You’ll find Fife tucked away on the east coast of Scotland just over an hours drive from Edinburgh. Rich in History, a coastline of quintessential fishing villages and sandy beaches, paired with great places to eat and away from the crowds, Fife is somewhere you wouldn’t want to miss off your Scotland road trip itinerary.
Keep reading to discover my five favourite spots in Fife…
1. Elie
We made the beautiful town of Elie our base for the time we explored Fife. It is just one of a string of cosy harbour villages in the area bursting with character and the perfect spot for swimming, beach games, rock pool and shell hunting or a coastal walk.
No matter where you are in the world, I’m sure you can agree with me that there’s no better way to end any day than by watching the sunset. We found a hidden gem in Elie known as Ruddons Point to watch the sun go down.
2. St Monans
Just a six minutes drive from Elie, is St Monans, another one of Fife’s harbour villages full of heart, character and rich in culture. You can wander the quaint fishing village and take in all the old buildings with red-roof tiles that surround the harbour front.
3. Pittenweem
Jump back in your car and drive four minutes down the scenic stretch of road to Pittenweem. You guessed it, another charming harbour filled with working fishing boats and again lined with the red-pantile houses. Pittenweem is a spot popular with artists and is known for its very successful arts festival that it hosts each year.
4. Anstruther
Five minutes on from Pittenweem is the bustling harbour town of Anstruther. This was by far the busiest town we explored in Fife but for good reason, it’s the best place to go in the county for fish and chips. Not just the county but allegedly home to the best fish and chips in Britain, the Anstruther Fish Bar is the place to eat. We picked up lunch from here and headed to a bench on the seafront to watch the boats go by.
5. Crail
I saved the best till last. A short ten minute drive from Anstruther will take you to a charming harbour town and my personal favourite, Crail.
The harbour sits at the bottom of a steep, cobbled street lined with picturesque homes that is impossible not to stop and take a photo of every single one. As we tumbled down the stoney street we stopped in Crail Harbour Gallery & Tea Room, where the food was delicious and the artwork incredible. However, there was one thing that topped both of these and was something I was not expecting, which was the uninterrupted views from the tea room over the ocean.
I could have stayed all day watching the world go by from the tea rooms courtyard but there was ice cream to be devoured on the harbour front. Crail is still very much a working harbour so look out for the quaint wooden shack that serves the freshest North Sea crab and lobster caught locally. We wandered the village, watched the fishing boats and even managed to fly the drone to see Crail for all its beauty.
