Fife

Fife is a council area and historic county on the east coast of Scotland. It forms a peninsula projecting into the North Sea, bounded by the Firth of Forth to the south and by land to the west and north. The coast includes the East Neuk fishing villages of Anstruther, Crail, Pittenweem and St Monans, and the inland Lomond Hills. The largest towns by population are Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, with St Andrews and Falkland notable for historic significance.

Historically, Fife has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was governed in the Middle Ages as a distinct kingdom within Scotland, giving rise to the name Kingdom of Fife. Dunfermline was a royal capital, and Dunfermline Abbey long played a central role in church and state.

Today, Fife is a unitary council area with its headquarters in Glenrothes. It houses the University of St Andrews (founded 1413), one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. Tourism centers on golf and historic sites, including Falkland Palace, the Fife Coastal Path and the coastal towns along the East Neuk.

Transport links include the Fife Circle railway and major roads such as the M90 and A92, connecting to the Lothians and the rest of Scotland. The region combines coastal scenery, history and higher education with a diversified economy rooted in services, manufacturing and tourism.