Travel notes

Back at sea level, the elegant town of Elie was an ideal pit stop, with the newsagent and deli both well set up for distanced shopping. It was a lovely spot for a bite to eat, gazing on the busy beach. Children paddled close to the sand while surfers rode the waves further out. The path wound on to Pittenweem, thrillingly pinned between the sea and the Auld Kirk in St Monans.

Pittenweem’s quaint harbourfront gave way to coastline and soon the start of Anstruther. It was getting dark and the last heat had left the sky. The fishing boats bobbed alongside and it was a treat to sit by the pier enjoying a fish supper.

Having read how much the hospitality industry was struggling, I had assumed that accommodation would be plentiful. In fact, a lot of places had not yet reopened. Some were still making changes to their set up, others had written off the season, and perhaps others had decided to pack it all in for good. That made for a tighter supply of accommodation, just when many people

The Fife Coastal Path starts in Kincardine and ends in Newburgh. It is 116 miles (187 km) long. More information is available on www. fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk.

hotels include Caledonian Hotel, Leven (01333 424101) Crusoe Hotel, Lower Largo (01333 320759) and the Balcomie Links Hotel, Crail (01333 450237). There are pitches and holiday homes at Elie Holiday Park, Shell Bay, Elie (01333 330283).

Where to stay:

were opting to holiday close to home. Asking around all the accommodation, Anstruther offered nothing. We finally called a hotel in Crail which had a room. With the usual Saturday night wait for a car, the warm indoors appealed. A popular pub was stowed out as if there had been no pandemic, so we opted for a quieter local. The pub league darts fixture list looked busy. The players have had the chance to polish their skills at home over the summer, so it will doubtless end up being a hotly contested final.

DIGS in Crail were the Balcomie Links, a family-run hotel. With a small bottle of sanitiser in the bathroom and a dining room laid out to keep guests apart, they were well set up to welcome visitors again. A delicious breakfast was a good set up for a relaxing Sunday. Instead of another full day of walking, it was time to rest the feet a little and take a bus to St Andrews. The X60 bus between Edinburgh and St Andrew’s stops at various points along the Fife Coastal Path, but from Crail we took a local bus running its normal service. The passengers were few, and all wore masks.

The university town was much quieter than usual. It was lovely to enjoy its charms without crowds. From St Andrews, the path moves inland for a stretch. A level, new hard surface made for just under five miles of very easy walking. It was a popular local cycle route too. At Guardbridge, an inn with an expansive garden offered a chance to sit by the riverside, before the simple walk up to Leuchars for the train home.

The next train due was operated by

LNER. For distancing reasons they require reservations but the ticket office couldn’t make any for us. Instead, we were asked to wait for a later train operated by Scotrail, who do not require reservations.

On the train, scenes from the past several days whizzed by much faster than they had on foot. Before long we left Fife over the Forth Rail Bridge. A few days on the

Fife Coastal Path had been a mostly easy walk along a beautiful shoreline. More than anything, it just felt great to be out and see the wider world afresh.

THE idea of a camper van conjures up a rather romantic image. The open road, clean, fresh air and the ability to take charge of your own direction, rather than being set to one location – these are all thoughts that come with the image of a camper.

For the most part, they’re true – and with staycations becoming the go-to way of holidaying amid the coronavirus pandemic, we can only see them becoming even more popular. But there might be some other camper van uses that you might not have thought about.

A MOBILE OFFICE

Given the recent move towards working from home, the camper van could prove to be the ideal mobile work station. The Ford Transit Custom Nugget, which I tested out recently, comes with built-in Wi-Fi, which means that you don’t need to tether to your phone in order to get hooked up to the internet.

I’d imagine many of us are getting slightly tired of looking at the same four walls each day, so the ability to head out into a new location to work really does put a spring in your step. Checking emails feels a whole lot easier when you’ve got a fresh view ahead of you, while the ability to make a cup of tea via the hob next to you means you’re not completely cut off from home comforts either. There’s even a large fridge in the Nugget to keep the milk cold.

Though I did get a few strange looks from early morning joggers and dog-walkers as I tapped away while sat in a parked-up camper, I’d argue that many people would jump at the chance to work somewhere new. It beats the regular commute, that’s for sure.

GREAT FOR CYCLING TRIPS

For those of a two-wheeled, pedalpowered inclination, the camper van has even more uses. As a relatively keen cyclist, I’ve noticed that many roadside cafes and shops have been kept closed in recent weeks, meaning that your end-of-ride drink is relegated to a coffee at home. But that’s not the case if you’ve got the Transit in tow.

Though transporting your bike takes a little bit of angling there’s more than enough space inside to get your bike along. You can get a rear-mounted bike rack for the Transit, but given the large opening boot gives you access to the ‘living quarters’ of the van, then this might not be the best option.

Then, once your ride is over, there’s a place to find cold drinks or even the hob to get some bacon cooking. The Nugget features an in-built shower too, which - though it isn’t its intended use – can be ideal for cleaning down your bike, so you don’t get the van clarty inside.

DINNER WITH A VIEW

Then there’s dining out. The

Transit’s range of cooking appliances means it wouldn’t be difficult to whip up a decent meal in no time at all, but you can also use it as a mobile dining venue.

Plenty of restaurants and bars have also been offering takeaway services recently and with a camper, you can take advantage of this to the full. Order from your favourite place, collect your food and enjoy in front of a setting of your choice. The Nugget even packs a foldaway table and chairs, which means you can have your own perfect setup wherever you are.

Of course, most people consider a camper van as a way of having a holiday under their own steam and at their own pace, with the comforts and features from home. But if you are thinking of camper van ownership remember, there’s far more to them than meets the eye.

JACK EVANS