Dunfermline

Dunfermline was once Scotlands capital city and as such is the birth or burial place of many monarchs. Malcolm IV, Alexander II and most of Robert the Bruce are buried in Dunfermline Abbey (Roberts heart was taken to Melrose Abbey for burial) and James I and Charles I are among the kings born in the castle adjoining the abbey. Queen Margaret founded the abbey in 1072 and the late Norman nave survives to this day.

Besides royalty Dunfermline has another very famous son, for it was the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, who immigrated to the United States and made a fortune and then gave much of it away out of philanthropy. He gave Dunfermline its beautiful Pittencrief Park and the cottage where he was born is now a museum explaining his remarkable rags-to-riches story.

Kirkcaldy is otherwise known as lang toun as many of its buildings are in one long street that hugs the coastline. It is now an industrial town that was built upon the spinning, weaving and linoleum trades. You can find out more about the town in its Museum & Art Gallery, which also boasts an impressive collection of works by prominent Scottish artists.