The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Coastline, cliffs and culture
FAMOUSLY THE home of golf, Fife also offers a stunning coastline laced with beaches and picturesque villages.
Its varied landscape yields abundant wildlife and a fabulous natural larder and there are vivid reminders of the region’s historic importance in the wealth of castles, palaces and abbeys.
Fife is a paradise for watersports enthusiasts and nature lovers and there are many great walks to be enjoyed along the unspoilt coastline.
Hugging a corner of the region is the East Neuk, which takes in some of the most scenic stretches of the Fife Coastal Path as it winds its way through harbourside villages, along cliff tops and across beautiful beaches.
A popular option is to enjoy the four-mile stretch between Anstruther and Crail.
If you’re in the area and fancy dipping your toes in the sea, a trip to elegant Elie is essential.
At low tide the beach at Elie stretches to Earlsferry, creating almost a mile of pale, golden sand.
Just around the headland is Shell Bay, a vast expanse of sand and dunes with rich pickings for shell collectors.
The beach is a pleasant walk from the village although the daring can reach it by way of the famous ‘chain walk’ along the cliffs.
One of the most striking images of the East Neuk is the St Monans windmill, a relic of local salt production that thrived in the 18th century.
It’s the most tangible reminder of an industry that for centuries blighted the environment of coastal communities along both shores of the Firth of Forth.
Head along the coast to Pittenweem from August 3-11 and you’ll catch the annual art festival, which attracts around 20,000 visitors each year.
And the Crail Festival, which boasts everything from treasure hunts to sandcastle competitions and jazz concerts, runs till July 27.
So whether you go golfing in St Andrews or get behind the wheel of a Ferrari at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Dunfermline, there’s something for everyone in Fife and the East Neuk.
For more information see www.outdoorfife.com