Holiday rentals in Anstruther

The cobbled promenade and colourful houses lining Anstruther’s waterfront sum up the old-fashioned charm that this part of Fife — known as East Neuk — is famed for. On the northernmost part of the Firth of Forth, the “neuk” itself comprises a string of attractive fishing villages, whose distinctive houses are inspired by a long trading history with Holland. Anstruther, the largest, has seen the working vessels in its harbour largely replaced with pleasure boats; its winding alleyways are now home to inns and restaurants, not to mention an impressive number of chippies serving lip-smacking fish and chips.

A small burn, the Dreel, runs to the west of the town, bordered by a meadow; beyond lies Billow Ness Beach, and a golf club that lays claim to one of the toughest par threes in the United Kingdom. There’s snorkelling, kayaking, and bouldering for those who want to get active, and hours of absorption at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, housed in some of the harbour’s most historic buildings.

The vagaries of the Scottish weather make summer the best time to stay in an accommodation in Anstruther. Temperatures are warmest in July and August, when seaside destinations are at their busiest. June and September can be a good alternative, while spring and autumn are a good time to enjoy the coast and the countryside so long as you’re prepared for the possibility of bracing winds and rainy days. Summer is also when East Neuk puts on its best events, including Anstruther’s own Harbour Festival in June: more than two hundred boats of all types — historic, classic, and modern — gather for the Anstruther Muster, while the popular Anster Fair takes place on shore. If you’re around in April, don’t miss the annual rubber duck race on the Dreel Burn.

Billow Ness Beach

Next to the golf course lies this sheltered sandy bay, whose beach looks out over the famous Firth of Forth. It’s a quiet spot with a number of rockpools, and surrounds grassland that is a rich habitat for insects and birds. The Fife Coastal Path runs along the beach, eventually leading to the equally pretty East Neuk villages of Pittenweem and St Monans.

Cellardyke

If you like Anstruther’s gentle charms, you’ll love its neighbour. Just half a mile to the east — the two villages pretty much run together — the houses of this quieter fishing port have been designated a Conservation Area, so visiting can really feel like stepping back in time. Cellardyke has its own harbour, surrounded by beautiful coastal scenery.

Isle of May

This tiny island, five miles off the coast, is a national nature reserve. From April through September you can visit it by boat for a good look at its many inhabitants. In summer, its sheer vertical cliffs are covered in nesting seabirds, while in autumn the area is a breeding ground for Atlantic grey seals. Don’t leave without getting a peek at the isle’s 900-year-old monastery ruins.