20 Attractions to Explore Near West Lomond

Also known as Falkland Hill, the 424m East Lomond is a popular outing and is easily “summited” from the high car park on its eastern side. Other well used routes are from Craigmead to the west and Falkland to the north. The southern approaches from Glenrothes and Holl tend to be a bit quieter. The remains of Iron Age hill forts can be found around the summits of both East and West Lomond as well as at Maiden Castle, a grassy knoll that lies between the two.

Balvaird Castle is perched on a hilltop overlooking the A912 as it makes its way over the eastern arm of the Ochil Hills, about a mile south of junction with the better known road leading through Glen Farg. Its location falls short of the sheer rocky impregnability of a Stirling Castle, but as a statement of dominance and control it still takes some beating.

Falkland Palace, in Falkland, Fife, Scotland, is a royal palace of the Scottish Kings. It was one of the favourite places of Mary, Queen of Scots, providing an escape from political and religious turmoil. There are a profusion of flowering shrubs and trees in the Spring and the adjoining orchard is full of apple blossom - just ideal for a picnic. There is a peaceful pool garden where you can sit and take in the magnificent scenery.

Burleigh Castle was the seat of the Balfours of Burleigh for more than 250 years. You can explore the roofless ruin of a 500-year-old tower house. its chief delight is its remarkable corner tower. Round at the base, its rectangular top floor is corbelled out – an eye-catching piece of Jacobean architecture. It was adapted and expanded in the late 1500s. The Balfours lost the land and castle in 1716.

Loch Leven is a fresh water loch located immediately to the east of the burgh of Kinross. Roughly circular in shape and about 3 miles in diameter, it is one of the shallowest of the Scottish lochs—with a mean depth of 15 feet —and has become important as a nature reserve. The loch is a roosting area for geese in winter and a resting area for ducks. It is renowned for its fishing.

Lochleven Castle is a late 14th or early 15th century tower where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567. This ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the site of military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Today, the remains of the castle are protected as a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Loch Leven Castle is open to the public in summer, an

Riverside Park is idyllic territory for a saunter with the small ones and offers plenty of space to let the big ones detach and play games a short distance away or hit the skatepark! Just be sure to bring your helmet and serious padding for the concrete equipment. The park has several play areas and town art sculptures, adventure play areas, seasonal toilets and fitness equipment. It also features a few statues and objects from Boblingen, Germany, the twin town of Glenrothes.

The Fife Pilgrim Way is a new long distance route opened in July 2019, connecting West Fife with East Fife via routes used by medieval pilgrims. The overall route brings together a network of existing paths, tracks, core paths and rights of way into a single journey across the heart of Fife. Much of the route is on hard surfaces , hence trainers may be a better choice than boots for footwear.

The Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a largely traffic-free path around Loch Leven linking Kinross with RSPB Loch Leven and back to Kinross. It lies between Edinburgh and Perth, in the east of Scotland’s Central Lowlands. The path is mostly level and barrier-free, making it suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users of all abilities.

Benarty Hill, locally simply Benarty, rises above and to the west of Ballingry, in the west of Fife, Scotland. The summit ridge forms the boundary with Perth and Kinross. It is a prominent feature of the view from the M90 motorway, and from Kinross and Loch Leven. The lower slopes are steep on all sides, but the extensive heath around the summit is relatively flat.

Loch Ore is a loch situated in Fife, Scotland. It forms the core of Lochore Meadows Country Park. It is used mainly for leisure purposes, especially yachting, although the uneven depth can make the likes of speed boating problematic. The loch is the training site of many sports teams, including the University of St Andrews Boat Club. The loch holds many events, such as the annual Scottish Open Water Championships where the swimmers compete in a 5 km, 2 km and 4×1 km relay swim, and Saints Regatt

Balgonie Castle is a 14th century tower-keep and later courtyard built on a river cliff overlooking the River Leven a short distance east of Glenrothes in Fife. It is privately owned and has been partially restored, and is open to visitors by appointment. Balgonie has a special place in my heart because it was where my wife and I were married in 2006.

The Scottish Deer Centre in Fife is a popular tourist attraction set in 55 acres of lovely Fife countryside that aims to educate and entertain visitors with a diverse range of animal species, with an emphasis on deer. The park is currently home to 14 different species of deer as well as birds of prey, wildcats and wolves.

Moncreiffe Hill is a long, wooded ridge that lies south of Perth, Scotland. It can be easily seen on the right during the final stages of the drive north towards Perth on the M90 motorway. Mixed conifer and broadleaf woodland cloaks the majestic Moncreiffe Hill, offering panoramic views stretching to Fife and the Lomond Hills. A wide variety of trees and other vegetation grow on the hill, which is managed by the Woodland Trust Scotland.

Elcho Castle is one of Scotland’s best-preserved 16th-century tower houses. A member of the family of Wemyss of that Ilk built the residence around the time of the Protestant Reformation in 1560. The Castle was built on the site of an older structure about 1560, and is one of the best surviving examples of its date in Scotland. A large portion of the Castle is accessible, although floors in some rooms have fallen, and much of the building can be walked through. The wall-walk is accessible at two

Crawford Priory is an impressive, Gothic mansion, started in 1809 and extended a few years later, but now a derelict and deteriorating shell. The present building replaced an earlier house that dated from the middle of the 18th century, and had a sumptuous interior. There are no significant remains of the internal gothic design save a cast iron balustrade in the D-shaped main stairhall in the east side of the building.

Kinnoull is a real jewel in Perth's crown. Trails wander through mature woodland of beech and pine to magnificent views over the river Tay. There's an arboretum – a tree collection – too, where you can check out trees you might like to grow in your own garden.

Kirkcaldy Galleries is the main museum, library and exhibition space in Kirkcaldy in Fife, Scotland. The museum contains many significant works by the Glasgow Boys. Situated on the ground floor, is the museum's award-winning permanent exhibition covering the town's industrial heritage. The museum also has a cafe which displays examples of Wemyss Ware pottery, made in the town from around the 1890s to 1930s

Ravenscraig Castle is one of the earliest artillery forts in Scotland and has two round towers linked by a cross range. This was later granted to William Sinclair in exchange for the Earldom of Orkney. Its defences were upgraded to support artillery in the mid-sixteenth century but it saw no action until 1651 when it was attacked and badly damaged by Oliver Cromwell.

Ravenscraig Park is a well-loved destination for many Fifers and people from across central Scotland. The Park exists for the benefit of the local community and Fife Council is keen to encourage all members of the community to use the park, and feel they have an opportunity to link into the future developments within park.