Here are my top ten absolutely favourite things to do and see when visiting the East Neuk and St Andrews area. These are sure to keep you happy year round, whether you're a couple, family, group of friends or golfing party.
(1) Browse the picturesque fishing villages
Take your pick from East Neuk’s wonderfully picturesque fishing villages. Crail is probably the East Neuk's most photographed village with its picture-perfect harbour. It's also great to walk around, visit the Crail Pottery, galleries e.g. the artist-run The Crail Gallery, fishing harbour (you can buy live, fresh or cooked crab and lobster at the stall in season) and beaches followed by a coffee, cake or panini outdoors overlooking the sea at the Crail Harbour Gallery (Tel:
01333 451896, open 7 days), with its magical views over to the Isle of May.
.jpg) |
| Crail Harbour |
Pittenweem has its harbour, cave, galleries and The Cocoa Tree (9 High
Street, 10-6pm, 01333 311495) – a Chocolat-style chocolate shop and cafe which does fabulous hot chocolate and is much-loved by our guests. St Monans has its windmill, old salt pans and a real unspoilt vibe. Anstruther is bigger and busier with its marina, lighthouse, shops and famous fish ‘n’ chips at the Anstruther Fish Bar, with quiet, arty Cellardyke just next door. Elie and Earlsferry are well-heeled and famous for a stunning beach (complete with beach huts) and country pubs. To get from one village to the next use your own wheels, the no. 95 Stagecoach bus or better still your two legs via the Fife Coastal Path...
(2) Beautiful beaches and Scotland’s longest continuous coastal
path
Who doesn’t love a beautiful beach? Our favourites can
be found at Kingsbarns, St Andrews and Elie. There is also a huge beach in
Tentsmuir Forest (near Leuchars) where you can see seals in low tide.
.jpg) |
| Kingsbarns beach |
(3) Take a boat trip to the Isle of May Nature Reserve
This genuinely unspoilt island
with its wonderful wildlife including seals, puffins, rabbits and generally thousands
of sea birds makes for an unforgettable day trip. It’s like being inside a
nature programme! The boat trip (Tel:
01333 311808 or 07908 996725) to the Isle of May takes up to about an hour each
way from Anstruther harbour (April-September – April-July is best for puffin
and other seabird viewing) and you get around 3 hours on the island. Practicalities: Take
warm layers, waterproofs and food and drinks with you as there is no shop on
the island, although you can buy refreshments on the boat. There are toilets on
the boat and island. One sailing per day except some Tuesdays.
(4) Golf, golf,
golf to your heart’s content at some of Scotland’s best courses
.jpg) |
| Crail Golfing Society |
(5) A day
in St Andrews
One of Scotland’s most scenic towns has something for every visitor.
Stroll along the endless sandy beaches, pier and harbour, enjoy the
shops, have some Jannettas ice cream, visit historic sights like the Cathedral and Castle, peak into the imposing
University buildings, visit the Aquarium or museums or enjoy the tranquillity of the Botanic
Gardens. A great way to take it in is on foot starting at the Cathedral, walking through to see the harbour and pier then back along the Scores past the Castle, University buildings and Old Course to West Sands beach. Then back to Market Street to explore the town centre. See the Visit St Andrews site for more details or download their app from the App Store.
(6) Step back in time at historic houses, castles, gardens and an underground bunker
.jpg) |
| Kellie Castle |
Or for a unique Cold War
experience go underground into Scotland’s Secret Bunker, only 3 miles from Rose Cottage on the B9131 (Open March-October 7 days 10-5. Tel: 01333 310301). This is where the
chosen few Scots would have come in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold
War and where Scotland would have been governed from. Don’t miss a visit to the
tea room to complete the experience of being in a bygone era. Open March-October.
(7) Get an adrenaline rush
As well as walking and golf there
are lots of outdoor activities in the area for every age. For cyclists there are lots of cycle routes - see the Outdoor Fife site for details. If you
prefer four legs to two wheels there are various stables which offer horse-riding e.g. Kilconquhar CastleEstate Equestrian Centre, near Colinsburgh (Tel: 01333 340501) or Barbarafield Riding School ,
Craigrothie, near Cupar (Tel: 01334 828223). For all types of watersports
there is East Neuk Outdoors in Cellardyke
Park , beside Cellardyke Harbour
(8) Recharge your batteries with
some spa time
Unwind with some R&R time at the fabulously indulgent Kohler Waters Spa at The Old Course hotel, St Andrews including the rooftop
Jacuzzi pool, indoor pools, sauna, steam rooms and a wide range of the latest
treatments. The Fairmont Hotel just outside St Andrews is
another spa option.
(9) Have a local tipple or nibble
Newly opened and just 10 minute walk
from Rose Cottage is the Kingsbarns Distillery – tours are
available and there is a free exhibition plus a shop to purchase blended and
malt whisky, gin and wine and a nice café if you prefer a hot chocolate. If you
prefer beer there are brewery tours at The Eden Mill, Guardbridge Mill, near Leuchars ((£7.50 including free tasting, booking required,
Tel: 01334 834038) or sample The St Andrews Brewing Co’s
craft beers in their excellent pub on South Street in St Andrews – Mr ENB and I love their “Crail Ale”. Eden Mill now also produces gins created from locally sourced botanicals and single malt whiskies, which I'm looking forward to sampling.
 |
| Kingsbarns Distillery |
As for nibbles, a lot of great food is produced in Fife so there is an abundance of excellent farm shops and delis selling
delicious local produce, such as the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company near Anstruther, Ardross Farm Shop near St Monans, and Allanhill Farm and Balgove Larder near St Andrews. Discover delights such as Anster cheese and juicy local strawberries and find out what a “Sair Heid” is at a local baker's shop like Barnett's or Fisher and Donaldson.
(10) Get into the thriving local music scene
Keep your eyes peeled for local concerts to experience the real East Neuk and the remarkable wealth of musical talent it and the wider Kingdom of Fife have produced (some are also posted on my Events page or try Alter Ego Trading Company). Favourite acts include King Creosote, Lidh and James Yorkston but lots of others are also great and all best experienced live with a pint of local beer in hand. The book "Songs in the Key of Fife" (see my Read page) is worth a read for a fascinating insight into the lives of local musicians.
No comments:
Post a Comment