The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rural retreat in north-east Fife
A former smithy on the outskirts of Boarhills is tucked away in the countryside of north-east Fife. Stone walls, a pantiled roof, exposed beams and wood-burning stoves make a delightful and traditional home just a stone’s throw from St Andrews
Falside Smiddy is one of those houses I almost wish I’d visited in the winter.
Sitting in the living room, dog curled up beside me and a coffee in my hand, I look at the beautiful exposed stone wall and the wood burning stove – unlit on a summer’s day. I can picture myself coming in from the snowy Fife countryside for a nip of whisky beside a roaring fire.
Falside Smiddy (or Smithy to use the non-Scots word) was converted from a Blacksmith’s workshop into a home in 1993. Peter and Kathy Beattie bought it six years ago and carried out further works.
“At the time both our girls were at St Andrews University so this was a great base for us,” Peter explains.
Falside Smithy lies on the A917 country road that leads from St Andrews to Crail. It’s on the outskirts of the lovely village of Boarhills and only a five minute drive into St Andrews itself.
At the heart of the home is a fantastic double height living room with exposed beams and stone wall. There’s an open plan dining area and wrought iron spiral staircase up to the master bedroom.
The fourth bedroom is off the living room and leads into a conservatory.
Upstairs, the master bedroom has an en suite. A door opens onto thin air – modern health and safety standards would never allow it, but the big opening allowed for the furniture to be moved in using an original pulley system, and it lets in lots of light. A small Velux window above the bed allows sleepers to look straight up at the moon and stars.
Peter and Kathy have operated the house as an Airbnb for the past few years. The western section of the house has its own living room (complete with wood burner) kitchenette, and two en suite bedrooms.
“It works really well as an Airbnb,” Kathy says. “It can be let out to two groups, with one having the living room as well as the bedroom, or to a single larger group or family. The wood burner keeps it really warm in the winter. We get a lot of students’ parents staying and also do well out of golf tourists.”
Outside, the garden stretches to around a third of an acre and wraps around the house. There are various seating areas so owners and guests can enjoy their own sunny spot.
“You can get direct access to the Fife Coastal Path and you can walk across a track to Morton of Pitmillie resort,” Kathy continues. A double garage with attic above (accessed by an external staircase) could give scope for annex accommodation.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Peter, 59, and Kathy, 58, want to move closer to Elgin, where one of their daughters lives with their two grandchildren. “Fife is just a little too far to away from them,” Kathy laments.
It works really well as an Airbnb