knelt where the church stands, an arrowhead that had been stuck for years miraculously fell out! The second theory claims the King’s ship was wrecked in a storm but he made it to shore here and built St Monans church in thanks.

The church is opened in the afternoon by volunteers who are more than happy to answer questions. At the other end of the village, beneath the windmill, you can also find an open air pool to enjoy!

A couple of miles along the coast, you’ll arrive in another picturesque village called Pittenweem. Away from the often-photographed harbour, you can visit St Fillan’s cave. Pick up the key from the Cocoa Tree Cafe for £1 per person and head down into the depths. This hidden wee spot was where the early Celtic saint Fillan lived as a hermit.

It was a bit dark down there for the preacher to study the scripture, so he was granted a special ability. Fillan’s arm glowed in the dark to allow him light to worship god and that arm became a relic! It was important enough to be requested by Robert the Bruce before Bannockburn so he could pray for victory.

Enjoy Fife’s Hidden Castle

Run by The National Trust for Scotland, Kellie Castle really shouldn’t be one of the hidden sites in Fife. If it was on one of the regular tourist routes then I’ve no doubt it would be overrun by visitors. Originally built in the 14th century, it makes a fantastic place to visit and I’m not just saying that because I once worked there!

It was built by the Oliphant family, steadily growing in size and beauty. Sadly, Kellie Castle would eventually be abandoned and its decorated ceilings were left for the rooks and the owls to enjoy. The great hall was even used by farmers to store their grain!

As luck would have it, Kellie Castle was given a second chance in the 19th century by one of the most artistic families in Scotland. Professor James Lorimer fell in love with the romantic ruin and tracked down the owner. He set about restoring it as the family summer home, away from the noise and pollution of Edinburgh. What you see today is much like it would have been when the Lorimers lived here.

Today, there are tapestries, plaster ceilings and beautiful artwork inside, with a perfectly curated garden and sculpture workshop outside. It’s not all smiles and roses though, this is one of Fife’s most haunted spots. Anne Erskine, who either fell to hear death from the highest tower has often been heard.

Sitting all alone in the castle giftshop, I heard the running of footsteps above me far too often for it to just be a trick of my mind.

Head To Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse

Back towards the centre of Fife you’ll find Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse. This is another NTS property, but it’s not only the house that makes this one of the best hidden spots in Fife. The Sharpes who built the mansion loved golf and you can play a round on their course with traditional hickory clubs. Even if you’re not a keen golfer, it’s still fun to get dressed up and see how the game used to be played.

After that, take the steep walk up the hill that gives the mansion its name and look down on Cupar below. You’ll find a large monument up there that was actually built to replace the Cupar Mercat Cross. The town had lost the cross in a bet in 1817 and it sat up here for 80 years before finally being returned.

Don’t leave Hill of Tarvit without picking up the key for Scotstarvit Tower just across the road. There’s no car park so you’ll have to walk, but the views are worth it. You will almost definitely have the tower to yourself and can climb all the way up to walk around the parapet.

Scotstarvit was designed and lived in by an eccentric named Sir John Scot. John turned this outdated towerhouse into a secret college for learned men. Imagine the discussions bouncing around these walls as fancy food and expensive drink flowed!

Taste A Dram At The Home Of Whisky

Most people know that Fife is the home of golf, but did you know that it’s also the home of whisky? The first ever record of Scotch Whisky comes from 1494 when Friar John Cor of Lindores Abbey was ordered to make Aqua Vitae for James IV. That translates as the “Water of Life” or uisge bheatha in Gaelic which ended of whisky in English!

The ruins of the abbey themselves are beautiful and atmospheric. You can walk through the same archway that Robert the Bruce, Edward Longshanks and William Wallace once did! This holy place is also where Prince David who died at Falkland was buried. However, that’s not the only reason to visit.

In 2017, a new chapter began as the Lindores Abbey Distillery opened its doors. Award winning scotch whisky is now being produced in one of the most important places in the history of the spirit. Book a tour or just pop in to browse the shop and grab your own piece of whisky history!

Dive Into Dunino Den

Dunino Den in Fife is just a little bit different than your average Fife woodland. Many believe this little known den is an ancient Pagan spiritual site. Here, locals may have come to witness Druids performing rituals and connect with their ancestors.

Walking along the lane from the modern church, the first thing you come to is a little hollow cut into a rock full of water. Down some steps cut into the stone and you’re properly into the beautiful, wooded den. The birds sing, light streams through the trees and a little burn babbles away between the rocks. It’s a serene, calming place.

Look around a little and you’ll find carved into the rock: celtic knots, a large cross and even a man’s face. It’s so well made, he looks like he might start speaking if only you knew the magic words. Elsewhere, rags are tied to tree branches along with some less desirable, plastic items.

There is an old tradition where people washed a cloot in a healing well, then tied it to a branch. As the fabric decayed, whatever your ailment was would disappear. Unfortunately, some people haven’t realised that synthetic materials don’t decay in the same way.

The true age of this site is questionable and the carvings aren’t particularly old. It seems like there was no written connection between this little Den and a Pagan ritual site until the Victorian Age. Regardless, Dunino Den still attracts people who feel a special energy here and that’s what’s important.

As long as those visitors are respectful. Some parts of Dunino Den are verging on a rubbish pile. Please don’t leave objects that will either permanently damage the woodland or be washed down the burn into the sea. Make sure to leave nothing but footprints!

Balmerino – Fife’s Hidden Abbey

The last spot on the list of Fife’s hidden sites is one of the most peaceful. Balmerino Abbey is a place truly hidden away, sitting quietly on the banks of the Tay. Balmerino was founded in 1229 as the idea of Queen Ermengard. She was buried in front of the High Altar and the spot is marked by the giant cross today. While there isn’t much of the Abbey left to see, the surroundings are peaceful far away from the main roads. Be careful parking on the road, there isn’t a lot of space here.

Don’t leave straight away but walk a little further down the track and on the left you will find your way to a pebble beach. The perfect spot to end a trip around incredible hidden sites in Fife, with a picnic looking out over the silvery Tay.

Where To Stay In Fife

This isn’t a huge region so no matter where you stay in Fife, all of these hidden gems can easily be reached.

Garden Cottage Crail – Not often available for a very good reason, this wee cottage is a beautiful holiday home for up to 8 people, tucked away in a quiet corner of Fife!

Fairmont Hotel St Andrews – Not only is this one of the top hotels in St Andrews, it’s also located away from the hustle and bustle of the town!

The Old Manor Lundin Links – Set on the sandy Levenmouth coast, The Old Manor hotel is a great spot to get away from it all.

The Crow’s Nest Pittenweem – Right in the heart of the East Neuk, The Crow’s Nest is a 2 bedroom holiday home with (sand) buckets of character!

Covenanter Hotel Falkland – There aren’t many better spots to be in Fife than Falkland when the tour groups go home. Outlander fans will especially enjoy that the Covenanter Hotel was Mrs Bairds B&B in the show!

Poppy’s Place Cupar – The historic market town of Cupar is in the very centre of Fife and perfect for exploring in every direction. This wee apartment would make an excellent base for the area!

Couple’s Hot Tub Retreat Lindores – How about a little luxury while you explore Fife? It doesn’t get much better than a sauna and hot tub just a short walk from the Lindores Distillery!

If all of these things to do in Fife have caught your interest, how about visiting on a Scotland’s Stories Tour?

Just click this link to make an enquiry and book your private driving tour today!

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