Category Archives: Virtual tour of Fife

February 25, 2019 · 12:46 pm

Diana’s Virtual Tour of The Fife Coastal Path ~ Anstruther

Anstruther.jpgContinuing my walk along the Fife Coastal Path, following the wee fishing villages of Pittenweem and St Monan’s you come to Anstruther, or ‘Ainster’ as the locals call it. It is from here in the summer that you can catch a ferry to The Isle of May and even over to North Berwick, passing the colony of gannets at Bass Rock.

Still a fishing harbour, although most of our fish is brought in at Pittenweem now, it houses a Fisheries Museum along the front, as well as a famous Fish n Chip Shop. (although we find The Waterfront does fantastic meals too)

Anstruther is the ‘centre’ of East Neuk, a popular holiday or weekend destination for Edinburgh folks. In my mind it is an area worth visiting all year round. Check out the reopened haunted Dreel Inn, a place with character as you come into Anstruther, passing the house covered in sea shells.

I ‘met’ Robert Louis Stevenson here for a blether in The Healing Paths of Fife. His father was supervising the building of the harbour walls.

The walks along the coast in East Neuk are delightful and varied, with plenty of places to tempt you to pause, admire, rest and partake of the local refreshments and hospitality.

Leave a comment

Filed under Fife, Virtual tour of Fife

Tagged as , , , ,

September 13, 2018 · 12:32 pm

Pittenweem ~ The Fisherman’s Hub and other Special Attributes

Next along the Fife Coastal Path from St Monan’s is the fishing village of Pittenweem, the hub which catches and distributes fresh fish to all of Fife and beyond. There is a fish shops straight from the boats at the back of St Monan’s. We buy ours in Burntisland, but a van also brings fish to people’s doors in many areas of Fife.

The beauty of the old stone harbour, with its creels and boats, is enhanced by signs of the working fishing industry in my eyes. The local in-bloom group completes the picture by decorating a variety of bicycles with flowers in the summer months. Delightful!

DSCN3693.JPG

 

Taking one of several narrow cobbled paths, called ‘wynds’ here in Fife, leading you up to the main street, you can find cafes, art and craft shops, an artisan bakery, home made chocolate and a local store and post office. It is from two of the cafes here that you can borrow the key to St Fillan’s Cave.

The cave can be found, set in the sandstone rock face, down another steep path from the church towards the habour. You pass the community library on your left before reaching the rather mysterious cave entrance, protected by an ornate iron gate.

I ‘met’ St Fillan in this cave on a previous visit whilst walking along the Fife Coastal Path. I was uplifted by our meaningful conversation which I recorded in ‘The Healing Paths of Fife‘.

 

The alter, as seen below, is a perfect place in which to reflect on the meaning of life!

DSCN3694.JPG

 

 

 

1 Comment

Filed under Fife, Fife Fantasy, Scotland, The Healing Paths of Fife, Virtual tour of Fife

Tagged as , , , , , ,

August 30, 2018 · 7:40 pm

St Monan’s ~ One of the Gems of The Fife Coast

The folks of Edinburgh all know the secret of East Neuk, a coastal region in Fife where the estuary of The River Forth merges with The North Sea. Each village has it’s own character and features; St Monan’s being just one of those places.

‘Neuk is the Scots work for nook or corner,’ Wikipedia informs us, and the ‘corner of Fife’ aptly describes East Neuk, omitting any reference to its natural charm and beauty.

East Neuk stretches from Earlsferry and Elie (my last post) to Kingsbarns, and each wee place has a unique character. Incidentally Mac Duff is said to have fled from Mac Beth via the ferry to the southern coast of the estuary. Hence the name Earlsferry!

From Lady Tower in Elie and passing the ruins of Newark Castle along Rose Bay you have a fairly gentle walk to St Monan’s. The path follows the rocks below this tiny kirk at low tide, but there is a detour behind the village to avoid getting your feet wet when the tide is high.

DSCN4859.JPG

St Monan’s Harbour

The colourfully painted cottages along the harbour frontage lead you towards The Smokehouse; a restaurant where you can eat out of cardboard boxes whilst overlooking both harbour and the view towards The Isle of May. Alternatively there’s the more cosy option of The Diving Gannet, a wee cafe just off the harbour. Both places are well worth visiting for much needed refreshments, but maybe on different visits!

DSCN4861.JPG

My Husband Poised in Anticipation

Following the Coastal Path signs out of the village you pass the salt pans from days gone by, when Fife exported salt overseas. Then there’s the windmill, which has appropriately been turned into a lifeguard station, from which there are clear views in all directions, if the weather is fair.

It is good to pause and reflect a wee while in each of the fishing harbours of East Neuk; think on their similarities and difference, the ambiance and their sense of community; before continuing your journey along the Fife Coastal Path, which was the inspiration for my book.

Diana Jackson is the author of ‘The Healing Paths of Fife.’ 

5 Comments

Filed under Fife, Fife Fantasy, The Healing Paths of Fife, Virtual tour of Fife

Tagged as , , , , ,