An East Neuk Easter

My family has always loved Easter - all cute bunnies and chicks, the start of better weather and lighter days, family meals and days out and more chocolate than is really good for you.  When we were little my sisters and I even had our own special Easter roles - I was an Easter Chick, J was an Easter Bunny and C was an Easter Lamb. Easter is a festival of rebirth, new life, whether you're religious or not. It's also a great time to visit the East Neuk. Borrowing J's role for a moment and using my official Easter Bunny name of "Snuggly Socks" (what's yours? http://easterbunnyname.com/) I thought I'd bring you a sweet selection of what to do this Easter in the East Neuk to keep everyone in your family entertained:

Anstruther duck race

1. Race a duck - For great fun with the competitive thrill of a chance of winning a prize check out the annual Anstruther Duck Race on Easter Saturday. The Dreel Burn in Anstruther is the venue and no they are not real ducks but cute rubber ones! Entry is £1 - sponsor your duck in a local shop or on the day, if there are any left. It's organised by the Anstruther Improvements Association (AIA) and the money goes towards improving the village. 

2. Picnic with the King - As well as the Duck Race itself there is a whole music festival in Anstruther over the Easter weekend called "Yellae Deuks". Concerts are on at the Dreel Halls in Anstruther on the Friday and Saturday nights and during the day on Sunday when there will be an indoor picnic. Don't miss King Creosote himself playing at the Sunday event. Family friendly until 9pm. 

Kellie Castle and Gardens

3. Hunt eggs at a castle - National Trust properties around the country are playing host to Cadbury's Egg Trails this Easter. Where better for the little ones to run about in search of eggs than Kellie Castle, near Anstruther, with its gorgeous gardens and estate. Easter egg trails open 12-4pm on Easter Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Bunny, Isle of May

4. Spot the bunnies - April marks the beginning of the season for boat trips on the May Princess or RIB Osprey to the Isle of May. You're sure to see lots of cute bunnies on the island (though they're a little shy) and lots of seabirds and seals too - I hear that the puffins are there already so it's a great time to visit! Book ahead if you want a seat on the daily boat trips as it's bound to be popular.

5. See some art & crafts - Pittenweem Artists & Galleries weekend 2015 is taking place on 3-6 April in various venues around the village. It's organised by the same people as the village's famous annual arts festival, though the weekend is on a more compact scale with six exhibiting artists. 

There's also a local art and crafts event called "Spring in the Loft" upstairs at the Ardross Farm Shop, near Elie on Easter Saturday (9am-5.30pm) and Sunday (9am-4pm).

6. Find the Gruffalo - I reckon a lot of little ones are going to be very excited about the new Gruffalo Trail which opens on Easter Sunday at St Andrews' Botanic Gardens. 11am-4pm. £5 adults, free for kids. 

7. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate - Get your Easter chocolate fix at The Cocoa Tree cafe and Pittenweem Chocolate Company shop, Pittenweem, Iain Burnett The Highland Chocolatier, South Street, St Andrews or Fisher and Donaldson, Church Street, St Andrews. Yum!

Leave a comment if you know about something fun that I've missed.

Happy Easter all!

Copyright Snuggly Socks (normally known as Sara Scott) 2015

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face

...so begins Robert Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis", which is traditionally spoken aloud with gusto at Burns Night events the length and breadth of Scotland. For those of you who don't know, Burns Night is 25th January (the date which was the bard's birthday) which falls on a Sunday this year, sparking a whole weekend of distinctly Scottish celebrations. In fact most Scots are more likely to celebrate Burns Night than Scotland's more official annual event, St Andrew's Day. Haggis (traditionally eaten with "neeps and tatties" i.e. mashed turnip and mashed potato) and Scots whisky are the two key essentials to a Burns Supper. Formal events will add other traditional elements to that, such as having a bagpiper pipe in the entrance of the haggis, the "toast to the lassies" (by the men to the ladies) and their response to the laddies (both usually very humorous and cheeky, with the lassies getting the last laugh) plus lots of energetic ceilidh dancing. Read more about the Burns Night traditions. Less formal Burns Supper events will keep it simple. It's up to you how formal you want to be but it's really all about having a good time, usually fuelled by plenty of drinks!

Happily there are lots of great things going on for Burns Night 2015 in and around St Andrews. BID St Andrews has compiled a very helpful list of local Burns Night events and offers which I thought I'd share with you. I'm forever trying out new weird and wonderful ice cream flavours - some good, some not so much - so I'm particularly intrigued by the Haggis ice cream which is being served up at The Adamson restaurant in St Andrews this Burns weekend. Will this uniquely Scottish beast work in ice-cream form? There's really only one way to find out! 

Have a great Burns Night wherever you choose to spend it! 

Clockwise from top: Whisky at Kingsbarns Distillery, the bard on a biscuit from Fisher & Donaldson (St Andrews bakers) and a suitably Scottish decanter and fabrics in Harbour Interiors, Anstruther

Copyright Sara Scott 2015

Autumnal delights

As the leaves change colour and the nights grow darker there are still lots of great things to do in the East Neuk, St Andrews and the surrounding area. Here are four of the best things I've been up to this autumn:

1. Rory mania

Following world no. 1 golfer, Rory McIlroy around the Old Course, as he teamed up with his dad to compete at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2014 (http://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/m/home/), was a must this October. Rory and some of his fellow professional golfers, such as Victor Dubuisson, were fresh from the European team's Ryder Cup win at Gleneagles. 

For more on what the Dunhill Links is all about and why it's such a great event see my Dunhill blog: http://rosecottageeastneuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/celeb-golf-extravaganza-at-dunhill-links.html?m=1

2. Day trip to fabulous Falkland

Just half an hour or so from St Andrews is the picture perfect village of Falkland. Most visitors go for the National Trust of Scotland's Falkland Palace (http://www.nts.org.uk/property/falkland-palace-and-garden/)

The palace is well worth a visit for a glimpse into Scotland in days of old, when the Stuart monarchs travelled around with all of their furniture and tapestries so that their quarters in the next castle or palace could be made to look exactly like the last one! It was also a favourite place of Mary Queen of Scots.

The palace gardens are also lovely, though inevitably not as splendid in Autumn as they must be in Spring and Summer. 

A unique feature at the bottom of the garden is the stone royal tennis court - which is not the same as tennis as we know it. 

Falkland is not just about the palace though - its a very scenic and quaint place for a wander around, popping into enticing little gift shops, galleries and cafés as you go. Even the more industrial old mill is attractively vintage, though apparently soon to be knocked down. With more time you could also explore the very pretty surrounding countryside, which looked great for walking, cycling etc.

3. Proof that Anstruther dining is finer than just fish 'n' chips: The Cellar

We'd been huge fans of The Cellar restaurant in Anstruther (http://www.thecellaranstruther.co.uk/) and were disappointed when it closed in tragic circumstances. It's now open again and the new management, including Anstruther-born head chef Billy Boyter, have managed to put their own spin on it whilst keeping the charm. It's a highly atmospheric historic building, which you reach through a pretty courtyard area. You can then quaff an aperitif in one of the elegant seating areas before being shown to your table in the cosy, romantic restaurant. 

Once seated you can expect to be treated to a series of courses lovingly created with care, precision and creativity from the best seasonal local produce. 

For its combination of accomplished fine dining, friendly staff and a very atmospheric and romantic setting I would highly recommend The Cellar for a special occasion meal out or if you are simply treating yourselves (we went to celebrate Mr ENB's birthday). Book ahead though, particularly at weekends as the restaurant is quite small. 

4.Cambolicious

Twice a year Cambolicious (http://www.cambolicious.com/), the East Neuk's popular craft beer festival, comes to the Cambo Estate near Kingsbarns (in May and November) and I am a festival regular. It's small in scale but big in charm and appeals to children and adults alike. This time around there was lots of fun to be had with the outdoor games, including table tennis in a posh tent with a chandelier and various retro games which involved throwing skills (I was hopelessly bad at all of these!). Foodie delights included juicy steak burgers with a mountain of trimmings, freshly pressed apple juice and deliciously naughty sweet and savoury crepes. 

But really people love Cambolicious for all the craft beers, ciders and gins, with their weird and wonderful names, from around Scotland. 22 types were on tap this time around. The Fresh Root Ginger cider from Borders-based Thistly Cross was a sell-out again and for good reason. It's still my favourite cider ever. Of the beers Biology Girl loved the Spiced Pumpkin Rye from the St Andrews Brewing Company and Legally Brunette enjoyed the Staple Pale from the Top Out Brewery.

Never shy of a bit of dressing up, I got into the festival spirit and enjoyed making my own natural headgear at the stand for this. Here's my less than perfect attempt (well it was made in the dark!):

Sadly I missed out on the face painting, which was not just for kids - various adults were sporting Halloween-type designs, whimsical leaves or wood nymph-esque designs. Throughout there was the highly enjoyable and sometimes impromptu music from some of Fife's most talented musicians that I've come to expect from Cambolicious. Unfortunately no King Creosote or Lidh sets this time round but Emporium ended the event on a high. As ever at Cambolicious I didn't want to leave.

World famous sports stars, fantastic sight-seeing, fine dining and craft beer festivals - what's not to love about the East Neuk and St Andrews in Autumn?

Text and photos copyright Sara Scott 2014

Happy Days in the East Neuk and St Andrews

Here's some news about an artist that I admire for her colourful and fun paintings which do indeed invoke heart-warming memories of happy days spent in the East Neuk of Fife and St Andrews and bring a smile to your face:

Scottish artist, Jennifer Thomson is launching a new book of her paintings called "Happy Days in the East Neuk and St Andrews" at her forthcoming exhibition  in the East Neuk village of Elie, Fife. Jennifer is well known for the unmistakable style of her paintings, packed full of colourful people having fun and enjoying life, often in popular Scottish locations. The book brings together the best of her paintings from the last fifteen years of painting in the East Neuk of Fife. Included are paintings of Lower Largo, Earlsferry, Elie, St Monans, Kilconqhuar, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail and the neighbouring St Andrews.

Jennifer attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1987-1992 where she gained her honours then post-graduate degree along with several awards and prizes. She taught art for a few years at Madras College in St Andrews before giving up teaching to paint full time in 1998. Since then her paintings can be found in many art collections such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh's City Arts Centre, The BBC and Paintings in Hospitals. Her work is spreading all over the world and she has been commissioned by organisations and individuals in the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Alongside each painting in the book are Jennifer's notes about each scene. You discover what inspired the artist to paint each composition and begin to see what Jennifer was thinking when she painted each scene and share in her often humorous insights. In some of the paintings you might spot the artist's faithful painting companion Brodie, a mischievous wire haired fox terrier. For admirers of Jennifer's work and East Neuk fans alike, this book will warm your hearts and make you smile. 

Jennifer will be signing copies of "Happy Days in the East Neuk and St Andrews" at her exhibition of paintings of the East Neuk and travels round Europe at The Old Post Office Gallery, Links Place, Elie, Fife, KY8 1AX from 27 July to 10 August 2014 10am-5pm. The book can also be ordered from her website www.jenniferthomson.com. 

Just what the doctor ordered - dining at The Adamson, St Andrews

"Just what the doctor ordered" is the wording on the front of The Adamson's promotional booklet so I recently went along to this St Andrews bar and restaurant to find out whether this wording was indeed good advice.

The doctor in question is Dr John Adamson (1809 - 1870), the famed St Andrean who lived in the building at No. 127 South Street now occupied by the restaurant. The restaurant's cocktail menu also contains "The Physician" in his honour, an amazing elixir of vodka, elderflower, mint, raspberries and lime. As well as being a medical doctor, Adamson was also a pioneer photographer, famously creating the first calotype portrait in Scotland 1841. The calotype was the first type of photograph to use a negative, allowing multiple "positives", i.e. print copies to be made. It seems to me that this was a very important step along the way to the easy photography that we all take for granted today. Dr Adamson also taught the calotype process to his brother Robert, who went on to create many famous photographs of that time with David Octavius Hill. As a nod to this there's a case with an old camera beside the bar area. As a physician, Dr Adamson worked hard to try and clean up the typhoid-ridden Fishergate area of St Andrews - hard to imagine in today's clean, upmarket St Andrews, where one of the main issues is choosing which restaurant to go for an evening! However, it's easy to admire Dr Adamson's pioneering work even today. 

After Adamson's time the building became a post office and still retains a relic of this era. 

Those little touches aside, I doubt the doctor would recognise the interior now, following the restaurant's opening in 2012. There's nothing olde worldy about it. It has a very well thought through modern look, all oversized lampshades, glittery stag's head, photo-collages, striking wallpaper, exposed brick walls, fairy lights, tree branches, high-sheen black surfaces and atmospheric candles. As modern as it is, however, the photo-collages in particular reflect that pioneering, experimental approach of Dr Adamson back in the nineteenth century. And using the Adamson name creates a nice link to the history of the building and town. Perhaps inspired by the spirit of the good doctor I got very snap happy during my visit to The Adamson.

Adamson is not the only famous person to make this restaurant what it is today. Its head chef, Scott Davies has firmly put this place on the map as a result of his appearance in 2013 on much-loved UK TV programme MasterChef the Professionals. It can be no coincidence that tables at The Adamson are much harder to come by since Scott's stint on the show. Much like "The Kitchin" in Edinburgh, The Adamson's open kitchen helps to continue the hype by allowing diners to try and spot the chef at work. "Is he working tonight?", whispers many an excited diner as they crane towards the kitchen. 

Famous names and trendy decor aside, does The Adamson deserve its popularity? It was a Saturday night when Mr ENB and I visited, a night which tends to either make or break a restaurant, a night where you find out if a restaurant has substance as well as style. Key to substance is service and the service we received was not just good, it was faultless. The Adamson staff somehow make you feel genuinely special, which is surely what every customer wants.

After a warm welcome from the staff, we enjoyed a cheeky wee glass of Prosecco while waiting a few moments at the bar area for our table to be ready. Tummies were rumbling but we didn't have long to wait to get that remedied. Almost immediately after being ushered to our table an adorably perfect mini baked loaf of bread (£3.95), warm and steaming from the oven, appeared, much to our delight. It was accompanied by butter, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and an olive tapenade.

Our friendly and highly professional waitress explained the new menu with genuine passion about the food. I was sorely tempted by the tenderstem broccoli risotto and the wild garlic, potato and isle of mull cheddar gnocchi (both available in starter or main courses sizes). In the end I opted for the fresh Scottish mussels with white wine, cream, shallots and foccacia (£6.95) to start and I was not disappointed. It's a classic dish but often goes wrong when the sauce is too watery - not so here: after I'd teased all of the mussels out of their shells I happily polished off the remainder of the smooth, creamy sauce using my bread. 

Mr ENB started with the hot smoked salmon with wasabi, burnt lemon puree, brown bread crumble and cucumber (£8.50). He enthused about the fresh tastes of the dish and quality of the salmon. From my side of the table it was clearly a fantastic-looking plate:

I decided to dive into the taste of Spring for my main with the confit lamb shoulder with cauliflower cheese puree and lemon thyme sage (£15.50) plus a side of skinny fries with parmesan and truffle oil (£3.50). I'm guessing that the "skinny" refers to the size of the fries and not the eater as I'm not sure the doctor would have approved of these. Their naughtiness just made them all the more enjoyable though! Combined with the superb softness of the lamb, it was a lovely Spring dish.

Mr ENB is a bit of steak-fiend so he went for the ribeye 220g (£25.95) with a bearnaise sauce which was quickly and appreciatively polished off, with the sole exception of the rocket (aka "rabbit food").

We washed our mains down with a pretty damn special 2004 bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape from Chateau Mont-Redan (Rhone, France) - for medicinal purposes naturally!

With time flying by it was already time for desserts, which are created with a Dr Adamson-worthy mixture of surgical precision and experimentation for lucky diners at The Adamson. I'm pretty sure The Adamson sundae: coffee ice cream, mascarpone and amarettto biscuit (£6.95) would make any under the weather patient feel a whole lot better - Mr ENB would agree albeit I was firmly told I had "no chance" of getting a bit.

This was not a problem, however, as I was quickly engrossed with savouring my own dessert of almond cream - salt baked pinneaple and thyme biscuit (£7.50), marvelling in its separate but cleverly complimentary elements and beautiful whole. Our waitress had recommended it, saying that it was her favourite, even though she normally hated pineapple!

Throughout the meal the atmosphere had been great - that busy, happy buzz of Saturday night dining in a place that knows exactly how to treat its customers. 

Is it just what the doctor ordered? We left full, content and with smiling faces, with an overriding feeling of having had a very special time dining at The Adamson. It thoroughly deserves its status as THE go-to place for a classsy meal out in St Andrews - no mean feat in a town where diners are spoilt for choice. It's a modern place with a strong history and I very much hope it continues that with a great, pioneering future. We'll definitely be back for more culinary treatment from the master physician soon!

The Adamson, 127 South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9UH

www.theadamson.com 

Tel - 01334 479191

Text and photos copyright of Sara Scott, 2014.

Down on the farm - 10 reasons to visit Balgove Larder on your holiday

When I'm on a self-catering holiday an important and very enjoyable part of the whole experience is trying out some local food and drink, whether I'mm abroad or just somewhere else in the UK. Fife, with its acres of farmland and proximity to the sea is fast becoming the Kingdom of quality local food producers. So for holidaymakers this equals foodie paradise!

Where could be more authentic for local food than a local farm shop? I suggest that if you want to sample the best of Fife and beyond then get yourself to the granddaddy of Fife farm shops: Balgove Larder, just outside St Andrews.

From the wonderful steak farm and great products to charming Highland coos PLUS news of the new Night Market event read my 10 reasons for visiting Balgove Larder - from the perspective of self-catering holidaymakers - for the Crail Food Festival 2014 here

Love is in the (Sea) Air

St Andrews is a pretty romantic place so where better to spend Valentine's Day with your loved one! Follow four easy steps and you can't go wrong. Find out more in this blog I penned for the Visit St Andrews website: http://www.visitstandrews.com/valentines-day-st-andrews/

Four easy steps to beating the January blues

Happy New Year! Apologies that I've been a little quiet on the blog recently but I thought I'd change all that in 2014, starting off with a wee blog about four easy steps to beating those pesky January blues, all with a connection to the East Neuk and St Andrews of course!

Step 1 - Enjoy your lovely Christmas presents

I was lucky enough to get this painting for Christmas, which is now brightening up my house with its gorgeous colours:

Boats in Crail Harbour by Robin Forsyth; Close-up of the blue sea

The artist is Robin Forsyth, one of the Cellardyke-based artists who opened his home studio to visitors as part of East Neuk Open Studios (ENOS) in November. 

It's a painting of two cute little fishing boats in Crail harbour, so I loved the subject matter. I was also really struck by the intensity of the blue water, in striking contrast to the pure white of the frame. It's cheering me up in the dark, damp horribleness of January by reminding me of a sunny Summer's day by the sea!

Hopefully you have some equally lovely presents you can enjoy this January. 

Step 2 - Escapism

Speaking of presents, if Santa didn't bring you any reading material to get you through the dark Winter evenings, maybe it's time to get some new books for some blues-busting escapism.

Transport yourself to the life of a musician by reading the excellent "Songs in the Key of Fife". This is DJ Vic Galloway's collection of the intertwining stories of the artists who created a musical revolution from the East Neuk including KT Tunstall, King Creosote, the Beta Band, James Yorkston and more. Listening to some of these locally-raised gems is also a great blues-buster - I particularly love King Creosote's "Diamond Mine" album. Another local up-and-coming artist who is not in the book but is also worth listening to is Lidh, who has the voice of an angel. Check them out on iTunes or, better still, see them live.

(Picture: Vic Galloway at the launch event of the book at Cambo Estate last year; The book itself)

If you're more into to immersing yourself in a gritty crime novel then check out TF Muir's books about DCI Andy Gilchrist ("Eye for an Eye", "Tooth for a Tooth" etc.), who is the Inspector Rebus of St Andrews.

See my local books page for more ideas.

Step 3 - Celebrate our bard

What could be more cheering than a celebration of the bard, Rabbie Burns, and all things Scottish? And where better to enjoy the fun evening that is Burns' Night (25 January 2014) than in St Andrews! You could sample some haggis or other delicious Scottish dishes at The Dolls' House or The Vine Leaf on South Street. The Vine Leaf are offering their haggis neeps and tatties as "a potato basket filled with haggis, thyme poached turnip and drambuie cream" plus an equally tasty dish with veggie haggis too. Or for something a bit more spicy the award-winning Nahm-Jim's on Market Street, which I've blogged about before, offers Scottish-Thai fusions extraordinaire such as "Thai Haggis Bombs" (haggis in crunch pastry with a spicy dip) or the "Nahm-Jim Thai Haggis" (haggis combined with chilli, basil and Thai omelette).

An after dinner drink at the new St Andrews Brewing Company pub on South Street would be an obvious next step - sample craft beer and cider (check out the Thistly Cross Ginger Cider) in cosy, chalet-like surrounds. A special Burns' Night tasting event is being held at 7.30 with tutoring (by Douglas Clement from the Kingsbarns Distillery - more on that below), tunes and tapas (£10 a ticket, available in advance at the bar).

Then burn off some of those calories you just consumed with some lively traditional ceilidh dancing in Forgan's on Market Street (Forgan's are also doing a Burn's Supper event if you wanted to eat there too).

(Picture: Sample of craft beer at The St Andrews Brewing Company pub; Robert Burns biscuits from Fisher & Donaldson confectionary and bakery, St Andrews)

(Picture: Forgan's bar, including one of their inviting bothies in top right, ceilidh band in bottom right and unusual lighting in bottom left)

If you know about other things happening in St Andrews on Burns' Night then let me know. Enjoy!

Step 4 - New year, new social calendar

January is a month of planning ahead so plan your 2014 social calendar and give yourself masses of events to look forward to! To help you do this, check out my handy East Neuk and St Andrews Events Calendar.

The brand newly opened Dreel Halls venue in Anstruther may be the location for some new events this year - I'll keep you posted. 

Something to look forward to later this year is the opening of the Kingsbarns Distillery, which I'm really excited about. I sneaked a peak at the site last year and it is already looking very promising as they convert historical buildings on the edge of the Cambo Estate. They're hoping to open the doors on St Andrew's Day (November) and I can't wait!

I'm also looking forward to more blogging for this blog, the Visit St Andrews website and the Crail Food Festival. In the meantime I hope these blues-blasters lift your spirits!

More information:

www.paintingsilove.com/artist/robinforsyth

www.eastneukopenstudios.org

www.dollshouse-restaurant.co.uk

www.vineleafstandrews.co.uk

www.nahm-jim.co.uk

www.standrewsbrewingcompany.com/thebrewpub

www.forganstandrews.co.uk

kingsbarns.wordpress.com

Copyright Sara Scott 2014

Meercats, sharks and ice cream - a fun family day out in St Andrews, whatever the weather

You can read my first ever guest blog on the Visit St Andrews site (the official website for visitors to St Andrews, Scotland). It's about two family-friendly things to do whether it's rain or shine, snowy or fine: (1) the delights of the Aquarium (meerkats, sharks, Nemo and much more) and (2) St Andrews' famous ice cream emporium, B. Jannettas. You'll find it right here: Visit St Andrews Blog 

May 2013 update: The St Andrews Aquarium now has some news - it will be getting Humboldt Penguins on 23 May 2013. Lets hope the penguins like their new home in St Andrews and you enjoy seeing them!

Copyright Sara Scott 2013

Valentine's Day in the East Neuk & St Andrews

Here are my tips for how to spend a truly romantic Valentine's day with your loved one in the East Neuk of Fife and St Andrews. All you need to do is follow these four fail-safe steps:

STEP 1: GET SOME FRESH SEA AIR - Take a romantic stroll, walking hand in hand along the beautiful Kingsbarns beach. Perhaps you'll see the twinkle of the Bell Rock lighthouse way out to sea or even a dolphin or two. Or if you are a sporty couple you could up the pace and go for an invigorating jog, running side by side along St Andrews' iconic West Sands beach, humming the theme to "Chariots of Fire" as you go. Ahh that fresh Scottish air!

STEP 2: SWEETS FOR MY SWEET - Have coffee, homemade tablet and cake with two spoons alfresco at the Crail Harbour Gallery. As you hold hands, pause from gazing dreamily into each others' eyes for just long enough to look over to the Isle of May. It's a view which has inspired countless artists. Or if rain is threatening to extinguish those fires of passion (well we are in Scotland after all), take shelter in The Cocoa Tree, a French-style chocolate shop and cafe in the nearby village of Pittenweem. With chocolate being an aphrodisiac you can't really go wrong in here. Magnifique!

STEP 3: REELLLLLLAAAX - Warm up and ease those tense muscles from your earlier exertions by basking together in the outdoor, rooftop pool of The Old Course hotel spa in St Andrews. Maybe throw a little back massage in for good measure. Then ease yourselves out of this bliss and get changed into something alluring, ready for pre-dinner cocktails overlooking golf courses and town at the hotel's elegant, classy Road Hole bar. Bag yourselves the seats by the open fire. Mine's a Flirtini!

STEP 4: DINNER DATE - Hail a trusty taxi and whisk your loved one off for an intimate, candlelit dinner for two at The Peat Inn. Hopefully you've saved your pennies (and booked ahead) for an indulgent, magnificent dinner at this five star, fine dining restaurant in the country. It's dimly lit, suitably expensive and a sensuous feast for the taste buds. If you haven't done it yet, now's an ideal time to pop that question! (Or if there's no room at the Inn / on your credit card check out Hazel of www.thegrumblingtummy.org 's blog on the Visit St Andrews site for more valentine's dining options.)

However you choose to spend it, have a very happy Valentine's.

xxx

p.s. Do you have a favourite romantic place in the East Neuk and St Andrews that I haven't mentioned? If so, why not share it by leaving a comment.

Top left is the Isle of May; Bottom right is The Swilken Bridge, famous St Andrews landmark

Text and photos copyright Sara Scott 2013.

Birthday dinner at The Road Hole restaurant, The Old Course Hotel

This was the first time I'd arrived at a restaurant in a limo. In fact the first time I'd arrived anywhere by limo. No, I haven't won the lottery - it was a surprise birthday treat for my sister-in-law, L, and I who share the same birthday! Reluctant to leave our new favourite mode of transport, we put down our champagne glasses, attempted to make an elegant exit from the limo (difficult to do while wearing a short dress and holding a helium balloon) and stepped out and into the delights of The Old Course hotel (Dundee Limos, tel: 01382 580720, email: book@dundeelimos.co.uk).

We started with some pre-dinner cocktails in The Road Hole bar, after parking ourselves at the seats beside the fire - which the staff promptly lit for us. It was 6pm on Boxing Day and we had the place largely to ourselves at first, with a few more people arriving as the evening went on. It was classic and luxurious without being stuffy. The bar staff were knowledgeable and friendly and the place had that international feel of a five star hotel with plenty of Scottish touches like their whisky collection and antler lights. I tried out a Tom Collins for the first time - quite a refreshing gin-based cocktail but a little sour for me so I still prefer a classic gin and tonic. Bowls of tasty nuts and snacks were eagerly devoured, while we laughed at the video which S had taken of the limo ride and I had accidentally posted to Facebook.

We perused the dinner menu and then went through to our table in the Road Hole restaurant, which was just next door. During daylight it would probably have been the best table they have - right beside a large bay window overlooking the most famous golf course in the home of golf, the West Sands beach and sea beyond and the romantic rooftops and spires of the town of St Andrews to the right. As it was dark, everything was pitch black and only some twinkling lights in the distance hinted at the fantastic view we were missing.

Having eaten a hefty lunch of Christmas dinner leftovers earlier we opted to stick to just two courses for our dinner. A celebratory bottle of Marques de Riscal Gran Riserva Rioja 2001 was ordered and tasted fantastic.

S and I had Fillet of Gigha hallibut, curried leeks, kidney potatoes with warm tomato vinaigrette for our main. It was light and tasty with soft and fluffy, meaty fish complimented by gentle tomato and curry tastes.

Meanwhile R and L opted for the Tournedos of Black Isle beef sirloin, green beans, wild mushrooms, glazed onions and potato rosti, which they quickly scoffed with approving noises. Lovely, thinly-sliced pieces of steak, cooked perfectly pink. R said that if there was a single gripe it was that the rosti may have been a little too fatty.

Both main courses were an ideal size for a post-Christmas day meal - not too big but not too small either. So far we were very happy.

For dessert S and I again made the same choice - the Honeycomb parfait, poached pear, macadamia biscuit and pear sorbet. It was moist, fruity and refreshing with the biscuit providing a crisp sweetness.

However R and L picked the best plate of food of the day with their choice of the Chocolate mousse and pistachio creme brûlée with marzipan ice cream. The presentation was beautiful and judging by the blissed-out look on L's face the taste was pure dessert heaven! Having sneaked a rich, smooth, chocolatey taste of R's chocolate mousse cone I would completely agree!

We all agreed that the food was of a better standard than when we had eaten there last, some 14 months ago - on that occasion we had found the food a little disappointing, not quite living up to its luxurious surroundings. I had heard that there was a new chef and new menu and these changes seem to have made a positive difference.

We finished the evening off with some coffee, petit fours (pictured) and liquers including S's choice of possibly the largest glass of port ever seen!

It was still quite early but all the birthday champagne drinking earlier had taken its toll so we travelled back to our cottage. This time it was by less glamorous means, by taxi. Sadly I don't think I'll be going to The Road Hole by limo again but I will definitely be back for another special occasion I'm sure!
(Tel: 01334 474171)




Petit fours















Halibut



Sirloin





Honeycomb parfait



Chocolate mousse...

Celeb & golf extravaganza at the Dunhill Links

We hadn't really planned it like this but a week's holiday at Rose Cottage ended up coinciding with the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and this actually became a real highlight of the week. If you're a golf fan you will absolutely love this opportunity to see some of big pro names' swings and putts in the flesh. If like me you think a bogey is something you would find up your nose it's still a great event for the celeb-spotting! 

This is a 4 day event where professional golfers pair up with amateurs - many of them celebrities from the worlds of sport, music and film. Over three days the competitors play a round on each of three famous Scottish links golf courses - The Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. The best professionals and teams then play a final round on day 4 at the Old Course. The first three days are FREE for spectators to attend (including free parking at Kingsbarns). Tickets for the final day, the Sunday, are £15 for adults (£10 for OAPs and free for students and under 16s - its also possible to get free tickets e.g. by wearing visible tartan or buying something at the Farmers Market on the Saturday). There are gourmet food stalls, toilets etc and, in St Andrews anyway, lots of scope for some post golf drinks should you feel the urge e.g. at the Dunvegan Hotel (at the end of Golf Place) - we saw some of the Day 1 star players here.

We spent our first day at St Andrews where we based ourselves mainly at the 14th and 15th holes. The air was cold but with some welcome sunny spells. First up we saw Ian Botham (pictured) in a fetching neon green jumper and a pair of patterned trousers which had to be seen to be believed, topping the whole ensemble off with a cigar. He stopped to speak to his son Liam who was playing on the 4th. Botham senior was playing in the same group as Shane Warne (and I believe his wife Liz Hurley came to watch him play the next day at Carnoustie). Then came a group with Scottish sporting legends Gavin Hastings and Alan Hansen (commentating on his fellow players' performances). Staying at the same spot we also saw US Vice President Dan Quayle (my partner joked that his swing was "almost presidential"), Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres and two more ex-footballers Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit. We finished the day by following ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp's group's game to the 18th. After a fantastic drive to about 40 yards from the pin at the 18th he rather strangely (I'm told) decided to use his putter from the fairway rather than chip onto the green. After putting to about 8 feet from the hole and receiving a round of applause, he turned to the crowd smiling and admitted he was "a scaredy cat really - I went through the back of the green the last two years I played".     

By day two, this time at Kingsbarns, my partner quipped that it was like being on some sort of celebrity safari, with household names popping up behind every bush. With the sun splitting the sky we had arrived to see Paul Lawrie, fresh from the European team's Ryder Cup success, teeing off on the 1st. The Scot was partnered with his young son Craig. Then we saw actor Bill Murray (making chicken noises) and singer Huey Lewis. Later at the 5th Huey accidentally hit his ball while doing a practice swing at the tee. It went into the rough just to the side of the tee and Bill Murray's pro partner David Howell was winding Huey up that he had to hit it from there. Huey sportingly went to do just that, with Murray saying to the crowd: "Ladies and gentleman - Huey Lewis - what a sportsman". Howell then 'fessed up that he didn't have to.

We also saw Colin Montgomerie and Sir Steve Redgrave (pictured) on the 5th - a team who went on to end the day on an impressive 12 under par - and also the actor Greg Kinnear (pictured).

A highlight for me and a lot of excited kids was seeing the Olympian and Paralympian group - US swimming legend, the giant Michael Phelps and the Bladerunner himself, South African Oscar Pistorius. We were within inches of Pistorius when he had to move the barrier to take a shot in the rough on the 5th. Earlier in the day Phelps' pro partner Paul Casey had apparently had his ball stolen on the green by an over-enthusiastic dog!

We also saw a jovial Ernie Els, a giant of a man, who had won the Open earlier this year. His fellow South African partner Johann Rupert said to him at the start of the 3rd "you birdie this one and I'll get the next!".

My partner enjoyed getting up really close (right behind the tee) to see the incredible speed and accuracy of the pros driving. Often it was impossible to see the ball at all - just a whooshing sound high up in the air. I enjoyed the celeb-spotting and the light-hearted atmosphere - the players seemed to be really enjoying themselves and having a bit of banter with each other and the crowd. Though I imagine things might get more competitive on the final day!

We finished off by quaffing some Rob Roy burgers and getting the programme signed by two pros: Dustin Johnson (from the American Ryder Cup team) and Northern Irish golfer (and possible future Ryder Cup captain - though he wasn't giving anything away to the press on that) Darren Clarke.

The 2012 event was won by a South African pro, Branden Grace, who had led right from Day One - click here for the full results. Looking forward to next year's event already!