Go there on a sunny day when the only noise is the trill of skylarks and the gentle splash of waves and you’ll instantly fall in love with this underappreciated part of Scotland. In Pittenweem, there is a lively atmosphere and an enduring charm. The trade with the Netherlands influences the pantiled cottages. You can walk the full East Neuk section from Elie to Cambo sands in one day or slow down and take a shorter walk such as Elie to Anstruther.

As you would expect from a crop of fishing villages, seafood is very much the star of the show in East Neuk. This Crail seafood hut is famed for its lobster and crab rolls, and is located on the harbourside. It has caught the eye of the Good Food Guide as it features in its best places to eat in the East Neuk. Alternatively, if you’re travelling by public transport, there are some really great bus options (though not the train). The wee harbours of these historic fishing villages are surrounded by quaint houses and the occasional cobbled street which are perfect for a leisurely stroll, but not before sampling some of the delicious seafood this corner of Fife is famous for. Nearby, you can visit the tiny dark cave– St Fillans Cave. According to legend, in the 7th century, the cave was home to St Fillan, a local Irish missionary who tried to convert local Picts to Christianity.

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Feeling a little more adventurous? Nearby is the Elie Chain Walk– a series of chains fixed along the coast between Shell Bay and West Bay near Elie which you use to climb, scramble and coasteer along the Fife cliffs – kind of like a Scottish Via Ferrata! The estate is run by the Erskine family and is the perfect venue for events such as weddings. Also, you can explore the stunning Victorian walled gardens, and peaceful woodland walks at the Cambo Estate and Gardens. This post issponsored by Museums Galleries Scotland As always, all content, opinions & chaotic behaviour are my own. The Botanical gardens are also a bit of a hidden gem and a lovely oasis of calm. In contrast head to the town for some lovely independent, family run businesses and a great selection of cafes, restaurants and bars for fuel stops and special meals out. The East Neuk is a peninsula on the eastern side of the Kingdom of Fife, covering the whole coastal area between Elie & Earlsferry and Kingsbarns. It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the East Neuk from Edinburgh by car. The East Neuk is also accessible via public transport on the hourly bus service X60 from Edinburgh. You can search and view the timetable on Stagecoach East Scotland.

One of the reasons I love visiting Fife is the abundance of quaint fishing villages along the East Neuk coastline. There’s no shortage of bays, beaches, coves, and stunning sea views for those seeking the quintessential seaside experience. Visiting the East Neuk is one of the best things to do in Pittenweem, because it’s an easy drive, or walk, to all of these wonderful places. This isn’t exactly the largest part of Scotland, but it features a stretch of coastline that’s up there with any other as far as scenery goes, and for picturesque fishing villages it’s second to none. The area houses a Cold War era bunker [2] near Crail. Built in the late 1950s to be a regional seat of government in the event of a nuclear war, it is now a tourist attraction. There’s a car park for the beach that’s accessed from the A917 (the turning is immediately after the Kingsbarns sign at the village entrance), but as a top-tip, instead of sitting on Kingsbarn beach, head north for half a mile to Red Beach which is a real hidden gem as it’s considerably quieter. Things to Do in Kingsbarns Anstruther Harbour: caters for leisure and small fishing vessels. There is approx. 400 metres of pier side berthing and 100 serviced pontoon berths for leisure craft.Just a note I’m using Anstruther as an example here, as it’s the most central of the East Neuk towns and so it will give you a ball park number. It’ll be a little less for Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie and a little more for Crail. By bus The Good Food Guide also lists Craig Millar @ 16 West End as a place to visit for a meal when you're in St Monans. Travel within Newport or Wormit is not permitted. Travel is permitted to the FlexiZone, or to Cupar/Forgan Arts Centre. If you visit between April and September I highly recommend taking a boat trip from Anstruther to the Isle of May.

I didn’t get a chance to grab a bite to eat the last time I was in St Monans. However, there is a lovely restaurant right on the shore that caught my eye when we were there, which is called the East Pier Smokehouse. As you can imagine seafood is pretty high on the radar with crab cakes, Cullen skink, lobster and prawn tempura on the menu. Yum! Did you know? Focusing on the people of Fife and their daily lives, the museum displays a number of interesting items including personal belongings, furniture, medicine, groceries, and agricultural tools. You’ll even find jougs (a metal collar with a chain) still attached to the wall of the tolbooth and ‘Weight House’ building, where people were publicly punished for petty crimes. As further evidence of Lundin Links’ prehistoric significance, in 1965, a storm uncovered a Pictish cemetery on Massney Braes, overlooking Lundin Links Beach. Archaeological excavations revealed that several of those buried there had been given elaborate send-offs so perhaps were important in the Pictish Kingdom of Fib, later known as the Kingdom of Fife. Old Rope Store | Best for solo travellers, this single-bed studio is situated on the harbourfront. Inside the old stone walls you’ll find a compact but also wonderfully cosy studio apartment. Book here. Cottages

East Neuk Satellite Map

Cellardyke is not as easy to find from the main road as you can mistake it for an outskirt of Anstruther. The harbour town has been a designated conservation area since 1977 and has a beautifully preserved fishing harbour. Once here, follow your feet around the village and harbour. However, to help you plan, these are the best things to do in Pittenweem. Including the harbour, small beach, and the historic streets. 1. Explore the old village streets Enjoy some lunch or home baking at the museum in the family-run Harvest Mouse Tearoom, then finish your visit with a stroll over Bishops Bridge, listening to the babble of Ceres Burn below. There’s nothing between Cellardyke and Crail for the 2.5 miles of that section of the Fife Coastal Path except for farmland on one side and sea on the other.