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WE HAVE MOVED! YOU'LL FIND THE LATEST TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON THE NEW ROSE COTTAGE EAST NEUK BLOG.

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.

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.

Kingsbarns beach
Enjoy the beaches while getting some exercise with the Fife Coastal Path, Scotland’s longest continuous coastal path (117 miles in total). I particularly recommend three walks on this spectacular walkway: (i) Kingbarns beach to Crail (ii) Crail to Anstruther and (ii) St Monans to Elie (followed by a drink in the Ship Inn pub).  There is an option to walk one way then get the Stagecoach No. 95 bus back.

(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
Crail Golfing Society
This really is the place to be if you’re a golfer. As luck has it the legendary links courses at Crail (Tel: +44 (0)1333 450686, info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk), Kingsbarns (Tel: +44 (0) 1334 460860 or 1-800-441-1391 toll free from US and Canada, info@kingsbarns.com), Elie (Tel: +44 (0)1333 330301, book@golfhouseclub.org), one called The Old Course you may have heard about (!) and numerous other fantastic golf courses (see the Fife Golf Trails for more information) are all easily played from Rose Cottage. If you prefer crazy golf to the more traditional variety try The Himalayas – the public putting green in St Andrews so named because of its challenging hills! 

(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
Kellie Castle
Just 20 minutes’ walk (or 5 minutes’ drive) from Rose Cottage is Cambo House (on the B917 near Kingsbarns, Open daily year-round 10am-5pm. Charge for adults, kids free. 01333 450313) with its lovely walled garden, woodland walk, pigs, plant shop, and popular seasonal events (e.g. “Snowdrops by Starlight” and “Cambolicious” craft beer festival.) 5 miles from Rose Cottage is National Trust Scotland’s Kellie Castlewhere you can visit the castle, lovely gardens, café and woodland walks ang even buy some of the seasonal veg they grow (Garden and Estate open year-round, Castle and shop April-October, Tel: 0844 493 2184). Slightly further afield (about 40 minutes drive) is Falkland Palace, home of Scottish kings and queens of old. The palace, gardens and beautiful surrounding town of Falkland are well worth a day trip.

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 (Tel: 01333 311 929). There’s go karting / dragster racing in Crail – on the road to the golf course. You can also sail on the West Sands in St Andrews – land yachting which is like a go kart going along the beach with a huge sail attached – with Blown Away Experiences (Tel: 07784 121125). 

(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.


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