 THE
COUNTY OF FIFE, more picturesquely known by the older title
of Kingdom of Fife, is a corner of Scotland which may be
overlooked by caravanners passing to and from the better
known beauty spots. Lying between the Forth arid Tay estuaries
with water forming three sides of the county, Fife has, until
now, been easiest to reach from the Kincardine Bridge in
the south-west or Perth to the north-west, The opening of
the Forth road bridge, now scheduled for autumn this year,
should alter this situation considerably. For one thing the
bridge itself is a sight not to be missed, and once there
the urge to cross and explore should not be resisted. it
seems likely that the toll charge will be 2s. 64. per vehicle,
which is not excessive. That is the figure currently proposed
by the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board.
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| Between
Kincardine and the northern end of the Forth road bridge lies
the lovely old Royal Burgh of Culross , pronounced Cooross
. Here are numerous old 16th and 17th century buildings, many
restored by the National Trust for Scotland, forming a delightful
picture of Scottish architecture of that period. Nearby, Dunfermline
is a linen manufacturing town noted as the birthplace of Andrew
Carnegie and for its Abbey Church, burial place of Robert the
Bruce. |
| There
is no very high ground in Fife but the Lomond Hills on the
border of Kinross are landmarks from afar. A coalfield stretches
from the Lomonds to the coast around Kirkcaldy, home of the
linoleum industry, and mars this area for the tourist. |
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The
northern and eastern parts of the county are fertile agricultural
land, particularly the 'Howe of Fife', lying between Auchtermuchty
and the county town of Cupar . A few miles south of Auchtermuchty
is another Royal Burgh, Falkland, where there are many picturesque
old houses and, of especial interest, the 16th century Falkland
Palace, once seat of the Scottish Court. St. Andrews, on
the coast east of Cupar has several claims to fame; the University,
the oldest in Scotland, was founded in 1412, the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club is the ruling authority on the game and
there are many ecclesiastical remains and fine old houses-to
say nothing of extensive beaches to attract tourists.
From
Fife Ness, the most easterly point of the county, the
coastline turns south-west into the Firth of Forth and
here, in the East Neuk of Fife, lie a series of exceptionally
attractive fishing villages with fascinating old harbours
and houses. Further west is the holiday resort of Elie
, boasting good sands.
There
are two pleasant farm sites at Gairney Bridge Farm and
Hawthorn Vale Farm just inside Kinross-shire, on the
A90 Kinross-Forth Bridge road, which would be suitable
spots for a night or two while visiting the Culross ,
Dunfermline area or Auchtermuchty , Falkland and
the Lomonds . A filling station site at Arlary , about
four miles farther north, is situated on a busy junction
and really only suitable for a night halt. |
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Immediately
to the south of the Lomond Hills there is a small, quiet, municipal
site forming part of a recreation ground on the Back Braes,
Leslie ; see signs off A911. Apart from these and the municipal
site at Haugh Road, Burntisland , the majority of sites, quite
naturally, are grouped round or near the coast from Leven northwards
to St Andrews. Leven itself has a large, municipal site well
placed immediately adjacent to the beach at Shepherds Knowe
, and there is another a few miles east at Lower Largo Harbour
.
The
municipal site at Crail , at the east end of the town off
Balcomie road, also stretches along the shore. There is another
attractive looking site on the shore at Kilrenny Mill, Kilrenny
, just east of Anstruther . Anstruther has a large,
holiday-camp type of site catering largely for static vans;
it is on the edge of the town, not far from the sea, tidy
and well kept, and offers such attractions as recreation
rooms, TV. The big municipal site at Kinkell Braes, about
~ mile south of St Andrews, is also primarily for static
vans and has a lovely situation on sloping ground overlooking
the sea. |
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Other
coastal sites are at St Monance , on A9l 7, between Elie and
Anstruther , the Crail Caravan Motel, in a walled garden opposite
the railway station, and the municipal site at East Common,
Tayport . A few miles inland from St Andrews are three more
sites, Bogward farm, near B939, Cairnsmill Dairy Farm a sunny,
open site catering for eighty vans, on A915, and Windward
Farm, a quiet, secluded site in pleasant parkland, up a rough
road off B939.
Another
parkland site is at Largo House, overlooking Largo Bay, for
which you turn inland off A915 at the War Memorial. At Pitmilly
Hotel midway between St Andrews and Crail on A918, there
is a very pleasant small site where the vans are attractively
placed between woodland and lawns where putting, swings,
etc., are available. Any of these sites would provide a good
base from which to explore the surrounding coast and country.
The fishing villages, incidentally, are best visited by car
or on foot as the streets are narrow and steep in places.
There is a large parking area by the harbour at Anstruther
and another at Elie . |
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| Finally,
in common with the East Lothian and Moray coasts, the East
Neuk of Fife is blessed with rather better than average figures
for sunshine and dry weather, surely a prime attraction for
any caravanner . |
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