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Crail
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 practised 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 about 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Edinburghs
Museum of Antiquities.
Lower Largo
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.