Gillian’s guidebook

Gillian
Gillian’s guidebook

Neighborhoods

A local’s guide to the East Neuk of Fife! You’ve chosen a great location for your well earned break. We love living in this area and we’re sure that you’ll soon see why when you’ve experienced some of the delights the East Neuk has to offer. We’ve thought of lots of the places to visit and activities to do in the area, and are delighted to share this local information with you. Eating and Drinking We have quite a few favourites, and most of the local pubs/bars are both dog and child friendly! The Bank, Anstruther The Waterfront, Anstruther The Boathouse, Anstruther The Haven, Cellardyke The Rockies, Anstruther Golf Club Dreel Tavern, Anstruther The Wee Chippy, Anstruther Larachmor, Pittenweem Bistro Dory, Pittenweem West End Bar, Pittenweem Cocoa Tree café, Pittenweem The East Pier Smokehouse, St Monans The Ship Inn, Elie The Pavilion, Elie Forgans, Market St, St Andrews The Adamson, South St, St Andrews Balgove Larder, just outside St Andrews And for a very special treat… Craig Millar @16 West End, St Monans The Cellar, Anstruther The Peat Inn Family friendly places to explore Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther Secret Bunker, just outside Anstruther Craigtoun Country Park, near St Andrews Botanic Gardens, St Andrews (Gruffalo trail and Butterfly experience) Cambo Estate, near Kingsbarns (Snowdrop Festival, piglets and beautiful gardens) St Andrews Aquarium Muddy Boots Farm/play centre, near Cupar Cairnie Fruit Farm, near Cupar (PYO fruit plus farm play centre) Elie Watersports Kilconquhar Estate (horse riding) East Neuk Outdoors (outdoor pursuit Centre) Cellardyke Kellie Castle, National Trust property, near Pittenweem Adult only… Kingsbarns Distillery Whisky or Gin Tour (onsite café and children can join in the tour with a soft drink instead of whisky!) Eden Brewery, Guardbridge- distillery tour and gin/craft beer tasting A closer look at the villages Each of the villages from Largo to Crail are linked by miles of unspoilt coastal path. Local organisations and charities often hold fundraising events to support and maintain these paths for everyone’s enjoyment. The paths can become narrow and steep at parts so not always suitable for prams, but sections are manageable with buggies etc. Lower Largo An ancient fishing village, Lower Largo has an enticing sandy beach, many historic buildings and an unusual river mouth harbour. This is home to many pleasure craft these days, rather than fishing boats, and you can spend a lovely afternoon admiring the vessels or even taking a trip. Lower Largo is the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk in 1676, who was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and a statue to him can be found in the village. The Crusoe hotel offers a lovely spot to have something to eat or drink with great views. The Old Manor hotel is nearby in Upper Largo. Elie The home to a blue flag beach, Elie has long been a holiday destination. Quiet during the winter season, Elie comes to life in the summer. With a watersports centre, golf course and tennis courts it’s a great place for those looking for an active day! The Pavilion at the tennis courts offer food all day, there’s a great ice cream shop (Carol’s) and numerous gift shops as well as places to buy a fishing net and spade for fun at the beach. The chain walk is an adventurous way to explore the coast, many start beyond the golf course and work their way to Shell Bay, or it can be done the other way around too. The walk, as it suggests, is a coastal walk along the water’s edge with chains attached to the rocks to aid you. It is suitable for older children, but certainly not buggies! Please ensure you are properly equipped (sensible shoes!) and have checked the tides before starting, the lifeboat has had to go out and rescue people before! The local community organise annual events including a Scarecrow Festival, Fayre Day and Fireworks display. Between the villages of Elie and ST Monans you will find Ardross farm shop which is high on our list of ‘must do’ places! With fresh homegrown veg, hand reared meat and a huge selection of local produce, it’s well worth a visit. Just beyond the Farm shop there is a row of cottages with a layby opposite. If you go down by the side of the cottages and follow the old railway line you will find a beautiful stretch of beach which is known in our home as our ‘secret beach’ as it is usually so quiet in comparison to Elie. As well as plenty sand for building sandcastles, it has the bonus of rockpools to explore as well as stretches of coastal path perfect for walking your dog. Just a little further towards St Monans is Bowhouse, a new addition to the area. A home for many local producers and suppliers, it is now a popular market area with regular market weekends. Products range from fresh local food and drink, handmade crafts goods, live music and a wonderful array of food stalls from hog roast to sweet and savoury crepes. Well worth a visit, check out their facebook page for upcoming market dates. The Millhouse at Bowhouse is a great new rustic café serving wood fired pizza and certainly worth a visit! St Monans St Monans is where you will find the ‘Auld Kirk’ (Old Church) which is sitting right on the water’s edge. It has been the setting for many movies, and you will realise why when you see it! Other buildings worth visiting include the windmill which is further along the coastal path towards Pittenweem, the key can be collected at the Spar shop on West Street for a small refundable deposit. Again, the local community hold annual events including a Sea Queen festival, Arts festival and the welly boot garden on West Shore. The shore is great for a bit of beach combing when the tide is out! The Diving Gannet is a great place to get a spot of lunch or ice cream (sit in and takeaway). The seafood restaurant, Craig Millar @16 West End looks out over the sea (booking advised) and the East Pier Smokehouse (East Shore) offers lunch and dinner options. There is a play park and grass football pitch near the school. If you are looking to try a local delicacy, visit the industrial estate at the top of the village and head into the left hand corner where you’ll find ‘Ru an Fhodar’ fish merchant and can buy portions or even full sides of hot smoked salmon, it really is worth trying! There’s a Chinese takeaway at the top of the village, Wok and Spice. Pittenweem Pittenweem is the only one of the villages which still has a fish market, where you can watch the catch of the day being unloaded and sold. Every August sees the very busy and popular Arts Festival turning the village into a bustling hive for ten days. There are numerous galleries all year round, but during the festival, artists from near and far open the doors of local houses as pop up galleries. If you’re here for the preview night, most artists will offer a little refreshment as you browse, and if the sun is shining it makes for a very relaxed evening! St Fillan’s cave (key available from the Cocoa Tree) is a historic cave built into the cliff face accessible via the lane nearest the church at the end of High Street. There’s a skate park and playpark on the West Braes on a beautiful hilltop location overlooking the sea, and another park and playing fields behind the school. A local community group has worked hard to reopen the crazy golf here- fun for all the family, check out the ‘Pittenweem Properties’ sponsored part of the course. There is a tennis court set back just off the main road. The fish and chip shop at the end of the High Street is very popular with locals! The Dory Bistro on the shore is a new addition, proving popular! The traditional sweetie shop on the shore is a real treat, or head up to the High St where there are three cafes including the amazing Cocoa Tree Café- crepes, waffles and hot chocolates galore! The National Trust property, Kellie Castle is located near Pittenweem and has lovely grounds and gardens to explore. Anstruther The largest of the coastal locations, Anstruther is a busy yet picturesque small town. With numerous pubs, bars and restaurants, there’s something to suit all tastes. There are three fish and chip shops (sit in and takeaway) as well as an Indian restaurant/takeaway (Eastern Touch) and Dervish (pizza/calzone etc). The Scottish Fisheries Museum has a café as well as exhibits, and there are often children’s craft activities available. If you’re after a really memorable meal, The Cellar (with its Michelin star) is bound to impress. The high school, The Waid Academy, doubles as a community use leisure centre with gym. The Lifeboat station on the pier has a gift shop and offers seasonal tours. A trip to the Isle of May can be enjoyed aboard the May Princess, which leaves from the harbour (booking advised) from April- September. A local community group have recently upgraded the playpark, Bankie Park with some fantastic new play equipment and is right next to the tennis courts. The nine hole golf course is open to non-members. Local artists often hold ‘Open Studio’ events throughout the year. You will find a Barnetts bakery in Anstruther (and one in Elie, Pittenweem and Cellardyke) who sell some fantastic artisan breads- try the cheese and leek loaf! There’s a Co-op supermarket in Anstruther, as well as two cash machines. Cellardyke and Kilrenny Extending from Anstruther, Cellardyke harbour is a beautifully picturesque spot, with the Haven beer garden a perfect place to watch the world go by. A little further along is a playpark, the old bathing pool and East Neuk outdoors centre with a small climbing wall, bouncy castle, canoes, archery and bikes for hire. There is a Chinese take away in Cellardyke, Fortune House. Kilrenny is a little hamlet, where you will find the ‘common’, a little playpark and perfect picnic area. Take a walk through the woods and you might find the rope swing if you’re brave enough for a shot! The gates in and out of the woodland walk aren’t good for prams/buggies unfortunately. Crail Crail has a golf club, open to non-members. There are beautiful beaches and the local pottery is worth a visit too. An annual Food Festival is held in June and attracts foodies from near and far for cookery demonstrations and harbourside markets where you can sample an array of local produce. Penmans butchers is our favourite place to buy quality meat. The Nosebag café has just opened up here and the lobster hut at the harbour is worth a visit. Kingbarns and beyond Kingsbarns has a newly opened distillery open for whisky and gin tasting tours and there is a great beach as well as golf course in the area. Just beyond Kingsbarns is Cambo Estate which often hosts markets and events such as Snowdrops festival and Cambolicious (beer festival). The wonderful woodland play area is magical for little ones, and there is a café/pop up food stalls. The gardens and woodland walks are a great place to explore, and the estate piglets always draw a crowd! Heading towards St Andrews from Anstruther, there is a tiny hamlet, Dunino. If you turn right up towards the church and park in the car park, you will see a path leading between the graveyards. Follow the path and you’ll find the mystical ‘Holy Well’ and see the ancient stone steps which lead down to ‘Dunino Den’. This little hidden gem is known as the ‘Fairy den’ in our family, but the history goes back thousands of years, and old carvings can be seen around the grove. Many people bring tokens of remembrance, for example ribbons tied to trees, coins within a tree stump etc. The feeling of mystery and contentment whilst enjoying the surroundings is certainly something to experience! The steps can be very slippy, so please go prepared with sensible shoes. You can find out more here: http://www.druidry.org/library/sacred-sites/dunino-den-our-history-nutshell Hopefully this has given you enough to inspire you during your stay here, if you would like any further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and if you particularly enjoy something we’ve not included in this list, please do let us know! Happy Holidays!
30 lokalkjente anbefaler
Anstruther
30 lokalkjente anbefaler
A local’s guide to the East Neuk of Fife! You’ve chosen a great location for your well earned break. We love living in this area and we’re sure that you’ll soon see why when you’ve experienced some of the delights the East Neuk has to offer. We’ve thought of lots of the places to visit and activities to do in the area, and are delighted to share this local information with you. Eating and Drinking We have quite a few favourites, and most of the local pubs/bars are both dog and child friendly! The Bank, Anstruther The Waterfront, Anstruther The Boathouse, Anstruther The Haven, Cellardyke The Rockies, Anstruther Golf Club Dreel Tavern, Anstruther The Wee Chippy, Anstruther Larachmor, Pittenweem Bistro Dory, Pittenweem West End Bar, Pittenweem Cocoa Tree café, Pittenweem The East Pier Smokehouse, St Monans The Ship Inn, Elie The Pavilion, Elie Forgans, Market St, St Andrews The Adamson, South St, St Andrews Balgove Larder, just outside St Andrews And for a very special treat… Craig Millar @16 West End, St Monans The Cellar, Anstruther The Peat Inn Family friendly places to explore Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther Secret Bunker, just outside Anstruther Craigtoun Country Park, near St Andrews Botanic Gardens, St Andrews (Gruffalo trail and Butterfly experience) Cambo Estate, near Kingsbarns (Snowdrop Festival, piglets and beautiful gardens) St Andrews Aquarium Muddy Boots Farm/play centre, near Cupar Cairnie Fruit Farm, near Cupar (PYO fruit plus farm play centre) Elie Watersports Kilconquhar Estate (horse riding) East Neuk Outdoors (outdoor pursuit Centre) Cellardyke Kellie Castle, National Trust property, near Pittenweem Adult only… Kingsbarns Distillery Whisky or Gin Tour (onsite café and children can join in the tour with a soft drink instead of whisky!) Eden Brewery, Guardbridge- distillery tour and gin/craft beer tasting A closer look at the villages Each of the villages from Largo to Crail are linked by miles of unspoilt coastal path. Local organisations and charities often hold fundraising events to support and maintain these paths for everyone’s enjoyment. The paths can become narrow and steep at parts so not always suitable for prams, but sections are manageable with buggies etc. Lower Largo An ancient fishing village, Lower Largo has an enticing sandy beach, many historic buildings and an unusual river mouth harbour. This is home to many pleasure craft these days, rather than fishing boats, and you can spend a lovely afternoon admiring the vessels or even taking a trip. Lower Largo is the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk in 1676, who was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and a statue to him can be found in the village. The Crusoe hotel offers a lovely spot to have something to eat or drink with great views. The Old Manor hotel is nearby in Upper Largo. Elie The home to a blue flag beach, Elie has long been a holiday destination. Quiet during the winter season, Elie comes to life in the summer. With a watersports centre, golf course and tennis courts it’s a great place for those looking for an active day! The Pavilion at the tennis courts offer food all day, there’s a great ice cream shop (Carol’s) and numerous gift shops as well as places to buy a fishing net and spade for fun at the beach. The chain walk is an adventurous way to explore the coast, many start beyond the golf course and work their way to Shell Bay, or it can be done the other way around too. The walk, as it suggests, is a coastal walk along the water’s edge with chains attached to the rocks to aid you. It is suitable for older children, but certainly not buggies! Please ensure you are properly equipped (sensible shoes!) and have checked the tides before starting, the lifeboat has had to go out and rescue people before! The local community organise annual events including a Scarecrow Festival, Fayre Day and Fireworks display. Between the villages of Elie and ST Monans you will find Ardross farm shop which is high on our list of ‘must do’ places! With fresh homegrown veg, hand reared meat and a huge selection of local produce, it’s well worth a visit. Just beyond the Farm shop there is a row of cottages with a layby opposite. If you go down by the side of the cottages and follow the old railway line you will find a beautiful stretch of beach which is known in our home as our ‘secret beach’ as it is usually so quiet in comparison to Elie. As well as plenty sand for building sandcastles, it has the bonus of rockpools to explore as well as stretches of coastal path perfect for walking your dog. Just a little further towards St Monans is Bowhouse, a new addition to the area. A home for many local producers and suppliers, it is now a popular market area with regular market weekends. Products range from fresh local food and drink, handmade crafts goods, live music and a wonderful array of food stalls from hog roast to sweet and savoury crepes. Well worth a visit, check out their facebook page for upcoming market dates. The Millhouse at Bowhouse is a great new rustic café serving wood fired pizza and certainly worth a visit! St Monans St Monans is where you will find the ‘Auld Kirk’ (Old Church) which is sitting right on the water’s edge. It has been the setting for many movies, and you will realise why when you see it! Other buildings worth visiting include the windmill which is further along the coastal path towards Pittenweem, the key can be collected at the Spar shop on West Street for a small refundable deposit. Again, the local community hold annual events including a Sea Queen festival, Arts festival and the welly boot garden on West Shore. The shore is great for a bit of beach combing when the tide is out! The Diving Gannet is a great place to get a spot of lunch or ice cream (sit in and takeaway). The seafood restaurant, Craig Millar @16 West End looks out over the sea (booking advised) and the East Pier Smokehouse (East Shore) offers lunch and dinner options. There is a play park and grass football pitch near the school. If you are looking to try a local delicacy, visit the industrial estate at the top of the village and head into the left hand corner where you’ll find ‘Ru an Fhodar’ fish merchant and can buy portions or even full sides of hot smoked salmon, it really is worth trying! There’s a Chinese takeaway at the top of the village, Wok and Spice. Pittenweem Pittenweem is the only one of the villages which still has a fish market, where you can watch the catch of the day being unloaded and sold. Every August sees the very busy and popular Arts Festival turning the village into a bustling hive for ten days. There are numerous galleries all year round, but during the festival, artists from near and far open the doors of local houses as pop up galleries. If you’re here for the preview night, most artists will offer a little refreshment as you browse, and if the sun is shining it makes for a very relaxed evening! St Fillan’s cave (key available from the Cocoa Tree) is a historic cave built into the cliff face accessible via the lane nearest the church at the end of High Street. There’s a skate park and playpark on the West Braes on a beautiful hilltop location overlooking the sea, and another park and playing fields behind the school. A local community group has worked hard to reopen the crazy golf here- fun for all the family, check out the ‘Pittenweem Properties’ sponsored part of the course. There is a tennis court set back just off the main road. The fish and chip shop at the end of the High Street is very popular with locals! The Dory Bistro on the shore is a new addition, proving popular! The traditional sweetie shop on the shore is a real treat, or head up to the High St where there are three cafes including the amazing Cocoa Tree Café- crepes, waffles and hot chocolates galore! The National Trust property, Kellie Castle is located near Pittenweem and has lovely grounds and gardens to explore. Anstruther The largest of the coastal locations, Anstruther is a busy yet picturesque small town. With numerous pubs, bars and restaurants, there’s something to suit all tastes. There are three fish and chip shops (sit in and takeaway) as well as an Indian restaurant/takeaway (Eastern Touch) and Dervish (pizza/calzone etc). The Scottish Fisheries Museum has a café as well as exhibits, and there are often children’s craft activities available. If you’re after a really memorable meal, The Cellar (with its Michelin star) is bound to impress. The high school, The Waid Academy, doubles as a community use leisure centre with gym. The Lifeboat station on the pier has a gift shop and offers seasonal tours. A trip to the Isle of May can be enjoyed aboard the May Princess, which leaves from the harbour (booking advised) from April- September. A local community group have recently upgraded the playpark, Bankie Park with some fantastic new play equipment and is right next to the tennis courts. The nine hole golf course is open to non-members. Local artists often hold ‘Open Studio’ events throughout the year. You will find a Barnetts bakery in Anstruther (and one in Elie, Pittenweem and Cellardyke) who sell some fantastic artisan breads- try the cheese and leek loaf! There’s a Co-op supermarket in Anstruther, as well as two cash machines. Cellardyke and Kilrenny Extending from Anstruther, Cellardyke harbour is a beautifully picturesque spot, with the Haven beer garden a perfect place to watch the world go by. A little further along is a playpark, the old bathing pool and East Neuk outdoors centre with a small climbing wall, bouncy castle, canoes, archery and bikes for hire. There is a Chinese take away in Cellardyke, Fortune House. Kilrenny is a little hamlet, where you will find the ‘common’, a little playpark and perfect picnic area. Take a walk through the woods and you might find the rope swing if you’re brave enough for a shot! The gates in and out of the woodland walk aren’t good for prams/buggies unfortunately. Crail Crail has a golf club, open to non-members. There are beautiful beaches and the local pottery is worth a visit too. An annual Food Festival is held in June and attracts foodies from near and far for cookery demonstrations and harbourside markets where you can sample an array of local produce. Penmans butchers is our favourite place to buy quality meat. The Nosebag café has just opened up here and the lobster hut at the harbour is worth a visit. Kingbarns and beyond Kingsbarns has a newly opened distillery open for whisky and gin tasting tours and there is a great beach as well as golf course in the area. Just beyond Kingsbarns is Cambo Estate which often hosts markets and events such as Snowdrops festival and Cambolicious (beer festival). The wonderful woodland play area is magical for little ones, and there is a café/pop up food stalls. The gardens and woodland walks are a great place to explore, and the estate piglets always draw a crowd! Heading towards St Andrews from Anstruther, there is a tiny hamlet, Dunino. If you turn right up towards the church and park in the car park, you will see a path leading between the graveyards. Follow the path and you’ll find the mystical ‘Holy Well’ and see the ancient stone steps which lead down to ‘Dunino Den’. This little hidden gem is known as the ‘Fairy den’ in our family, but the history goes back thousands of years, and old carvings can be seen around the grove. Many people bring tokens of remembrance, for example ribbons tied to trees, coins within a tree stump etc. The feeling of mystery and contentment whilst enjoying the surroundings is certainly something to experience! The steps can be very slippy, so please go prepared with sensible shoes. You can find out more here: http://www.druidry.org/library/sacred-sites/dunino-den-our-history-nutshell Hopefully this has given you enough to inspire you during your stay here, if you would like any further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and if you particularly enjoy something we’ve not included in this list, please do let us know! Happy Holidays!
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
17 lokalkjente anbefaler
Pittenweem
17 lokalkjente anbefaler
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
13 lokalkjente anbefaler
Saint Monans
13 lokalkjente anbefaler
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
23 lokalkjente anbefaler
Elie
23 lokalkjente anbefaler
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
7 lokalkjente anbefaler
Cellardyke
7 lokalkjente anbefaler
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Kilrenny
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas
34 lokalkjente anbefaler
Crail
34 lokalkjente anbefaler
Please see our Anstruther guide for a full overview of the East Neuk villages and surrounding areas