Curling Pond

The water here is deceptively still, ringed by trees that give Curling Pond its name - locals used to freeze it solid in winter for a proper game. These days it's a straightforward spot near Cupar where you can walk the perimeter, feed ducks if you've brought bread, and sit on the bench without crowds getting in your way.

It's the kind of place that works brilliantly if you're camped at The Rings or one of the other parks dotted around Fife, and you need a half-hour leg-stretch that isn't going to eat up your whole afternoon. The path's flat and easy - fine for kids on bikes, manageable for pushchairs, not strenuous enough to satisfy serious walkers looking for a challenge. There's genuine beauty in the reflections on a still day, though I'll be honest, it's not the sort of landscape that'll have you reaching for your camera every five minutes.

You could couple this with a walk around Cupar itself - it's only a few miles away and worth a browse for lunch - or use it as a gentle warm-up before heading to somewhere with more drama. The pond works best in autumn when the trees change colour, or early morning before anyone else arrives. Allow forty minutes maximum unless you're just after somewhere to sit and think. Completely free, no facilities to speak of, no opening times to fret about. It's the definition of low-key, which is rather the point.