East Neuk holiday suggestions

[HipoftheRugosa]

Looking for recommendations of must do/see/eat for East Neuk in the spring 🙏No kids.

The Waterfront and The Wee Chippy are owned by the same people so it's swings and roundabouts which one you go to.

There’s a wee pub that we used to go to for dinner in Cellardyke called the Haven. We went back recently and the food was still so good.

I queued for a long time at the Wee Chippy and the end results were underwhelming. Burnt offerings. Think the staff were struggling that night.

Which Anstruther fish and chips you prefer is just down to personal preference - they're all excellent in their own way. Personally my favourite is the Fish Bar as I think the batter is the crispiest and best. If we're going to one of the others (usually to beat the queues) I'd have something other than fish as in my opinion it's a disappointment in comparison. The Crail Fish Bar is also good.

We intended to get takeaway from the new pizza place, Bonn, on a Sunday evening recently and they only had enough dough left for sit in orders(!) so we ended up going to the Fish Bar instead.

Thank you that’s interesting and I agree the crispness of the batter is important!

I prefer the fish bar but Tail End in St Andrews is my favourite. I like it better than Cromars. I like crispy batter and big juicy but not soggy chips.

Another recommendation for The Ship Inn in Elie, great food and setting.

Have a brilliant trip OP!

We stayed in Anstruther a good while ago, but without young kids, I’d stay in st Andrew’s. If you like walking, the coastal path is excellent, and St Andrews has a lovely beach, and the ruins are interesting. There’s also the hidden bunker in the countryside which is fab.

The one time we went to The Wee Chippy the chips were burnt and the fish was dry. We had hangry children and the queue at the Fish Bar was massive (the May Princess had just arrived back) so we didn't want to wait in the queue.

The fish and chip shop in Crail is better than either in Anstruther. It’s really good.

The question of which chippy is best is a not uncommon discussion point for East Neuk residents. I know people who live in Crail who always drive to Anstruther for fish and chips, I know people in Pittenweem who wish they lived in Crail because the chippy is their favourite. What it comes down to is they are all very good. They all have off days though. I had really weird tasting chips from the Waterfront a couple of weeks ago, for example, which I think is because they were new potatoes. In tourist season they all have big queues and we don’t have fish and chips often. In the off season only the Fish Bar has a queue, but I still don’t think that’s because it’s the best, it’s just famous. To add to the mix the Pittenweem chip shop is going to be rebuilt in the same place, I believe by one of the St Monans fish merchants, to include a sit down restaurant. Progress is very slow on that though.

I am going to be in heaven sampling all the fish and chip shops ❤️

The Pittenweem one was always number one choice.

Obviously I now have to throw in the Fifie in Wormit even though it's not the East Neuk...

Been going there for a few nights a year for the last decade. Love it. Favourite things are;

Cambo. Amazing walled garden, lovely walk along the burn to Kingsbarns beach. Cafe is great, fully veggie and do it really well. Has the national collection of snowdrops - spectacular in late winter/early spring.
Walking/running on the coast path
Boat to Isle of May - puffins everywhere, get dive bombed by terns
Elie beach. Sandy and can be sheltered so is good for paddle boarding. Ice cream shop on the main street is great.

Elie chain walk (via ferrata, research before you do this to check you know what you are getting in for and you are up for it)
Tidal pools at Cellardyke and Pittenweem
Crazy golf above the Pittenweem tidal pool - BYO putter and ball and you can play if the kiosk is closed.

Play a round on the 'Himalayas' putting green at St Andrews
Pretend to be Nigel Havers on West Sands
Read Robinson Crusoe and explore round Lower Largo

Sorry to add another chippy, but we go to Imrie's fish bar in Leven!

Thank you so much for sharing - how much you love it comes through so strongly in what you’ve written! I’m not sure if I’ll manage the chain walk but it does look amazing 😮

Imrie's is excellent!

Some other ideas not yet mentioned.

Get the Dolly bus to Elie and start walking back towards Anstruther along the coastal path. The Pathhead garden Centre in St Monans has been done up and does take away cake and coffee and is accessible from the path. The Giddy Gannet in St Monans is also good for cake.

The Inn at Kingsbarns does good food now. The Rockies at Anstruther golf club is consistently good too. The Nook coffee shop in Crail is better than the Harbour Gallery but doesn’t have the views. The Beehive is a lovely gift shop but the food isn’t that great.

A scotch pie from Penmans butchers in Crail (also Anstruther) should not be missed.

The smoked haddock from the Crail Chippie is THE BEST!

Shoregate food is great and the cocktails in the bar are top drawer.

The Golf hotel bar has a great atmosphere but it’s a bit ‘rough’ for me. DH likes it for a pint though.

Thank you wow I’ve got brilliant information and it sounds just a fabulous area! Also as well as chips I’ll be enjoying cake!

Kingsbarns beach is gorgeous for a walk, or swim! The cheese toastie shack used to be there in the summer, but wasn't there this year - I understand it's only in St Andrews now. It does an amazing toastie!
The tidal pools at Pittenweem and Cellardyke are gorgeous for a dip, but I usually wear water shoes, as a bit rocky/slippery.
As others have said, Cambo House & Gardens is a nice spot too. Gorgeous wee cafe, and also walled gardens to enjoy.

Oh, and in St Andrews, try Janettas for ice cream; and Luvians in Cupar too!