The neighbouring villages of Limekilns and Charlestown sit on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth in west Fife, close to Dunfermline and within easy reach of Edinburgh. Limekilns grew up as a small fishing settlement and took its name from the lime-burning kilns that once supplied local agriculture and building work; today its tiny harbour, narrow streets and sea views attract walkers on the Fife Coastal Path and people looking for a quieter coastal base.
Charlestown was developed in the 18th–19th century as an industrial harbour for coal and lime export, and you can still see that history in the rows of workers’ housing, quays and kiln remains. Both villages are now largely residential with a modest tourism trade centred on maritime heritage, coastal scenery and views across to the Forth Bridges, offering a pleasant mix of industrial past and seaside community life in Fife.