High Tarn

The walk up to High Tarn rewards you with one of those rare moments where the effort actually matches the view. You're climbing through moorland proper, the kind of terrain that makes your legs know they're working, and then suddenly you're standing at this tarn - a dark, still body of water ringed by heather and rough grass, with the Fife coastline spreading out below you.

It's the sort of place walkers come for. The tarn itself isn't massive - you can walk round it in under an hour - but the isolation is what gets you. No crowds, no facilities, just water and sky and the occasional grouse. If you've got children who can manage a steady uphill trek, they'll find it genuinely exciting. Younger kids might struggle with the stamina required.

Allow two to three hours from Anstruther if you're starting from the town itself, depending on your fitness and how long you linger at the top. The path isn't marked brilliantly, so bring a map. There's no charge and no facilities once you're up there - bring what you need.

Stay at one of the caravan parks within five or six miles - Kilrenny Mill or Sauchope Links would put you perfectly placed - and use High Tarn as a half-day expedition. The walk beats a casual afternoon drive. It's not a destination for a quick twenty-minute stop; it demands proper boots and a bit of commitment. For that, it's absolutely worth it.