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Crail
[more]
In the Kennedy Airport USA, there hung a print of the famous Crail harbour, which
has been sketched by hundreds over the years. Lobster and crab are at
their best, as Crail has earned an enviable reputation for shellfish
due to the exceptional cleanliness of the local water.
Golfers too are well catered at the two hundred-year-old Crail Golfing
Society's Balcomie and Craighead seaside courses, both open to the public.
Historians will be interested to know that the now disused airfield
on the outskirts housed Swordfish planes with which Fleet Air Arm crews
practiced torpedo attack techniques during the 1939/1945 war.
Leaving Crail, pressing on west and looking left, stands The
Isle of May, with its warning beacon and long history. The
missionary St Adrian was killed by marauding Danes on the island around
the year 875. Famous too as a breeding ground for the various kinds
of sea birds, guillemots and puffins in particular.
On the far side of the Forth, the Bass Rock is prominent - there gannets
breed and regularly fly 60 miles eastwards to their feeding grounds.
Kilrenny
[more]
Four miles from Crail inland on the right Kilrenny Church spire catches
the eye. An attractive rural village, Kilrenny supports an active progressive
community. The now unused churchyard has some ancient and interesting
inscriptions on its tombstones.
Cellardyke
[more]
Nearby on the shore lies the once busy and prosperous fishing village
of Cellardyke. The Dutch-built harbour now berths a variety of pleasure
craft with outside stairs and crow-stepped gables, enjoying conservation
status.
Anstruther
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Adjoining Cellardyke lies Anstruther, with its large harbour berthing
many pleasure and commercial fishing vessels. Sea angling and trips
to the May Isle are available during the season. The R.N.L.I. lifeboat
is a major attraction as is the impressive Scottish
Fisheries Museum at the quayside, which recalls the once
thriving fishing and boat building industry and related history of fishing
methods.
The Dreel burn divides east and west Anstruther and the song tells how
in ancient times Maggie Lauder carried King James IV over it to keep
his feet dry. On the west side a nine-hole golf course adjoining the
shore at the Billowness welcomes visitors with an invitation to the
clubhouse with licensed catering.
Pittenweem
[more]
A fifteen-minute walk by the shore and you arrive at bustling Pittenweem
with its daily Fish
Market auctioning the fleet's white fish and shellfish for
home and abroad. A thriving fish economy with boats unloading, catches
auctioned and fish being dispatched is Pittenweem's reason for being.
From the shore there are many wynds on of which is the location of St
Fillan's Cave that can be seen by appointment from the Gingerbread
Horse in the High Street.
An annual summer Arts Festival brings noted artists and art lovers
to show and view the various exhibitions shown throughout the village.
St Monans
[more]
A further two miles along the coast is St Monans with it's "Auld Kirk" (old
church). Unusual is the sailing ship which is suspended from the church
ceiling. An odd skerries formation offshore attracts geology students.
West of the village can be seen the sails of a non-functioning windmill
where salt was extracted from the saltpans last century.
Elie and Earlsferry
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Elie and Earlsferry, the village with the double name which caters very
successfully with tourism. A testing golf course, open to the public,
for the discerning golfer and with an abundance of hotels and guest
houses. The stretches of clean golden
sands particularly attract families with children.
Kilconquhar
& Colinsburgh [more]
Doubling back slightly and moving inland you come into Kilconquhar.
One of the smallest villages in the area it has a certain charm all
of its own, with wonderful views over the loch. There is a large estate
here, Kilconquhar Castle, that has been turned into a holiday resort.
Leaving here and heading even further inland you enter Colinsburgh,
another small village that supports two public bars and two garages.
Charleton Estate again on the outskirts is a main feature of Colinsburgh.
Upper Largo
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Moving along the beautiful coast route you come to Upper Largo. As you
enter to the left is an entrance down to the Scottish Larder. With a
wonderful selection of Scottish food and an excellent restaurant it
is a must for all tourists. Looking up you see the 294m Largo Law, it
is said to have riches of celtic origins buried there, some of which
are displayed in Edinburgh's Museum of Antiquities.
Lower Largo
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Turning down to the sea again we find Lower Largo more famously known
for Alexander Selkirk, better known as Daniel Defoes' Robinson Crusoe.
In the main street there is a statue of him looking out to sea searching
for boats. The old 19th century granary overlooking the harbour is now
the Crusoe hotel.
Lundin Links
[more]
Coming back up from the shore you join onto Lundin Links. The Lundin
Links Hotel can't be missed, as it is a splendid white with black timber
building. From the hotel heading west takes you on a straight road out
of the village. With a bowling green and two golf courses the village
offers plenty to do.
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