What to do in the East Neuk of Fife
We love this area and we hope you will take the opportunity to stay a few days to visit. There is plenty to do for a mini get-away.
We've listed here some of our favourite activities including hiking, road-tripping and wild swimming.
Hiking or road-tripping!
If you are a keen walker you can do (part of) the Fife Coastal Path which goes through a number of towns including Elie, St Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail and St Andrews. The walk is beautiful, though we recommend bringing some good rain gear and footwear.
If you are more of a roadtripper, don’t worry - all of the below towns are accessible by road or local buses.
Elie has a beautiful beach. Enjoy a walk and follow it with a nice meal at the Ships Inn. There is also a lighthouse, and a viewpoint including Ruby Bay and Lady’s Tower.
On your way to St Monans you can stop in at Ardross Farm to buy some local food - it’s just off the coastal path, but you can also access it by road. Once in St Monans, you can walk around the beautiful cobbled streets and check out the harbour and the St Monans Auld Kirk (Church)(which is often featured in movies!).
Next is Pittenweem - Juliet’s favourite coastal town in the area. It may have a little something to do with the Cocoa Tree Chocolate Shop, the perfect stop for a warm drink after a cold swim! Dip into the tidal pool (spot the graffiti puffin!), and walk along the beautiful harbour. You can enjoy fish and chips at Chip Ahoy or, weather permitting, Ice Cream at the Nicholson Sweets & Ice Shop. For a bit of history, stop at St Fillan’s Cave. After walking up and down the steep cobbled streets, enjoy a crepe, sandwich or hot chocolate at the Cocoa Tree (and get some of their whisky chocolates to enjoy once you are back home). There are also a few wee art galleries, though you will need to check opening times, as well as a Pop In Antique Store.
Anstruther - another cute coastal town. Enjoy walking around the harbour and do a bit of shopping along Shore Street. If you want to stock up on warm clothes or wild swimming gear, stop in at Dos Mundos. For cider go to Aeble cider shop. The local coffee shop, Bread & Butter Cafe is also lovely. If the weather is extra wet, visit the Scottish Fisheries Museum. For a dinner in a cozy pub, go to the Dreel Tavern  - or alternatively the Wee Chippy for fish and chips (We prefer this to the famous Anstruther Fish Bar - but they are also very good).
From Anstruther you will be able to book a boat trip to visit the Isle of May, a nature reserve where you can see plenty of seabirds and seals. If this is something you would like to do during your stay, please make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Crail - there is so much to do in Crail! An important place for Ewan and his family, as yearly holidays were spent in Sauchope caravan site. Walk around the wee harbour, and spot the Lobster House (and we don’t mean the seafood shack - which is also worth a try, if it is open). As you wander around, stop in at the Crail Harbour Gallery & Tearoom for a break. The owner of the café is also the artist and you can get a perfect souvenir from the area. You should also stop in at Crail Pottery Shop for an extra special mug (we have at least 5..), and walk along the coastal path towards the campsite to enjoy views of the Isle of May. Last but not least: Ewan's favourite attraction as a child was the cold war era ex-nuclear bunker, the Secret Bunker - a must for any history enthusiasts!
Kingsbarns - Kingsbarns has a beautiful beach. Spend time peering into the rock pools and, if you are feeling brave, hop into the water for a swim (details below). You can enjoy a burger at Harbour Burger (an outdoor shack). You can also go to Kingsbarns Distillery for a visit - and why not buy a bottle of whisky or gin to enjoy when you are back at home.
St Andrews is an ancient University town packed with history. It is the home of Golf and - more interestingly - where Prince William and Kate met for the first time (in this café as legend goes..).
Walk down Main Street, stop at Topping & Company Bookseller for a new book. Keep walking toward the Cathedral to soak in the history of the area. If you are travelling with kids, they may enjoy the Saint Andrews Aquarium . When you inevitably get hungry, you can take a break along the beach and enjoy a delicious toasty from the Cheese Toasty Shack.
We encourage you to look up other museums in St Andrews if you are interested in the history of the area. There are also plenty of shops.
Swimming
There are a number of fantastic wild swimming spots in Fife - if you can brave the cold!
Elie and Kingsbarns have great beaches - and you can even book a sauna to warm you up after you cold dip! There is one in Elie and one in Kingsbarns.
There are also many tidal pools in the area, where you will be more sheltered from the currents - you can find them in St Monans, Pittenweem and Cellardyke. All of them are beautiful.
For all your wild swimming adventures, we recommend you always bring plenty of food and a hot drink to warm yourselves up afterwards, as well as a warm change of clothes. When going into the water, make sure you have appropriate footwear as the rocks are sharp. But mostly - enjoy the adventure!