Methil

Methil (Scottish Gaelic: Meadhchill) is a coastal town in Fife, Scotland. Methil has ancient origins: two Bronze Age cemeteries have been discovered which date the settlement as over 8,000 years old. The town was first recorded as "Methkil" in 1207, and belonged to the Bishop of St Andrews. Methil was part of its own barony from 1614 and also part of the former burgh of Buckhaven and Methil, which existed between 1891 and 1975. Previously an industrial maritime powerhouse of the region and once Scotland's greatest coal port, it is now redirecting itself towards a green energy future. Methil lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, between Largo Bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west. It is situated within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth; the River Leven delineates Methil from adjacent towns. The Fife Coastal Path, one of Scotland's Great Trails, runs through Methil. The town has a population of 10,890 (2022).