Fife

 
Roses climbing up the stonework, an inviting open fire, and a large private enclosed garden make Middle Cottage a perfect escape for families looking to step back in time.
 
Accommodation details

• One storey


• Sleeps 4 - 2 twin bedrooms


• Sitting room/dining room with open fire


• Kitchen


• Enclosed private garden


• Shower room with WC and wash basin


• Full central heating

About Hill of Tarvit
French Chippendale-style furniture and paintings by Raeburn line the family rooms of this Edwardian manisionhouse, completed in 1906 by the architect Sir Robert Lorimer. 'Below stairs', the kitchen and pantry have been perfectly preserved to give an insight into the work of the servants who kept the household running.
 
The estate lies among a patchwork of rolling farmland, and has its own superbly kept sunken rose and kitchen gardens, as well as a restored Edwardian hickory-club golf course.
 
About the area
Hill of Tarvit lies just outside Cupar, ten miles from St Andrews, home to Scotland's oldest university and the world's most famous golf course. Fife's East Neuk is a short drive away, offering pristine beaches, picture-perfect harbours and delicious fresh seafood.
 
The nearest shops are 1 mile away in Ceres and 2.5 miles away in Cupar.
 
Things to do

• Head to Anstruther for a stroll along the harbour. After taking in the views across to the Isle of May and the pastel and white cottages lining the shore, grab some award-winning fish and chips at the Anstruther Fish Bar.


• For a day at the beach, St Andrews's West Sands, Elie's Harbour Beach, Burntisland and Aberdour's Silver Sands all have Blue Flags, meaning they are clean, safe and offer good facilities.


• Spend a day in Renaissance paradise at nearby Falkland Palace. The country retreat of the Stuart Kings was a favourite of Mary Queen of Scots and is filled with elaborate antique furnishings.

 
Getting there
Hill of Tarvit lies off the A916, 2 miles south of Cupar and 1 mile from Ceres. Cupar Railway station offers the closest train links.
 
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The Coach House was built in 1839, at the same time as the Manse, to house the minister's driver and his ponies and trap. Now completely refurbished, it has a contemporary airy interior with patio doors created from the old arch the horses would have used, and a private garden with outdoor furniture for alfresco dining.
 
Accommodation details

• 2 storey


• Sleeps 4 - 1 double, 1 twin


• Sitting room


• Kitchen


• Cloakroom (WC, hand basin and shower) on ground floor


• Ensuite shower in master bedroom


• Gas central heating


• Private parking


• Private garden


• Dogs welcome but as the property is close to the main road, they should be kept on a lead.

 
About the area
Pittenweem is the most active working harbour in the East Neuk of Fife, landing gallons of fish and shellfish every morning for auction when the fishing fleet come in to port.
 
Narrow wynds carve through the village's jumble of pale houses towards the harbour, and are dotted with galleries, studios and potteries showcasing the work of the village's thirty or so resident artists and weavers. The famous Pittenweem Arts Festival takes place every July and attracts world class artists and musicians, including the Leipzig String Quartet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
 
Golfers can tee off at nearby St Andrews on the world renowned Old Course. Even closer is the Anstruther course, easily walkable from the Coach House.
The website www.fifediet.co.uk has details on locally sourced foods and farmers markets.
 
Things to do

• Go for a ramble on the East Neuk coastal path to Anstruther, Crail and St Andrews. The path runs just in front of the manse and you can treat yourself to some en route sustenance at the famous Anstruther Fish Bar.


• Head to the sheds on the harbour front early in the morning to see the fish market in full swing.


• Lose yourself in the gardens and woodlands of Kellie Castle, two miles from Pittenweem. The history of the present castle and its estate dates from the mid-fourteenth century. It was heavily restored in the 19th century, leaving a mural by Phoebe Anna Traquair as well as a beautiful Arts & Crafts organic garden.

 
 
Getting there
The Old Manse is situated off the main road from Anstruther to Pittenweem, the A917.
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The house lies at the heart of Falkland's cobbled streets and old buildings, and is a perfect base from which to explore the rich history and rolling countryside of this picturesque part of Fife.
 
A stay at St Andrews House includes a complimentary visit to the Palace and gardens for non-members, during normal property opening hours.
 
Accommodation details

• First floor


• Sleeps 4 - 2 twin bedrooms


• Sitting room


• Kitchen


• Dining room


• Bathroom with bath only


• Gas central heating from gas fire with back boiler


• Immersion water heating


• Parking space available, plus free car park in the village, a short walk away


• A spiral staircase leads to the property which is regrettably not suitable for the infirm

 
About Falkland Palace
With a history that includes a murderous duke, an imprisoned king, several changes of hands and some of Mary Queen of Scots's happiest country days, Falkland Palace is a treasure trove of history, brought to life by exquisitely restored display rooms.
 
The current palace was built between 1450 and 1541 and served as the hunting residence of the Stewart kings and queens. Its tapestry corridor containing 17th century Flemish masterpieces is unmissable, as are the gardens which contain the oldest real (or royal) tennis court in Britain, built for James V.
 
About the area
History runs deep in the village of Falkland, a former Royal Burgh inhabited since before the 12th century. The Falkland hunting estate was given to Duncan Macduff, 6th earl of Fife in 1160 and served as a base for royalty and aristocracy right up until the twentieth century.
 
Falkland also found fortune as a weaving town, and in 1792 an estimated third of the village's population were weavers. Cobbled wynds, an old horsemarket and no less than 28 listed buildings add to the village's historic charm.
 
There are international restaurants and traditional pubs in the village, plus a small supermarket with a post office. To source your own local food, have a look at www.fifediet.co.uk for details on nearby farmers markets.
 
Things to do

• Spend a day at the seaside on one of Fife's famous beaches. West Sands at St Andrews, Silver Sands at Aberdour, Elie and Burntisland have all received the prestigious blue flag award, meaning they are safe, clean and have great facilities.


• Scale the summit of East Lomond, a 424m hill looming over Falkland's south west side. For the brave, its wooded slopes also have a series of downhill mountainbiking tracks.


• Soak up Edwardian elegance at Hill of Tarvit. A classic mansion house remodelled in 1906, there are 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' rooms to explore as well as a rose and kitchen garden.

 
Getting there
Falkland lies 11 miles north of Kirkcaldy on the A912. < Hide