10th January 2019 


A cloudy dull but thankfully dry day dawned today. A plan to explore the Fife coast was drawn. Camera, tripod and maps along with the appropriate footwear and gear was packed in the car. 

The Fife coast is largely bypassed when you usually drive south down the motorway from Tayside to Lothian and Edinburgh. The most publicised town on Fife coast is, of course St. Andrews – the home of golf. Golf – a sport that has gained international fame today for its big money, celebrity status as well as it’s sporting heroes. St. Andrews has it’s other attractions like the old ruins of the ancient Cathedral built in 1160, the oldest University in Scotland and it’s beautiful buildings. We drove through the town and for the very first time, I found the streets quite empty. I guess it was midweek and the students are probably still on their winter break, but St. Andrews is a town always bustling with tourists all twelve months of the year, so it did look out of character to see a relatively quiet town.

Heading further on the A917, we passed the Kingsbarns Golf Links and the new Kingsbarns Distillery which opened in 2014, the newest Scotch whisky distillery where the spirit is distilled in gleaming copper stills and matured in American oak casks. Kingsbarns is also home to the Cambo country house and estate known for it’s seasonal snowdrop gardens.

Further down the A917, we pass the small quaint fishing village of Crail and on to the larger fishing town of Anstruther with its pier and the fishing boats. Anstruther is a coastal town sitting on the Firth of Forth with the Dreel Burn dividing the town in two halves.

West of Anstruther is the town of St. Monans with it’s iconic Elie Ness Lighthouse and Lady Janet Anstruther’s Tower. A tower built in 1760 for the lady to use as a changing room prior to her morning bathing routine. The views of the Firth from the Tower are amazing especially with the rays of the sun on the water.

A very interesting day spent doing what I love, exploring new places, revisiting places I’d been before and recording my memories. I was told recently by someone who pointed out that I have seen so many places and explored this country more than many “natives”. This is one thing I love about Scotland – there are so many beautiful gems to explore over and over again. Places which take on so many different shades as the seasons pass by. I am indeed, a very lucky person!