Things to do and see around Pitlessie
Walking
Children's Activities
Walking
Pitlessie is well sited for ramblers, hikers and dog-walkers. A number of routes of varying length through farmland and woodland can be tackled direct from The Maltings. A 10 minute drive in any direction brings you to a range of other locations including the Lomond Hills Regional Park. These three 500m hills are connected by upland moors, forests and reservoirs and offer a network of paths that can provide a full day of hill walking, less than 5 miles from The Maltings.
https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/walks/lomond-hills/
The Fife Coastal Path runs between the Kincardine Bridge on the Forth estuary in the south and Newburgh on the Tay estuary in the north. It is 117 miles of walking through some spectacular natural landscapes and interesting coastal communities.
The way-marked route is divided into convenient days of walking, All of the access points for the start and end of each of the days can be accessed easily from Pitlessie by car or by public transport. We have walked this whole route ourselves from our base in Pitlessie using the public transport connections.
https://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/walks/fife-coastal-path/
Tentsmuir Forest and National Nature Reserve on the coast by the Tay estuary is about a 20 minute drive from Pitlessie. The forest has a network of way-marked paths and cycle routes along with a number of bird watching sites. The BBC's Autumn Watch was based at Tentsmuir in 2020. If you keep your eyes peeled when on the beach, you may spot the Sea Eagle pair that nest in the forest.
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/tentsmuir
For more routes in and around Fife, checkout the WalkHighlands website
Cycling
Children's Activities
Walking
There is a network of way-marked cycle routes around North East Fife that use a web of small lanes to keep the cyclist off the main roads. These routes can take you inland towards Loch Leven, north to the Tay or east to the coast. It's easy to find a route to suit your interests and distance target.
Tentsmuir Forest and National Nature Reserve on the coast by the Tay estuary is about a 20 minute drive from Pitlessie. The forest has a network of way-marked paths and cycle routes along with a number of bird watching sites. The BBC's Autumn Watch was based at Tentsmuir in 2020. If you keep your eyes peeled when on the beach, you may spot the Sea Eagle pair that nest in the forest.
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/tentsmuir
Loch Leven heritage trail is a 13 mile walking and cycling trail around Loch Leven, which is itself a National Nature Reserve and home to the RSPB Vane Farm bird sanctuary. The low level route is well sign-posted and there are a number of refreshment points along the way.
The trail can be accessed by car at a number of points (approximately 17 miles from Pitlessie). For those looking for a longer cycle, there are a number of routes using minor roads and lanes that deliver cyclists safely to Loch Leven.
Children's Activities
Children's Activities
Children's Activities
There are a range of family friendly attractions, all within 30 minutes driving time from Pitlessie
Scottish Deer Centre, Cupar
Less than 3 miles from The Maltings, the Deer Centre hosts an animal collection of species that are, or once were, native to the Scottish countryside. The centre also includes an extensive adventure playground.
Fife Zoo, Cupar
A 10 minute drive from The Maltings, Fife Zoo hosts a range of small animals from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
https://www.locaji.co.uk/scotland/cupar/fife-zoo/351381/
Beaches
The famous West Sands beach at S Andrews is a perfect day out with safe swimming and beach activities including land yachting.
The Tentsmuir National Nature reserve includes miles of unspolit sand and dunes with the chance to spot seals and sea eagles.
Cairney Farm Mega Maze, Cupar
The farm just outside Cupar provides a huge outdoor play area along with a great cafe. The summer highlight is the Maize Maze - a 6 acre maze cut into the maize field with a different layout each year.
Scotlands Secret Bunker
The secret bunker hidden beneath a farmhouse was destined to be the government centre for managing eastern Scotland after a nuclear war.
Fisheries Museum, Anstruther
The museum records the history of the Scottish fishing fleet with a collection of 18 historic boats.
Fife Folk Museum, Ceres
Based in the old Tolbooth house a few miles from Pitlessie, the museum records life in Fife from the 1600s onwards
Eating Out
The East Neuk
Children's Activities
Pubs & Bars
Pitlessie Village Inn - 50 metres -
Ship Inn, Elie - 16 miles -
The Adamson, St Andrews - 14 miles -
The Saint, St Andrews - 14 miles
The Bruce, Falkland - 7 miles -
Loch Leven Brewery, Kinross - 20 miles -
Restaurants
The Peat Inn, Peat Inn - 9 miles - - Michelin Starred -
Haar, St Andrews - 14 miles - Masterchef finalist Dean Banks- www.haarrestaurant.com
The ShoreGate, Crail - 19 miles - Scottish Fare tasting menu
Cafes
Cairnie Fruit Farm, Cupar - 6 miles -
The Pillars Of Hercules, Falkland - 7 miles -
Campbells Eatery, Falkland - 7 miles
www.campbellscoffeehouse.co.uk
The East Neuk
The East Neuk
The East Neuk
The East Neuk is the name given to a scenic stretch of the Fife coast stretching from Crail in the North to Elie in the South. The area is characterised by the pretty fishing villages that now support a thriving arts scene.
Now in its 39th year, the annual Pittenweem Arts Festival attracts over over 20,000 visitors each year to experience the art on display, from over 100 artists, displaying their work throughout the village: mainly in houses but also in garages, halls, sheds and really anywhere that has a place to hang or place artwork.
https://pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk/
Crail Pottery was established in 1965 and is set around a beautiful courtyard in the heart of historic Crail. Crail is famed for its picturesque harbour, historic buildings with pantiles and crow stepped gables and Crail Pottery.
Open Studios North Fife is an annual event usually taking place during the first holiday weekend in May. The event provides interesting and informative days out visiting studios and having the opportunity to meet and speak to the makers of a wide variety of artwork and perhaps to buy or commission directly from them.
https://openstudiosfife.co.uk/
For 30 years since 1985 ‘Wemyss Ware’ has been produced by the Griselda Hill Pottery Ltd in the Fife village of Ceres, three miles East of Pitlessie. Each piece is hand painted and unique. The painters, who have all worked at the Pottery for over fifteen years, use a secret technique of painting which has been passed down through generations from the original designer, Karel Nekola.
The Falkland Traditional Music Festival takes place annually in August. It occupies a number of venues within the village. The festival is a small and intimate festival which aims to promote and encourage Scottish traditional music and song through workshops, competitions, sessions and concerts.
Falkland
The East Neuk
The East Neuk
Falkland is a picturesque village in the Howe of Fife, at the foot of the Lomond Hills. The village is a favourite destination for locals with a variety of pubs and eateries as well as a number of unique shops, all housed in the many listed buildings.
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/falkland-p238941
Falkland Palace at the centre of the village was the country residence of the Royal House of the Stuarts. The gardens are home to Britain's oldest real tennis court.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/falkland-palace
More recently, the village has become well known as the location for filming of the Inverness scenes from the Outlander TV series.
http://www.outlanderlocations.com/locations/falkland/
Other Outlander locations within an hour of The Maltings include Culross (Cranesmuir), Doune Castle (Castle Leoch) and MidHope Castle (Lallybroch)
Golf
Castles and Palaces
Castles and Palaces
Scotland is famous as the home of golf, and the most famous course of all, the Old Course at St Andrews, is only 12 miles from The Maltings.
There are also other courses nearby, at Ladybank, Carnoustie and the other courses in St Andrews. Even Gleneagles is less than an hour away.
So whether you are playing yourself or watching the professionals play, The Maltings is a great golfing base.
Castles and Palaces
Castles and Palaces
Castles and Palaces
For the history buffs, a range of Scotland's most famous and historic castles are easily accessible from Pitlessie.
From the military centres of Edinburgh and Stirling Castles via the clan seats of Doune and Castle Campbell to the dramatic coastal sites of Dunotter and St Andrews Castles there is a destination to suit everyone.
Cities
Castles and Palaces
Cities
From the Malting's central location in Pitlessie, most of Scotland's major cities are a convenient day trip by car or public transport.
Dundee, Stirling, Perth, St Andrews and Edinburgh are all reachable by car in an hour or less. Glasgow and Aberdeen are a little further away at around an hour and a half in the car.