St Monan's Saltpans

The saltpans themselves are long gone, but walk along the shoreline at St Monans and you'll spot the weathered stone structures that once powered this corner of Fife's economy. These aren't dramatic ruins - they're more subtle than that, which is partly why they're worth seeking out. From the 1600s onwards, this stretch of coast was dotted with salt works where seawater was evaporated in vast pans to produce salt for preserving fish. The remnants you see today are mostly the sturdy stone walls and channels that directed water through the operation.

It's a proper walk rather than a sit-down attraction. Park near Anstruther, wander down to the beach, and you've got the ruins integrated into the landscape - old stone structures weathered grey, some barely recognisable unless you know what you're looking at. History buffs will find it absorbing; casual visitors might appreciate it more as part of a coastal ramble than as a destination in itself. There's no visitor centre, no entrance fee, no time limit - you're free to poke about as long as you like.

If you're based at St Monans Holiday Park, you're essentially on the doorstep. It combines well with exploring Anstruther proper - the fishing museum there is worthwhile - and the wider East Neuk coast. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're serious about tracing the old workings. Kids will get restless unless they're into clambering over old stones. Low tide reveals more of the structures, so timing matters.