Isle of May Priory

The ruins of a 12th-century priory sit on the Isle of May, a small island off the Fife coast that you reach by boat from Anstruther. It's not a day-tripper attraction - more of an add-on if you're island-hopping along the coast, or if you're seriously into medieval ecclesiastical remains. What you get is a scatter of stone foundations, the odd wall standing chest-high, and an awful lot of seabirds. The priory itself was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and once housed Benedictine monks. Today it's atmospheric rather than grand - the kind of place where the wind off the Firth dominates, and the isolation speaks louder than any interpretation board ever could.

The boat trip from Anstruther takes around 15 minutes and is honestly the highlight for most visitors. You'll see puffins, razorbills, and guillemots if you time it right - May to July is peak season for them. The priory itself probably needs 45 minutes to an hour, unless you're a serious historian keen to pick over every stone. Families with younger kids might find it underwhelming once they've had a poke around the ruins - there's no shelter, no facilities, and nothing to actually do beyond walk and stare. It's free to explore once you're on the island, but the boat costs money and runs on tides and weather.

If you're based at Sauchope Links Holiday Lodge just outside Anstruther, this works as a morning excursion before doing something else on the mainland. Worth it mainly if you're already heading out to see the birds.