Cockshaugh Public Park

The moment you step into Cockshaugh, you're walking through proper wetland - the sort of place where you'll spot water birds you didn't know existed and get genuinely lost among the paths. It's a nature reserve just outside St Andrews, and it punches well above its weight for a small Fife park.

What you get here is miles of open water, reed beds, and woodland trails that loop through different habitats. Binoculars essential. Winter brings visiting wildfowl by the dozen, but spring and summer are when the migrant species arrive and things get interesting for birdwatchers. The paths are well-kept and mostly flat, so it's not a gruelling walk - more a wander really, and that's the appeal.

Families with young kids will manage fine if they're happy to move at a snail's pace and spot things. Serious birders will find plenty to occupy an afternoon. For the rest of us, it's a cracking spot to clear your head between rounds at St Andrews or after a day in town.

If you're staying at Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park or Cairnsmill just down the road, Cockshaugh makes a proper morning out without needing to drive anywhere. Entry appears to be free, though facilities are minimal - bring your own coffee. Allow two hours if you want to do the full circuit properly, rather than rushing through.

It's not fancy, and there's no cafe or visitor centre to speak of. But that's rather the point.