With an ancient and storied history all its own, Fife is a small region with a lot to offer, from quaint coastal villages to resplendent royal palaces, fertile farmland to former mining towns. In the south sits Dunfermline, once Scotland’s capital, whose heritage quarter includes the 11th-century Benedictine abbey where Robert the Bruce and seven more Scottish kings are buried; it’s also the landing point for the world-famous Forth Bridge. In the centre of Fife, the shapely outlines of the Lomond Hills lead to scenic countryside dotted with attractive towns and villages like Cupar and Falkland.

A long-distance footpath follows the more than 100 miles of coastline that borders Fife on three sides, including the picturesque fishing region of East Neuk. But the most famous of Fife’s seaside towns is St Andrews, home to a ruined cathedral and castle as well as Scotland’s oldest university, not to mention the oldest golf course in the world.

Due to Scotland’s famously rainy weather much of the year, summer can often be the most pleasant time to stay in one the area’s cottages. Temperatures are warm (though never too hot) and there’s a better chance of sunny skies. Fife’s seaside towns and sandy beaches are at their liveliest and most attractive from June to August, while some historic houses and palaces are open seasonally between March and September. Spring is a lovely time to be in the countryside, and it’s also the time when many golf courses begin to fill with enthusiasts. Autumn is a great time to enjoy some of the rich produce of the countryside in its market towns, while winter has its own attractions, including the Fife Jazz Festival in February. And who wouldn’t want to celebrate St Andrew’s Day (November) in the actual St Andrews?

Culross

Scotland has more than its fair share of picturesque villages, but Culross’s streets of rough-walled houses are unique, and a perfectly preserved portrait of how life looked in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its palace — actually a merchant’s house — was nevertheless visited by James VI, and its abbey, which dates from the 13th century, offers lovely views of the Firth of Forth.

Aberdour

This tiny seaside town has it all: two pretty tree-lined beaches (one large, one small), a beautiful stretch of coastal woodland known as the Heughs, and an excellent golf course. And if that’s not enough, Aberdour is also home to Scotland’s oldest surviving masonry castle, now an atmospheric ruin.

Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

Tapering eastward into the North Sea at the mouth of the Tay Estuary, like a pointing finger, this varied habitat covers woodlands, wetlands, sand dunes, and shoreline, making it a magnet for seals, deer, and grazing cattle. Cool fact: Tools used by Stone Age peoples have been found on the banks of the Morton Lochs on the reserve’s western edge.