Campsites in Fife

Exploring the Kingdom of Fife may seem daunting, but it won’t take long to find a beautiful beach along the Fife Coastal Path or discover charming villages such as Kirkcaldy and St Andrews within this Scottish gem.

Our favourite things to do

• St Andrews Castle
• Fife Coastal Path
• Deep Sea World
• Craigtoun Country Park

Medieval adventures

Kick your holiday off with a trip to the historic ruins of St Andrews Castle overlooking Castle Sands beach. Delve into the depths of an underground mine and take a peek into the bottle dungeon too.

Afterwards, amble over to the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral - formerly Scotland’s largest cathedral. Take in the views over the town and Fife from the top of St Rule’s Tower before admiring the impressive medieval artefacts at the museum including the ancient St Andrews Sarcophagus.

Why not continue your castle tour with a visit to Aberdour Castle? Thought to be Scotland’s oldest standing castle, explore the pretty walled gardens and look out over the Forth from the terraces. If the walk is working up a sweat, replenish with a cuppa from the tea room on the ground floor.

Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Kellie Castle is also well worth a visit to see its Arts and Crafts garden as well as the impressive library ceiling. Activities here include a number of children’s trails taking place in the castle and garden as well as a woodland adventure playground.

Haven for beaches

Fife has a number of coastal gems that are ideal for those looking to top up their tan. West Sands beach at St Andrews is a popular choice with a two mile sandy stretch that even featured in the Oscar winning film ‘Chariots of Fire’. Stroll to the north side of the beach for gorgeous views looking out over the Eden Estuary Nature Reserve.

Kinghorn Beach is also a family friendly alternative with stunning coastal views over the Firth of Forth and a range of walks taking you over the surrounding cliffs and into Kinghorn village. Don’t forget to visit the picturesque harbour here too!

On the smaller but no less beautiful side is Aberdour Silver Sands. Situated along the Fife Coastal Path and backed by dense woodland, dip your toe in the water and soak up the views towards the Inchmickery and Inchcolm islands.

Fife is also a walker’s paradise and there are plenty of seaside strolls to be had along the Fife Coastal Path. Beginning at Kincardine, the path runs for over 183km of breathtaking coastal scenery taking you through some of the region’s highlights including Aberdour Castle and Kirkcaldy. Along the path, you may also spot a variety of wildlife from dolphins to puffins.

The path is waymarked and more ambitious hikes are located between Balmerino towards Newburgh.

Alternatively, the Fife Pilgrim Way stretches along 64 miles taking you to medieval landmarks including Dunfermline Abbey and through St Andrews.

Animal encounters

At Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, you can get up close and personal with a shark! Book a shark encounter and dive down for an unforgettable scuba experience or spend the day touring the aquarium – highlights include the underwater safari and the seals.

The St Andrews Aquarium is also a popular family attraction with an abundance of sea life including penguins, piranhas, seals and more. Perhaps time your visit for a seal feeding or meerkat feeding experience.

You can also treat the kids with a visit to Muddy Boots Farm. The giant jumping pillow is a thrilling combination of a trampoline and bouncy castle and, if the sun isn’t shining, the indoor play barn includes a zip wire, giant moat, ball pit, climbing frame and more.

Outside the farm, an adventure play area is equipped with a giant sandpit, giro cars, slides or you can watch a pig race and keep your fingers crossed that your favourite pig crosses the finish line first. Zorbing and pottery painting is also available here.

Explore the Fife countryside and you may find the Scottish Deer Centre in Cupar. Set on 55 acres, treat the youngsters to see many different types of deer before wandering under the tree tops through Witches Wood and Wolf Wood. Youngsters can also enjoy use of an indoor play area, kart track with pedal karts and, during the summer months, a ride on a trailer.

Lush green spaces

Spend the day at Craigtoun Country Park and explore this Fife gem. Take a tour of the park on a tractor ride or float over the boating lake on board a pedalo. Make time for the Rio Grande miniature railway too before grabbing a bite at the Craigtoun Café serving a range of tasty hot dishes as well as freshly made sandwiches and more.

Or enjoy family walks through Lochore Meadows Country Park. Amble over to the Pithead, spot an abundance of wildlife along the nature trail and recharge with a picnic whilst overlooking the loch. A little further from the loch is Harran Hill Woods which is well worth a visit to see its stunning bluebell woodlands.

Whilst at the park, don’t forget to pass through the ruins of Lochore Castle and take the little ones to the nature reserve where you may be lucky enough to spot an otter.

The well-kept gardens at Pittencrieff Park are rich with beauty and the glass house here includes a wide variety of plant life. An indoor pond and seating is also the perfect place to enjoy this tranquil setting. For the youngsters, there are grassy play areas and a number of woodland walks that are ideal if you’re bringing your dog too.