St Andrews, North Fife & the Howe of Fife

The Howe of Fife, north of Glenrothes, is a low-lying stretch of ground (or 'howe') at the foot of the twin peaks of the heather-swathed Lomond Hills.

The scenery is pleasant rather than dramatic and is dotted with small gems that are well worth seeking out. Foremost amongst these are Falkland and its magnificent ruined palace, and Cupar, the county town on the road to St Andrews.

Nestling in the lower slopes of East Lomond, Falkland's narrow streets are lined with fine and well-preserved 17th- and 18th-century buildings. The village grew up around the impressive Falkland Palace, begun in 1500 and a favoured royal residence. Its gardens are charming and house the oldest tennis court in Britain - built in 1539 for James V and still used. Falkland is also a good base for walks, with several leading from the village.

Straddling the small River Eden and surrounded by gentle hills, Cupar, the capital of Fife, has retained much of its medieval character - and its self-confident air - from the days when it was a bustling market centre. One of the best reasons for stopping off at Cupar is to visit the Hill of Tarvit, an Edwardian mansion remodelled by Sir Robert Lorimer from a late 17th-century building now in the hands of the NTS. West of Cupar are a couple of attractions particularly suitable for children: the Scottish Deer Centre and Fife Animal Park, next to Birnie Loch Nature Reserve.

North of Cupar, Fife's Tay coast is a peaceful wedge of rural hinterland on the edge of the River Tay looking across to Dundee and Perthshire. It offers little in the way of specific attractions, but a lot of undiscovered hideaways. Gentle hills fringe the shore, sheltering the villages that lie in the dips and hollows along the coast.