Once part of Fife, the ancient county of Kinross-shire was established in 1426 but was eventually absorbed into the political authority of "Tayside Region" in 1975 and then Perth and Kinross in 1996. Access is very easy as the M90 from the Forth Road Bridge splits the county in 2. The county town of Kinross sits on the shores of Loch Leven, famous for its Island Castle - where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned and from which she escaped - and for its trout fishing. The county is bordered by the Ochil Hills to the north and by the Lomond Hills to the east. These hills are used to the full by gliders based at Kinnesswood on the eastern shores of the Loch. The Cleish hills form part of the southern boundary. Some of the best scenery, apart from the views across Loch Leven, are to be had in the south western boundary around the winding River Devon and places with interesting names such as Rumbling Bridge and Crook of Devon. Places of interest include Loch Leven Castl ... < more >