Welcome to Wild Harbour Cottage and the historic fishing village of Pittenweem, at the heart of the beautiful East Neuk of Fife.
This newly refurbished one-bedroomed ground floor apartment in the centre of one of Fife’s most charming coastal villages offers accommodation for up to four guests. Overlooking Pittenweem’s distinctive 16th century parish church and tollbooth, and a stone’s throw from the 14th century priory, Wild Harbour is the perfect base from which to explore the rich and varied delights of the Kingdom of Fife.
Our aim is to offer a comfortable, well-appointed but cost-effective place to take short breaks or longer holidays - so you can fall in love with the East Neuk, just like we have.
Whether you enjoy long walks along coastal or inland paths, visiting historic castles, houses and churches, investigating the narrow wynds and closes of the fishing villages, playing golf on world-class courses, spotting seabirds as they hop between the rockpools on the shore, tasting the delights of Fife’s outstanding restaurants, pubs and food festivals or shopping for crafts and art in the many galleries, this area has something for everyone.
Wild Harbour Cottage Details
Wild Harbour is a ground floor apartment on Lady Wynd, just off the main road that runs through the historic fishing village of Pittenweem. It's less than a minute from the village’s High Street and no more than a couple of minutes from the historic, working harbour.
Wild Harbour has one good-sized double bedroom and one large double sofa bed in the living room. It has a well-equipped kitchen and a newly refurbished bathroom with both a bath and shower. There is gas central heating throughout and cavity wall insulation means that, even in the depths of winter, things are always cosy indoors.
There is broadband wi-fi throughout.
Bedroom
- King-size double-bed with orthopedic mattress
- Fitted wardrobes
- USB connector electricity powerpoints
Bathroom
- Standard-sized enamel bath with powerful mains shower
- Vanity unit with single mixer tap
- Illuminated mirror with in-built de-mister
- WC
Livingroom
- 24” flat screen TV with digital freeview and BT TV (basic package)
- DVD player
- Compact hi-fi
- Bookcase with large selection of fiction and non-fiction books
- Large selection of DVDs
- Large three-seater sofa bed
- Gate-leg dining table
- Mid-century McIntosh of Kirkcaldy sideboard
Kitchen
Fully-equipped kitchen with:
- Cooker with ceramic hob and two ovens
- Washing machine
- Toaster
- Electric kettle
- Microwave
- Selection of pots, pans and utensils
- In addition, there are 6 mid-century Habitat folding chairs and a good-sized garden to the front and side of the accommodation and a drying green to the rear.
Local Area Information
There is a wealth of different things to do and see in and around the village of Pittenweem, in the wider East Neuk and within easy driving distance, across Fife and beyond.
Pittenweem
History
Pittenweem is a fishing village, with a history probably dating back to early Christian times. The remains of the Augustinian priory, the east gatehouse and a completely intact ‘great house’, dates back to the 14th century. The priory was built over the holy cave of St Fillan, which sits on Cove Wynd just off the High Street, and can be visited by borrowing a key from the Cocoa Tree bistro. In 1541, following a visit by King James V, it was designated a Royal Burgh.
At the end on the 17th century Pittenweem was the centre of a series of notorious witch trials. The burgh was bogged down in debt and witchcraft was used as an excuse to improve the financial position by seizing the assets of some local women. The Parish Kirk at the top of the High Street adjoins the Tolbooth which was used as the jail for the accused, and the door to the cells can still be seen. It is the studded door at the bottom of the tower.
Many houses in the village are in the crow-step cable style. These date back to the 17th and 18th century and were strongly influenced by buildings in the Low Countries which had strong trading links with the area.
Harbour
Pittenweem is still a busy working harbour surrounded by some beautiful historic buildings. In the summer visitors can buy fresh fish and seafood from the FMA harbour shop.
Pittenweem Festival
In early August, Pittenweem holds its famous Arts Festival over a ten-day period. Private houses, garages, boat stores and net lofts are converted temporarily into art galleries for local, national and international artists, both professional and amateur. Paintings, drawings, ceramics, jewellery and crafts are exhibited for sale. The festival is run entirely by volunteers and attracts a large number of visitors, with many events organised during the festival dates.
Food and Drink
Pittenweem has a number of places to eat and drink. The Pittenweem Chip Shop is just across from the Kirk and is one of the best in the UK. It also sells newspapers and rolls on Sunday mornings. The Cocoa Tree is a lovely bistro on the High Street that also makes its own high quality chocolate. A few doors down is Cuppa, a friendly coffee shop. Funky Scottish, further down the High Street and opposite the Post Office, is a gift shop and café, serving tea, coffee, cake and light snacks. The West End on South Loan, is a pub that serves evening meals in the summer while the Larachmhor Tavern serves food all day as well as having a fully stocked bar.
The Post Office sells a good selection of provisions and fresh food, and has a pharmacy. You can also withdraw cash at the counter. The village shop, Traquair’s, is next door, and sells alcohol, in addition to a normal selection of groceries. Barnett’s, the bakery, sells fresh bread, cakes and pies. Bowman’s fish shop is on the corner of Routine Row and the Backgate, just behind the High Street. Nicholson’s, on the harbourfront, sells traditional sweets and ice cream. Opening times can be found here.
Galleries
There’s a number of all-year-round galleries in Pittenweem, including the Fisher Gallery, the Weem Gallery, both on the High Street, and the Coach House on School Wynd.
West Braes
Overlooking the harbour from the west is West Braes, which includes a swing park, crazy golf course (in the summer), a skateboard park and large recreation ground for exercising dogs and playing ball games. Down below is the historic outdoor pool, which is currently being renovated by volunteers.
Other villages
Elie
The furthest south of the East Neuk villages, and probably the most genteel, is Elie, a traditional holiday destination for the middle classes of Edinburgh. It has the best beach in the East Neuk and some excellent restaurants, including the Ship Inn, which overlooks the harbour. Elie Kirk is also very unusual architecturally and worth a visit.
St Monans
St Monans is the village to the immediate south of Pittenweem. Walking on the coastal path takes around 20 to 30 minutes while driving takes less than five minutes. It boasts an attractive harbour and the fabulous East Pier Smokehouse bistro, famous for its fresh seafood, including lobster. The Smokehouse only opens from mid-April to the end of September, but it’s always worth the wait. Craig Millar’s restaurant at 16 West End also has an excellent reputation.
If walking from Pittenweem to St Monans, you will pass its iconic windmill and salt pans. From the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the late 18th century, salt was harvested from sea water evaporating in flat man-made pools on the shore. Fife was a centre of Scottish salt production which was exported to England and continental Europe. The windmill, recently restored, was used to pump sea water into the pans.
St Monans Kirk is prominent on the headland and the inscriptions on the graves in the church yard make for fascinating reading.
Anstruther
Anstruther is the busiest of the East Neuk villages and has many shops, bars, restaurants and a couple of banks. Whereas it used to be one of the busiest harbours, this has now been converted into a marina. In the summer, pleasure trips are run from here to see the puffins and seals on the Isle of May. Anstruther is famous for its award-winning fish and chip shop, which has been visited by many celebrities and even royalty. It is the home to the Scottish National Fisheries Museum, which is a really fascinating visit. The Cellar, at 24 East Green, is one of two Michelin star restaurants in Fife, and is very good value in comparison to other Michelin star menus. Anstruther Kirk sits to the south of the harbour and includes a memorial to St Adrian, who founded the priory on the Isle of May and was martyred by Danish Vikings in AD 875.
There is a good-sized Scotmid supermarket opposite the new Wade Academy building on the St Andrews road out of Anstruther (turn left at the first button roundabout). It opens early and stays open till late.
Cellardyke
Cellardyke was traditionally a separate village to Anstruther but in the twentieth century to two overlapped. The harbour is very picturesque, as are the narrow streets with fishermen’s cottages on either side. The Haven bar and restaurant overlooks Cellardyke Harbour and serves both lunch and evening meals.
Crail
Craig is a couple of miles north of Cellardyke and is the last of the main East Neuk fishing villages and is very pretty. Its proximity to St Andrews means that grand villas rub shoulders with traditional fishing cottages. It’s parish church dates as far back as the 13th century while the Tollbooth was built around 1600. Crail has several hotel restaurants and tearooms.
The Crail golf course at Balcomie is one of the oldest in the world, even older than the world famous Old Course at St Andrews. It has been used as a qualifying course for the Open and Dunhill Cup.
