Colinsburgh Playing Field

The Playing Field at Colinsburgh is one of those places you'd walk past without a second glance if you didn't know what you were looking at. It's a proper nature reserve tucked into the Fife landscape just inland from Leven, where scrub and grassland have been left to do their thing. Orchids flower here in summer - common spotted orchids mostly, but they're worth spotting - and the place pulls in a decent range of butterflies and birds if you're patient enough to stand still for five minutes.

This is genuinely for the naturalists rather than the Instagram crowd. Bring binoculars, bring a field guide, don't expect manicured paths or interpretation boards. The real appeal is the quiet. No admission charge as far as anyone can tell, and you can wander through in half an hour or spend a morning if you're serious about your wildlife watching. Best in late spring through early autumn when the flowers and insects are actually there.

If you're based at Elie Holiday Park or Catchpenny Safari Lodges - both within a couple of miles - it's a decent morning walk without being a commitment. The Safari Lodges version is particularly good if you want a break from the more formal attractions. St Monans is a shade further out. Worth adding to a coastal Fife itinerary if you've got any interest in wildflowers or native habitats, but only if that's genuinely your thing. Don't drag reluctant teenagers here expecting entertainment.