Scotland's Last Duel

Two men faced off with swords near Kinross on 12 August 1668, and that's where Scotland's Last Duel happened. It was David Hume of Godscroft and Robert Sinclair, arguing over some land dispute that had clearly wound both of them up enough to risk their lives. Sinclair didn't make it home.

There's not much to see on the ground now - it's the story that matters here, really. You're standing at a spot where actual history turned rather bloody, and the realisation that duelling was the way to settle scores back then hits differently when you're there in person.

This works best if you're already interested in Scottish history or if you've got someone in your group who gets properly excited about the minor details of the past. Thirty minutes maximum, unless you're the type who likes to linger and absorb the atmosphere. The location is quiet, rural stuff - no visitor centre, no gift shop, no interpretive boards that I'm aware of. That's either a bonus or a letdown depending on what you wanted.

It slots nicely into a wider Fife tour if you're staying at one of the parks around Kinghorn or Pettycur Bay, which are all within spitting distance. Kinross itself isn't far, so you could combine it with a walk around Loch Leven or pop into the town proper for lunch. Don't expect crowds. Don't expect facilities. Do expect a genuine sense of stepping into something genuinely old.