Between Edinburgh And Dundee Is A Charming Market Town With Family Fun, Historic Parks, And Local Eats

A Scottish market town can get travelers away from the city circuit for a bit, with enough to occupy an unhurried day or two. Castles and museums put the past on display, but some of these towns have their history woven into everyday life, too, whether it's in a centuries-old active market or parks that preserve Victorian-era layouts. Midway between Edinburgh and Dundee, in the fertile Howe of Fife, Cupar is a market town with a handsome historic center and plenty to keep the modern traveler busy. The town has a couple of long-standing parks, with riverside scenery and promenades, and has a food scene that makes the most of the region's own produce.

Besides its food and history, Cupar could make a good family stop, owing to its mix of parks, animal encounters, and hands-on activities. Parks come with a playground and picnic tables, while outside the town center is the Scottish Deer Centre, where children can watch deer and falconry displays. The seasonal Cairnie Fruit Farm has a giant corn maze and go-karts for families to compete in, and when the weather gets colder, little ones can burn their energy off at the indoor soft play areas of Wee Kingdom.

Some of Cupar's green spaces have been part of the town's story for centuries. The central, classic town park is Haugh Park, with the River Eden flowing through it. The park is made up of three historic areas — Cart Haugh, Nicholson Park, and Hood Park — donated to the town between 1871 and 1896, according to Cupar Now. Its early 20th-century cast-iron bandstand still hosts summer concerts, while a winged war memorial adds a more solemn historical focal point. Families can make use of the playground, watch for the occasional river otter, or set up a picnic on one of the available tables.

Just north of the town center, you can climb up the paths of Motte Hill (also called Moat Hill). The grassy, sloping east ridge is thought to have served as the site of the head courts of Fife (the picturesque coastal Scottish kingdom) from the 13th century, based on archaeological findings. By the 19th century, it had paths for strolling and was used as a communal laundry-drying place. Today, it's a quiet spot for a walk, with paths crossing the hill for elevated views.

For families who want to venture a little beyond Cupar's parks, the Scottish Deer Centre is a 55-acre-plus wildlife park about a seven-minute drive from the town center. Aside from deer, you can see animals like wolves, lynx, brown bears, and birds of prey. Younger kids can frolic at the adventure playground or indoor play area, which is complete with a zipline. Meanwhile, Cairnie Fruit Farm, about a five-minute drive north of town, combines a working farm with a family fun park. Visitors can pick their own fruit, or head to an outdoor area with trampolines and a go-kart track.

Many of Scotland's prettiest villages and picture-perfect streets have ties to historic markets. As a royal burgh, Cupar has held markets for centuries, per the Fife Historic Buildings Trust. By the 16th and 17th centuries, its weekly markets drew traders from the surrounding countryside to Crossgate, the market square. The square's surviving Mercat Cross is a landmark on the town's Heritage Trail, partly dating to the 17th century. These days the market tradition continues with a monthly farmers and makers market, generally held on the third Saturday of the month. The stalls you'll find here sell fresh vegetables from around Fife, seafood from East Neuk, and various other cheeses, baked goods, and crafts.

Foodies will find plenty to sink their teeth into around Cupar. For heartier meals, a couple of restaurants in town have snagged notable accolades. The Boudingait is a go-to for pub classics, having won the Drink Award Scotland's Best Gastro Pub in 2024. For a more refined evening, head about 6 miles outside of town to The Peat Inn, a former coaching inn dating to the mid-18th century that's become a reputable Scottish dining destination. It holds a Michelin star, and it was named, in 2020, one of the U.K.'s top 50 best restaurants by the Good Food Guide. The Peat Inn specializes in modern Scottish cuisine, with ingredients sourced from Fife, such as East Neuk crab and Scottish lamb.

If you're planning a trip to Cupar, it's about a 40-minute trip from Edinburgh or 20 minutes from Dundee via the national rail. You could add another Fife destination to the journey — another stop on the same rail route — by visiting Kirkcaldy, a quaint town with Europe's longest street fair.