Edinburgh Castle
The Forth Rail Bridge
You will need no directions to find the bridge - it
dominates the whole area and is visible from any hilltop for miles
around. In 1890, when it was opened it was considered to be the 8th
Wonder of the World. One hundred and eighteen years later, it is still
a spectacular sight.
Take a train ride across the bridge
To get a fabulous view of the River Forth, take a train across the bridge. When you are close to it the enormous scale of the structure becomes even more dramatic. Alfred Hitchcock the film-maker used this setting for his thriller, "The 39 Steps".
The Fife Coastal Footpath
Follow the cobbled roadway at the foot of the Brae. The Coastal Footpath takes you into a nature reserve situated on top of
a cliff with wonderful views across the Forth and out towards the North
Sea. It's another good location to take photos of our village and the Rail Bridge.
Port Laing Beach
This beach is reached by continuing along the Coastal Footpath for about 800 metres. It's an out-of-the-way spot, you'll probably have it pretty much to yourself. If you are really hardy, you could try swimming here in summer.
For a Walking Holiday,
the Fife Coastal Path gives you a mix of dramatic scenery, quaint
villages and historic sites. It extends from our village all the way to
St. Andrews and further, via attractive Aberdour. That is a walk of about 2
1/2 hours along the coast.
Boat dock on Inchcolm Island in the Forth.
Aberdour
Two beaches, a harbour, a castle, rock-climbing on the cliff, bowling on the green, 4 pubs, half a dozen restaurants and the best-kept train station in Britain - Aberdour is a gem, don't miss it. You could make a 1/2 day excursion there and take the train back.
Limekilns and Culross (pronounced Q-ross)
Two historic villages a short drive West from North Queensferry. They are very photogenic - take your camera.
Culross Village
Deep Sea World Aquarium
The largest aquarium in Scotland is situated just a couple of minutes walk from our house. It features an exciting journey through an underwater tunnel with close-up views of sharks and the other fishy inhabitants. There are also many pools and tanks with interesting fish and animals. A good place to visit if the weather isn't suitable for outdoor trips.
Bird-watching
In our village we have an expert ornithologist. He writes articles for the village news about the bird life to be seen locally. The species he mentions include: Water Rail, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whtethroat, Willow Warbler, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Terns, Kittiwakes, Arctic Skuas, Great skuas, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, five species of Grebe, Auks , Redshank and Curlew.
Sailing and Windsurfing
Most days there's plenty of wind for some exciting sailing. Across the water is Port Edgar which is a yacht marina and a couple of miles East of us on the Fife coast is Dalgety Bay Sailing Club.
Golf
Scotland is the birthplace of golfing and courses are to be found everywhere. You're only 35 minutes by car from Royal St. Andrews and its famous Old Course.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is only 18 minutes by train and is a beautiful, historic city where there is lots to see and do especially in August, when the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe takes place.
Other places of interest in the city are the new Scottish Parliament, Botanical Gardens, National Galleries, Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, Real Mary King's Close, Holyroodhouse Palace - The Queen's official residence, Camera Obscura, Dynamic Earth, Royal Observatory, Scottish Seabird Centre, Scotch Whisky Centre, The Tartan Shop, Royal Museum of Scotland, shopping on Princes Street, The Military Tatoo, Edinburgh Zoo.
The Royal Highland Show
Takes place in June at Ingliston - near Edinburgh Airport.
Rugby & Football
In Edinburgh there is Murryfield stadium, Glasgow is the home of Celtic and Rangers, locally, there is Dunfermline.
Ice Skating
At Murryfield stadium, all year and in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh at Christmas.
Stirling Castle
Wallace Monument
The film"Braveheart" is Hollywood's treatment of the story of William Wallace.
The Wallace Memorial
Falkirk Wheel
An ingenious mechanism to lift water traffic 35 metres. It connects two waterways; the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.
The Falkland Wheel
Falkland Palace
Falkland has been a royal place since the days of the Stewarts. King James II adopted it as a royal home (it had earlier been a castle of the MacDuff family) and it was used as a hunting lodge in the 12th century. In those days the Forest of Falkland had stags and wild boar and falconry was a popular sport.
The Ochills, Dollar Village, Castle Campbell
Concentrating much of what makes Scotland appealing, in Dollar, Clackmananshire you have beautiful stone-built houses, a castle, the glorious hills and a hidden glen with an impressive waterfall.
Castle Campbell
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Apart from serious motor sport, there's Go-Kart racing for boys of all ages. There's also go-karting at Livingston and Glenrothes, both are a short drive away.
Clay Pidgeon Shooting, Hovercraft Driving & Quad Biking
Visit our friends John and Margaret Graham at Craigluscar Farm, just outside of Dunfermline and try your hand at these exciting activities.
Quadbiking at Craigluscar Farm
Dunfermline
Andrew Carnegie Birth Place and museum and Dunfermline Abbey.
Dunfermline Abbey
Highland "coo"