For those lucky enough to visit St. Andrews, by all means, you must play the Old Course, Kingsbarns and other great golf courses in the region.
If you have some extra time in your itinerary or are accompanied by a spouse who doesn't play golf, a fun-filled day trip is a superb way to enjoy the area. There are also some excellent golf courses near the villages for golfers to play while non-golfers enjoy sightseeing, shopping and dining.
On a self-guided tour of the nearby fishing villages on the East Neuk of Fife you’ll
see harbors busy with fishing boats, walk on narrow cobblestone streets, peruse
art galleries and dine on seafood delicacies.
East Neuk
is the name of the land that runs around the Eastern peninsula of the Kingdom
of Fife. The region is only about a 15 to 20-minute drive from St.Andrews.
The
picturesque villages look like they were created for postcards. Beautiful boat
dotted coves will have you taking panorama shots and selfies the instant you arrive.
If you
go, here are some of the more prominent, interesting and fun villages to visit:
Anstruther—A
wonderland of cobbled streets, narrow alleyways and quaint shops, this village
is extremely walkable. For some of the best fish ‘n’ chips in the British
Isles, the Anstruther Fish Bar is an absolute must stop. Anstruther is also home to the Scottish
Fisheries Museum, which traces the fishing and boat building industry, and a bike
shop where you can rent bicycles to leisurely explore the area.
Crail—Known
for its exceptional fresh shellfish that’s caught and sold in the village,
Crail has one of the world’s most photogenic small harbors. Things to do include
the Crail History Museum, Crail Pottery and the Marketgate, once the largest
medieval market places in Europe. A fun lunch is to buy lobster and crab from a
kiosk and have an impromptu picnic on a nearby bench. For golfers, the Balcomie Links and Craighead Links at the Crail Golfing Society are exceptional plays.
Elie and
Earlsferry—The village with two names combined in 1929. The harbor
curves around the bay and the golden sand beaches and calm waters are great
for swimming and windsurfing. The Elie Golf Club is an interesting layout designed in 1895 by Old Tom Morris and James Braid.
Kilrenny—Setback
from the coast, this Dutch built village’s central point is the 15th
century Parish Church. The streets leading to the church have several
impressive 18th century houses and cottages. A great picnic area is
the Kilrenny Common.
Pittenweem—The
only village in the area with a working harbor, Pittenweem has a fresh fish
market and lots of quaint shops on High Street.
St.
Monans—At this ancient fishing village, you’ll find the ruins of Newark Castle,
St Monans Church, which was built in 1362 and has stunning views of the Forth
and a recently restored windmill overlooking the sea.
For a fantastic, expertly planned golf vacation to St. Andrews, other Scotland destinations and international and U.S. destinations click to PREMIER GOLF or call 866-260-4409 to speak with one of our knowledgeable and experienced golf travel specialists.
Labels: Anstruther, Crail, day trips from St. Andrews, Fishing villages of East Neuk, St. Andrews, St. Andrews things to do
