Take me there: East Neuk of Fife
Why go?
On a bright day, with sunshine sparkling off the North Sea, there are few better places to be than sitting on the harbour wall at Anstruther with a bag of fish and chips from the award-winning Fish Bar. “Neuk” is an old Scots word for corner and this truly is a charmed corner of the coast, with its endless Blue Flag beaches and attractive fishing villages. There’s a lively music and arts scene which reaches its peak in the summer. Next month is the Pittenweem Arts Festival (1-9 August, pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk) at which dozens of artists open their studios and homes to the public.
What to do
Wander the galleries, shops and harbours of the villages of Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail, all linked by the scenic Fife Coastal Path with its bracing views of the Firth of Forth (fifecoastalpath.co.uk). From Anstruther catch a boat to the Isle of May nature reserve, home to seals, rabbits and puffins. Spend a day on Elie Earlsferry’s beach with its dunes and beach huts and visit Kingsbarns Distillery for whisky tours and tastings (kingsbarnsdistillery.com). St Andrews, with its cathedral, university, botanic gardens, pier and beach, is up the coast, and no mention of Fife would be complete without including its world-class golf courses (visitscotland.com).
Where to eat
The rooftop terrace at the East Pier Smokehouse in St Monans is the place to enjoy crab cakes, lobster with chips, whole smoked sea bass, or mackerel, with dreamy views across to the Isle of May (eastpier.co.uk).
Where to stay
Unique Cottages has fishermen’s houses for rent, from £295 for a week at Sea Breeze, a cosy, waterfront cottage in St Monans which sleeps two (unique-cottages.co.uk).
Insider tip
Crispin Heath of East Neuk Outdoors activity centre (eastneukoutdoors.co.uk) recommends tackling the Chain Walk from the end of Elie beach. “It’s a kind of via ferrata with chains and footholds. It’s an exciting scramble and takes an hour to 90 minutes for an active person to complete.”
Give me a break
Home: Notting Hill hotel A new hotel which aims to celebrate Notting Hill’s rich creative and cultural heritage will open next month. Named after local community activist Rhaune Laslett, the Laslett Hotel will combine 51 guest rooms with a downstairs space which will serve as a coffee shop, bar, library and gallery. It is now taking bookings for stays from mid-August, with opening rates from £215 per room (thelaslett.co.uk).
Away: Support Greece There’s no better way to show your support for the people of Greece than by booking a holiday there. Planet Holidays has just released its expanded 2016 Greece programme with new destinations including the islands of Ithaca, Milos, Paros, Amorgos and Folegandros, where a week’s B&B at the four-star Anemi Hotel costs from £799pp in June, including flights and ferry transfers (planet-holidays.co.uk).
