East Neuk Fife Scotland

Day29/Scotland 6

Travelled:64km

Stay: Hill of Tarvit Mansion National Trust carpark, free, toilets N56.2943 W3.0073

Visited:St.Monans, Anstruther, Craig, St Andrews, Tarvit Mansion National Trust (£10.50pp)

The weather report said it would rain and it did! Even so we managed to visit a few pretty fishing villages that are scattered along the shoreline of the East Neuk (Eastern corner) of Fife. Much of Scotland’s medieval trade with Europe passed through these ports. Unfortunately the herring industry declined in the 1940’s and now fishermen rely on lobster and crabs and the towns on tourism. After our morning coffee we ventured around the narrow streets of the charming port village of St.Monans. Fishing boats were still being built here until the 1980s. 

Chilly morning

A gum boot garden



Unusual place to have a clothes line

Unique sun room.

Along the water front we went to have a look at a old windmill to find out about how it was used to pump water to the evaporating barns to produce salt. 

Our next stop was Anstruther who’s harbour was built in 1452. After a brief walk due to the heavy rain we set off again. 

This time it was to Crail which is one of the 6 Royal Burghs of the Fife area.  We walked down to the historic harbour and then back to Bluey. 

Then it was off the St Andrews. This is known as the birthplace of golf dating back to 1457. It is home of the ‘Old Course’ the world’s most famous. As it was raining we drove along the golf course and then sat a watched people play a few holes. 

We met an Australian couple who are travelling around in their American motorhome. After exchanging a few stories we drove through the town past Scotland’s oldest university and the remains of the cathedral. 

Wanting a dry activity we decided to head to Tarvit Mansion. In the early 1900’s Frederick Sharp commissioned architect Robert Lorimer to transform the 17th century house. He had made his fortune in Dundee’s jute (hession) industry. The National Trust received the building and its contents from his daughter (suffering from cancer) after she inherited due to her older brother having died at 40 in a train accident.

 The house was specially designed to house Sharp’s art, tapestry and ceramic collections.

 The plaster ceilings were exquisite. 

Haven’t seen one of these before..woodfired drying cabinet!

Mark greatly admired the Austrian Oak panelling and flooring. 

Being avid golfers, Sharp also created a 9 hole hickory golf course (the only one in the UK). We then returned to Bluey to spend the night in the carpark.