Close Attractions

Newark Castle is a ruin located just outside the town of St Monans, on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. Building on the site probably dates back to the 13th century at which time the Scottish king Alexander III (1241 - 1286) spent some of his childhood there. Since that time, the site has passed through several rebuilding phases, and it is most likely that the ruins currently visible are the remains of buildings constructed under the ownership of David Leslie in the 17th century and the Sandilands family who owned the castle since the 15th century when they gained the estate through marriage. Leslie was a prominent figure in the English and Scottish Civil Wars, becoming Lord Newark after the wars.

The castle attracted the attention of Sir William Burrell, the Glasgow shipping magnate and collector of art and antiques, in the late 19th Century when Sir Robert Lorimer produced a plan for its restoration. The scheme never went ahead as the owner of the site, a Mr Baird of Elie, refused to sell.

The castle has been known by several names, including Inverie, St Monans and St Monance (the latter being a mediaeval form of the possessive St Monan's).

ST MONANS CASTLE

The Wee Chippy is a multi award winning family owned Fish and Chip takeaway and restaurant. 

The Wee Chippy prides itself on serving the freshest of produce available

with our local seafood supplier delivering fish second to none.
We fry to order in vegetable oil and only use a tried and tested method
that produces a light, crisp and tasty batter.
Our latest success in The Wee Chippy was adding a Gluten & Dairy Free menu,
seven days a week.
We have a steady stream of customers so thankful to have found a chip shop going
above and beyond the cause with us constantly looking for other ingredients to try and offering
our “Daily Specials” as a gluten free alternative as well.
We are so lucky at The Wee Chippy to have a loyal local customer base throughout the year
with the added bonus of Anstruther bringing countless tourists in the summer months.
We are visited by Fish and Chip lovers from all over the world solely on our reputation. 
Central to our restaurant is our dedication to great customer service. 
All our local staff have been trained to a high standard and possess a passion to please. 

The Wee Chippy

Bowhouse replaces a missing link in the local food chain.
It connects small growers and producers with restaurants and shoppers, giving everyone better access to the best ingredients and finished produce that the East Neuk has to offer.

There are a few reasons why the scale of the producer should be linked to the quality of the food and drink they produce. The very best producers are rarely the largest – the skill and passion of the producer is far more important.

A Stronger Local Supply Chain
By encouraging a shorter, local supply chain to flourish, as a community we will be able to retain more of the highly-coveted raw ingredients yielded in the East Neuk here for us, rather than losing out to bigger urban or overseas markets.


BOWHOUSE

Take a trip on this wonderful route (around 191 miles in total) which will take you round the Kingdom of Fife. Along the way you'll find picture-postcard fishing villages, magnificent castles and landmarks, stunning countryside, Instagrammable locations, world-famous golf courses, a spectacular coastline, delicious food, great places to stay, friendly locals and much, much more.

FIFE 191

The concept of open-water, or wild swimming, is nothing new – we’ve been doing it for centuries.  But as we ease out of the Covid pandemic, the idea of splashing around in the cold, life-affirming waters of Scotland seems to have increased its appeal.

With the recent obsession with swimming outdoors, and nostalgia for a time when summers were spent enjoying the Scottish coastline, there’s been a huge resurgence of interest; folk are keen to see their once-loved tidal pools being revived.

Already, in the East Neuk of Fife, a few have been brought back from the dead and are up and running thanks to the efforts of passionate and dedicated community members, Cellardyke, Pittenweem and St Monans. Each pool has their own facebook page and a group of local people who regularly use each pool, welcoming visitors to join them.  Its worth dropping a post on the facebook pages asking times of organised swims. 

                         We're in golfing heaven!!!

Fife, or the Kingdom of Fife, is located on the east coast of Scotland and is home to approximately 45 different golf courses. It is a historic region and is famous for the St Andrews Golf Club that was established here more than six centuries ago. In the year 1457, James II banned the sport of golf, as did James III in 1471 and James IV in 1491. But in 1502, James VI eventually bought himself a few golf clubs and gave in to the addictive sport of golf. St Andrews grew significantly over the years, till it opened its 7th golf course in 2007, which was named the Castle Course. Amongst the other popular golf courses in Fife, golfers can look forward to a wonderful golfing day at Dukes, Kingsbarns, Scotsgraig, Crail at Balcomie, Ladybank and Lundin. Fife is a beautiful part of Scotland and it can be seen in the spectacular settings that the golf courses have been designed on


Fife Golf Courses

For 50+ years, Scotland kept a secret!

6 Miles from St Andrews lies a secret, a relic left over from the cold war conflict.

100ft underground with the entrance hidden in an unsuspecting farm house is RAF Troywood.

RAF Troywood is an "R3" style ROTOR bunker built by the RAF is 1953 in response to the threat of nuclear war with the USSR.

Troywood is  24,000sq feet of command centre, incorporating the latest radar technology of the cold war era,  dormitory, plotting rooms and kitchen facility’s to name a few.

We could go on but why don’t you come and see for yourself, how they would have survived, and you wouldn’t!!


SECRET BUNKER

Welcome to the British Golf Museum. From the 16th century to the present day, the whole history of the great game is explored under one roof. Discover the equipment, personalities and prizes of our much loved sport. Brought to life with hands on activities, interactives and modern interpretation, this is a must see attraction. Visit our flagship exhibition space, 'The Open Gallery', exploring the rich history of golf's oldest Major. Please visit throughout the year for our program of weekly events and lecture series. There is something for everyone at the British Golf Museum. Please note the museum operates on summer and winter opening and closing times.

·         Wheelchair access

·         Disabled parking

·         Baby changing facilities

·         Large print and Braille guide available

·         Free translations


BRITTISH MUSEUM OF GOLF

Visit our 5-star distillery and visitor centre in the East Neuk of Fife for whisky and gin tours, tastings and delicious local food served in our cafe. We have 3 types of whisky distillery tours suitable for all levels of whisky interest. We are also running tours of the new Darnley's Gin Distillery called "Discover Darnley's". You can either book online or by phone to avoid disappointment.

KINGSBARNS DISTILLERY

is set in the Fife countryside and covers over 55 acres. Our collection includes 12 species of Deer from around the world, Fife’s only Wolf pack, Otters and other rare Scottish species including the Wildcat. We also host Raptor World Bird of Prey centre!
Spend your day looking at our many species with Play areas inside and out for the children, Ranger tours and daily Bird of Prey shows. Tickets can be purchased before or on arrival.

SCOTTISH DEER CENTRE

The Pollock family warmly welcome you to our award winning farm shop nestled in the picturesque East Neuk of Fife. Looking over the beautiful Firth of Forth, Ardross Farm Shop reconnects you with fresh, local, inspiring food from the farm and the surrounding area along with an abundance of produce from Scotland’s natural larder.

Arrive to a mouth watering display of freshly picked vegetables straight from our farm. Our cabbages are so fresh they squeak, our broccoli sparkles with the morning dew and our freshly dug carrots perfume the shop with a sweet earthy smell. Freshly baked local bread tempts you further inside where our fantastic team can tantalise you with an array of specially selected products for food lovers!

ARDROSS FARM

Nestled on St Andrews’ dramatic north facing cliffs, with stunning views of the famous west sands and St Andrews Bay, St Andrews Aquarium boasts one of the finest coastal locations in the historic town.

Step through our doors and be transported into an underwater world of adventure and discovery. Come face to face with some of the most beautiful, fascinating and dangerous creatures of the watery worlds. From British sharks to spiders, lobsters to lionfish, poison dart frogs to piranhas, loveable seals…… and not to forget our fabulous meerkats.

Get up close and personal with our daily interactive demonstrations which include penguin feeding at 2pm, a reptile and spider handling sessions at 11.20am and 2.20pm and an informative talk and feeding sessions with our family of meerkats at 12.20pm and 3.20pm.

ST ANDREWS AQUARIUM

Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office for the following amenities which open for the season each year:

Rio Grande Railway
Puffin’ Billy Tractor Rides
The Boating Lake
Crazy Golf
Putting
Bouncy Castles
Pedal Cars (Under 7s only)
The following can be enjoyed for free, all year round:

The park itself
Adventure play area
Zip lines
Trim trail
Trampolines
The Fairy Glen

CRAIGTOUN COUNTRY PARK

The May Princess sails from Anstruther to the beautiful Isle of May almost every day from 1st April to 30th September. Licensed by the Maritime Coastguard Agency to carry 100 passengers, she has been operating on this run for the last fifteen years. The trip on the boat lasts from around 4.5 to 5 hours in total, which includes 2.5 to 3 hours ashore on the Island, and if the weather allows a slow circumference of the Island by the boat to allow visitors to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wonderful wildlife from the sea. On board enjoy the commentary and assistance during the trip from our experienced Skipper and crew, who will try and make your day out a most memorable one. The boat also has a small snack bar and toilets.

ISLE OF MAY FERRY

We have ten of the top beaches in Fife on our doorstep.

Click on the link to decide your destination.

FIFE BEACHES

East Neuk Outdoors is a family-run outdoor activity centre on Fife’s scenic east coast in Cellardyke by Anstruther. We offer a range of outdoor activities for individuals, families and groups including 'come and try' sessions, half-day, full-day or multi-day options.

Our qualified and caring staff will ensure your time with us is spent learning new skills in an enjoyable and safe environment.

Our activities at the centre are:

Kayaking
Open Canoeng
Sea Kayaking
Archery
Bouldering
Bushcraft and Firemaking
Raft Building
Team Building activities
Climbing and Abseiling

EAST NEUK OUTDOORS

Medieval atmosphere meets Victorian style at Kellie Castle. The oldest parts date back to the 14th century, but the whole interior was overhauled in the late 19th century by famous artistic family the Lorimers.

Crow-stepped gables and fairytale stone towers form the outer frame, while indoors elaborate plaster ceilings and painted panelling lie alongside fine furniture designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, who spent much of his childhood at Kellie Castle. Outside, take a wander through the Arts & Crafts garden with its magnificent herbaceous borders, filled with the heavy scent of old roses, along with fruit and vegetables which are all grown organically.

KELLIE CASTLE

Our family have been local farmers in the East Neuk of Fife since the 1930s using the same traditional methods today to ensure that the grass grows lush and green, the crops yield as good a crop as the Scottish weather will allow, and our happy, healthy cows produce top quality milk.

We started to make our cheese in January 2008 which is when we started the St Andrews Cheese Company, and it is our home bred herd of Holstein Friesians that provide the main ingredient – a real field to plate experience. In May of 2008 we opened our coffee shop where you can watch the cheese being made through our Viewing Gallery windows, enjoy delicious home baking or lunch and of course sample our range of award winning cheeses; Anster, Red Anster, Mature Anster, Smoked Anster and St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar. On a clear day you can sit outside the coffee shop on the balcony and enjoy the panoramic views down across the fields towards the Firth of Forth and beyond.

ANSTER CHEESE

The Elie Chainwalk is one of Scotland’s best-kept coastal secrets. To call it a walk is not strictly accurate; it is more of a scramble, requiring a healthy spirit of adventure, a good measure of agility and a strong head for heights.

Combining climbing, crawling and clambering, there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in Britain. But solidly planted steel chains, perfectly placed footholds and sticky volcanic rock offer a comforting sense of security to those embarking upon this rough and ready challenge.

ELIE CHAINWALK

Anstruther Harbour caters for leisure and small fishing vessels. There is approx. 400 metres of pierside berthing and 100 serviced pontoon berths for leisure craft.

Tidal access: HW +/- 4 hours approx.

Visitors: 8 no. pontoon berths are reserved for visitors (max. vessel size 10.5 metres)

For current harbour rates and dues please view the publications page, or contact the Harbour Master.

ANSTRUTHER MARINA

A lifeboat was first commissioned in Anstruther, Fife, Scotland in 1865. Since then 7 lifeboats have served the sea-going community.

Today the Anstruther RNLI station at has the all-weather Mersey class "Kingdom of Fife" and a inshore-operating IB1 class inflatable.

Since the foundation of the RNLI in 1824 its lifeboat crews have saved over 140,000 lives.

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT

You won't believe what a day out we have to offer.
Situated in a wonderful collection of historic buildings on the harbour of a small and beautiful fishing port, we are a charitable trust which has become a national institution with an international reputation.
Our principal aim, in all of our efforts with regard to the displays in our extensive museum and our many educational and research activities, is to excite informed interest in the development of the Scottish commercial fishing industry among people of all ages in and beyond Scotland. The core story that we have to tell is the history of how, through a constant process of innovation, the Scottish fisheries became such an important part of the lives of so many Scots.

SCOTTISH FISHERIES MUSEUM

The sandy curve of Elie Bay encloses a wonderful expanse of sheltered water, making it the finest setting for beginners on Scotland's East Coast. Beyond the bay, the open sea offers a challenge to the more proficient participant.

The Activities offered by Elie Watersports can be participated in on a casual basis with or without instruction or in the form of more structured courses working towards National Governing body qualifications.

Elie Watersports is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre and is licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA).

ELIE WATERSPORTS

There is so much for you to discover on the Fife Coastal Path. Stretching for 117 miles from the Firth of Forth in the south, to the Firth of Tay in the north, the route offers an unrivalled walking experience.
The route offers a range of walking experiences from easy and level, to wild and demanding. Whether completed in smaller sections or as a long distance route, there is definitely something for everyone. 
From the cosmopolitan atmosphere of St.Andrews to the former coal mining towns of central Fife. The small fishing villages of the East Neuk to the bustling industrial areas of the west, rugged cliffs, award winning beaches, internationally important estuaries and wildlife reserves, walking the Fife Coastal Path is an experience not to be missed.
Whether you are looking for peace and tranquillity or action and adventure the Fife Coastal Path can offer you this and much, much more. 
The Fife Coastal Path is one of Scotland's Great Trails and is part of Fife's Core Path network  which helps to increase access to green space and establsih links between neighbouring communities.

FIFE COASTAL PATH

We offer exceptional wildlife and nature boat tours aiming to give the best experience possible for our trips to the Isle of May, round the island or simply a fun trip up the coast. Our trips are enjoyed by people of all ages from children to our more experienced customers.

The Isle of May is an absolute treasure and owned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). It is open for visitors from start of April till end of September. SNH have rangers who live on the island during this time whose aim is to make your visit more enjoyable and informative. They will greet you on the pier when you arrive, give a short talk including the latest goings on with the wildlife and patrol the island during your visit.

THE OSPREY