Dunearn Hill

The walk up Dunearn Hill from Burntisland takes about forty minutes if you're not dawdling, and the views across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh make it entirely worthwhile. It's a straightforward climb - nothing technical, just a steady push uphill through rough grassland to reach the 408-metre summit. On a clear day you can see right across to the Pentland Hills. On a grey one, well, you're at least getting some proper exercise.

This is walkers' territory rather than a destination for sitting about. The hill doesn't have a café or facilities at the top - bring water and maybe a packed lunch if you want to linger. The reward is the space and quiet. Families with reasonably fit children will manage it fine; younger kids might find the trudge tedious. History enthusiasts won't find much up here beyond the landscape itself, though Burntisland below has plenty of character if you're after that.

Free to access, naturally, since it's just a hillside. Allow two to three hours return from town including a rest at the top. If you're staying at Pettycur Bay or Sandhills nearby, it's an easy morning or afternoon outing. Best visited when the weather's settled - the wind can be fierce, and the path gets boggy in sustained rain. Go early if you can; the light's better and you'll have the hilltop mostly to yourself.