Inchmickery

A rocky little island sitting in the Firth of Forth just off Burntisland, Inchmickery is one of those places that catches your eye from the shore and makes you wonder what's actually out there. In reality, it's not much to write home about - a small fortification with some crumbling stonework and not a great deal else - but that's rather the point. The walk along Burntisland's waterfront to get a proper view of it is genuinely pleasant, and on a clear day you'll spot the island clearly enough from the promenade.

Historically it's got some teeth. There was a fort here, and it's got proper defensive credentials from centuries past, though what you see now is mostly ruins. It's the sort of place that appeals to military history buffs or anyone fascinated by Scotland's coastal fortifications, rather than families after a full afternoon's entertainment. Kids might enjoy spotting it from the shore and asking questions about what it was, but they won't want to linger for hours.

You can't actually visit the island itself without a boat - it's not accessible to the public by foot - so this is a shore-based attraction. Allow half an hour to wander down to Burntisland's seafront and take in the views. Free, obviously, since you're just looking at it from land. It pairs well with Kinghorn Harbour Holiday Park just along the coast if you're basing yourself in the area. Worth the detour if you're already exploring Burntisland, but don't make a special trip for it.