Must See Sights and Landmarks in Markinch Area

"On Castle Hill, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions offers five floors of interactive hands-on optical illusions, tricks and fun things to do including vortex tunnel, mirror maze and shrinking room. Tickets are £12.15 for children and £15.75 for adults."

"***If you’re a morning person, grab a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee, and enjoy the sunrise from Calton Hill. One of the most enchanting and TOTALLY free things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. Obviously, if you hate mornings, you can watch the sunset instead, (just make sure you have clear skies, which are something of a rarity) but you’ll just have a bit more company."

"Calton hill is situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Scottish Government’s headquarter base is at St. Andrew’s House on the steep southern slope of the hill. The Scottish Parliament building and many other notable buildings are located at the hill."

"Take a guided tour of the ornate floating royal residence (and the naval quarters below) and learn about life aboard the yacht which served the royal family for almost 50 years.Ocean Terminal, Leith, 555 5566, royalyachtbritannia.co.uk. Jul–Sep daily 9.30am–4.30pm; Apr–Jun & Oct 9.30am–4pm; Nov, Dec, Feb & Mar 10am–3.30pm. £11.75 (£10; under 18s £7.50; under 5s free; family £34)."

"If you’d like a taste of how the other half lives, then step aboard the Royal Yacht Brittania, the personal ship of the Royal family from 1953 to 1997. Located in the harbor of Leith, which is easily accessible from Edinburgh’s city center, the ship has 5 decks just waiting to be explored. The rooms in which the Royals spent the majority of their time are on the upper decks."

"You can explore one of Edinburgh’s most unique and interesting attractions: the Royal Yacht Britannia, the beautiful vessel once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II."

"The castle sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. Similar to the ruined Cathedral which stands a few hundred metres away, St Andrews Castle dates back to the mid-12th century. One of the most historic and scenically beautiful castles in Scotland, St Andrews Castle was first fortified around 1100."

"Dating back to the 12th century during the times of Bishop Roger, the castle was originally a place where the Archbishops of St Andrews lived. During the 15th century, the Castle was also used as a prison. Toady, the ruins that overlook the North Sea offer a picturesque site of the rocky castle."

"Dating in part from the 13th century the castle is the ruins of the castle of the archbishops of St Andrews. The visitor centre has a very good exhibition of the history of the town and the underground 16th-century siege tunnels are well worth a look."

"Overlooking the North Sea and the medieval seaside town, St Andrews Cathedral is a ruined chancel dating back to the mid-12th century. It remains Scotland’s largest built cathedral to this date, with the ruins indicating that the building was approximately 119 m (390 ft) long. Built in 1158 by Bishop Arnold, the Cathedral became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland however it fell into disuse and ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during the 16th century Scottish Reformation."

"Dating back to at least 8th century, the St Andrews Cathedral is Scotland’s largest and most beautiful medieval church. The church museum has a collection of medieval sculptures, relics and Sarcophagus of the Patron Saint dating back to the age of Picts (a Tribal population that lived during the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval period). The church marks the time when the Cathedral dominat...Read more"

"St Andrews is a town steeped in history and most notably its historic buildings. One of the oldest pieces of architecture in St Andrews is the Cathedral. You can find out more information about what to find here by visiting our History of the Castle and Cathedral Page."

"Perth Bridge is a symbol of the city and on a nice sunny day, it’s no wonder why. Connecting Perth city centre with Bridgend, the impressive arched structure dates back to as early as 1771. Fancy a super close up of the historic bridge?"

"A classical yet contemporary chocolaterie on Bruntsfield Place, in the boutique shopping district and much loved residential area of Bruntsfield. Their aim is to provide a unique and comfortable atmosphere for you to explore the delights of fine flavour chocolate. Sample hand crafted chocolates, organic bars, hot chocolate, French macarons or Italian gelato in the uniquely enchanting surrounds of their cafe."

"Their menu is filled to the brim with crepes, waffles, pancakes and chocolate fondue, all with what seems like an endless choice of toppings and combinations. From warm pancakes to fresh fruit, they pour chocolate on everything. And if that’s just not enough, you can wash it all down with a uniquely flavoured hot chocolate, like black pepper dark or mint white."

"How would you like to unwind and relax with a box of delicious handmade chocolates?. Coco of Bruntsfield specializes in fine organic chocolate in a range of delicious forms. You'll find some amazing, irresistible treats crafted by artisan chocolatiers here and in the sister store on Broughton Street."

"I went to the Queen’s Gallery instead, which showcases a small subset of the art that is found within the royal, private collection. ***For the Queen’s Gallery, tickets are £7.00 for adults, £6.40 for adults over 60 or students (with valid ID), £3.50 for children under 17 or the disabled, and children under 5 are free.The Queen’s Gallery is open daily from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm."

"The Queen's Gallery, located in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, was opened by Her Majesty The Queen in November 2002 as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Now, it hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. A worthwhile stop on a visit to the Royal Mile."

"The Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queens Gallery lie at the east end of The Royal Mile, opposite the Scottish Parliament. The visit is best achieved by taxi, local bus service from Waverley Bridge or tour bus. Walking takes around 15 minutes from Waverley Station."

"From Cubism and Expressionism to 20th-century Russian and French pieces, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is unmissable for art buffs. With two early-19th-century buildings to explore (Modern One and Modern Two) and sweeping green spaces dotted with sculptures (including monumental earthworks by Charles Jencks), it’s well worth leaving the city centre to explore the galleries. Modern Two contains the intact studio of erstwhile Edinburgh sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi."

"Split between two buildings on either side of Belford Road, Modern One and Modern Two, the gallery houses the nation's collection of modern and contemporary art. Modern Two, previously the Dean Gallery, was built as an orphanage. An austere structure, it's home to a large collection of Dada and Surrealist art, and a collection of the works of Sir Eduardo Paolozzi."

"You can explore Leith and visit the Trinity House Maritime Museum, stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway or see the latest exhibits on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art."

"Branklyn Garden is Perth’s very own botanical paradise situated on Dundee Road. The beautiful hillside garden dates back to the 1920s and is the perfect peaceful retreat only a short walk from the city centre. Home to many native and rare plant species, the garden in full summer boom is quite the pretty picture."

"Spread across 18 acres with a whopping collection of 8000 plant species, the St Andrews Botanic Garden is one of the highlights of the city. The hike through the Gruffalo trail is something every nature lover must try . The place arranges activities for children as well."

"The St Andrews Botanic Garden has been described as a 'hidden gem' of Scotland . The Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden have spend huge amounts of time and effort to make this garden a wonderful experience. See more on their website here."

"Explore Britain's largest rhododendron and azalea gardens at this beautiful 70-acre botanical garden. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden,…"