Kirkcaldy, Leven and District
This part of Fife is largely industrial and developed, and fares less well in terms of visitor attractions compared to adjacent districts. Yet there are a variety of locations where visitors will find time spent here well rewarded.
East of the Forth bridges are a string of historic coastal settlements dominated by the ancient royal burgh of Kirkcaldy (pronounced 'kir-coddy'). Besides the good shopping facilities, there's a four-mile-long esplanade that stretches the length of the waterfront and is pleasant to stroll along. Each April, the esplanade hosts the historic Links Market, a week-long funfair that dates back to 1305 and is possibly the largest street fair in Britain. On the eastern edge of Kirkcaldy lies the old suburb of Dysart from where tall ships once traded with Continental Europe. Well restored, it's an atmospheric place of narrow alleyways and picturesque old buildings.
Further along the coast, Leven is located on the sweeping sandy Largo Bay, surrounded by superb golf courses and picturesque countryside. It is a perfect base for golf enthusiasts, with over forty courses with a half-hour drive. Leven is also situated on the Fife Coastal Path and is an ideal location for walkers.
Ten miles inland from Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes is a largely generic new town with little to detain visitors. However, sitting a few miles east of the town, the splendid Balgonie Castle with its 14th-century keep and fine open courtyard is well worth seeing.
