A weekend by the sea at Seaview Cottage, Pittenweem

A beautifully cute sea view cottage on the Fife Coastal Path

I adore everything about the East Neuk of Fife, luckily I get to visit often as I live close by. The white washed houses, slotted in between the colourful ones in bright blues, oranges and pinks are cute as a button. They line the harbour front where fishing boats bob gently in the water and the seabirds fly overhead hoping for a bite to eat. The little wonky lanes that head uphill to the small Main Street are home to artists, craftsmen and holiday homes. Up on the Main Street are some lovely cafes which have excellent reputations amongst the locals and I find the locals always know best when it comes to food and where to eat. The East Neuk is an area of Fife that is hugely popular with Scottish families and couples who want a weekend away but is often overlooked by the international visitor who will land in Edinburgh or Glasgow and head up north to the Highlands. I can’t recommend this area enough. Pittenweem and also the surrounding fishing villages of Anstruther, St Monans, Elie and Crail should definitely be added into your Scotland itinerary, just look at the photos!

This weekend my daughter Taylor and I got invited to try out one of Stay In St Andrews's cottages, Seaview Cottage to be precise, in Pittenweem and we jumped at the chance. It was the perfect opportunity to unwind after what had been a busy and hectic January. Visiting the East Neuk always feels to me like I'm escaping into another wee world. It's completely different to other areas of Fife and has more of a relaxed and laid back atmosphere, unless it happens to be during festivals such as the Pittenweem Arts Festival or the Crail Food Festival when the villages pull out all the stops, having been to both of these festivals I can honestly say that both were fantastic and I'd return in a heart beat. I must admit though that I prefer to visit in the shoulder months when the villages are quiet and sleepy. The locals all seem to know each other and chat as they buy their papers and morning rolls and there is a lovely atmosphere as people smile and say hello as they pass.

So that's why I was excited to escape to the East Neuk once more. I love the coast, it's my favourite place to be. When I am searching for accommodation I will usually be looking for seaview cottages as I find the location beside the sea peaceful and excellent for helping me to relax. Of course now I have Crusoe the collie I also have to look for dog friendly cottages in Scotland and this accommodation in Fife is both a cottage by the sea and dog friendly. I love staying on the coast as I love hearing the sounds of the waves and the birds chatting in the morning, sitting in the garden with my morning cup of tea. Taylor is also a big fan of the coast and the beach and also the wildlife she can find there. Seaview cottage, with the foot of the garden touching the Fife Coastal Path and the cliffs dropping down to the crashing waves below was perfect. If you are looking for self catering near St Andrews this cottage might be just what you are looking for.

Owner Debbie has really thought of everything. The light and airy open plan living space has a nautical coastal theme. The living room, kitchen and dining space is seperated only by a change of floor, the living room with rugged pine floorboards and the kitchen and dining space a light beech. The dining space is really a whole lot more, not only does it have a table and chairs for meals there is also a lush sofa chair and sofa bed, both decorated in the typical colours of the theme, blue and cream. The sofas face onto the floor to ceiling windows which cover the two main walls of the space and look out over the magnificent Firth of Forth. Even through the room is open plan the living room feels cosy and warm with a curved sofa and oversized cushions.

There is a double bedroom and family bathroom on the ground floor, both immaculately decorated. The modern spiral staircase to the upstairs room makes a stunning feature on the corner of the living room and the bedroom upstairs is spacious and again, beautifully decorated. There are two single beds and a bathroom with walk in shower, as well as two large roof windows so you can see the stars as you fall asleep which very much pleased my daughter. The cottage being dog friendly meant Crusoe was able to come along and have his first little holiday. There was even a bowl of treats waiting for him when we arrived. Not only did he get a treat but we got one too, a delicious selection of goodies from local producers, such as cheese scones from nearby Balgove Larder, oatcakes from Your Piece and vinegar from the Little Herb Farm. There was perhaps a cheeky bottle of red wine too.

The patio doors lead onto a decked area with a wooden table and chairs to relax in outside. The Fife Coastal Path passes the bottom of the garden, and it’s a quick 5 minute walk back to the harbour. Anstruther is a 20 minute walk in the other direction and is home to two excellent fish and chip shops and the amazing Isle of May boat trips. You could also continue the walk towards Crail, Kingsbarn and St Andrews.

We caught a beautiful sunset on our first night when we arrrived and the next day enjoyed a delicious lunch at Jannetta’s Gelateria in St Andrews. Janetta’s is famous for its ice cream and after our soup and bruschetta we indulged in a “St Andrews” sundae with tablet flavoured ice cream and toffee sauce. Yum!
We had a rainy wet walk towards Anstruther that afternoon but even the rain couldn’t dampen the stunning views. Another pretty harbour and another session of finding the best names on the boats for Taylor in myself. In Pittenweem we found “Venture Again and Launch Out”, in Anstruther we spotted the “Reaper” which was used in Outlander. Crusoe woke us early on Sunday, luckily, as there was the most amazing sunrise. Between that and the pod of dolphins we saw from the window, it was a pretty perfect weekend, especially as we ended it with a walk along the coast in nearby St Monans to the salt pans and windmill in the brilliant sunshine. 

You can book Seaview Cottage at Stay St Andrews. If you are looking for self catering in St Andrews or in the surrounding areas they offer many more too, and they all look pretty damn cute. Seaview Cottage itself costs from £600 per week (price for 7 nights in April) and sleeps 4 plus 2 (sofa bed). The kitchen includes oven, microwave, washer dryer and dish washer. There are lots of board games, books, CD’s and DVD’s for both adults and children.

This weekend stay was sponsored by Stay St Andrews but as always these are all my own words and opinions.

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