A Beginners Guide to Fife, Scotland
Considering a trip to the Fife coast? This guide will help you plan the perfect visit – whether it’s a day trips, long weekend, or week-long adventure.
When people plan a visit to Scotland, it’s often the wild Highlands or its capital Edinburgh which top their must-do lists.
However, for those looking for a trip that’s packed with hidden gems and picture postcard destinations - but with much less driving - then look no further than Fife.
Nestled on Scotland’s east coast, Fife is a magical mix of timeless fishing villages, market towns, and rolling countryside. But the best part of Fife is undoubtedly the coast - miles of unforgettable coastline with stunning coastal scenery and golden sandy beaches around every turn.
There are fairytale palaces too, dramatic castles, distilleries, and historic harbours.
Plus vibrant towns like St Andrews to quaint villages like Culross and harbour village Crail, there’s hundreds of years of history to discover. Not to mention a thriving foodie scene, gin & whisky distilleries, and gorgeous boutique hotels.
Once you arrive, you’ll be spoilt for choice here – an ancient kingdom rich in history and heritage, you simply have to add a Fife trip to your Scotland bucket list.
I first visited Fife when I was only little; this region was our go-to summer holiday destination. Many years later, I’m still in love with Fife, and was lucky enough to spend a month here last summer, including a solo walk on the Fife Coastal Path.
So, to help you plan an incredible day trip or weekend getaway, I’ve created this ‘beginners guide to Fife.’ Below you’ll find the best places to visit, accommodation, and practical tips like choosing your route and where to stop.
Ready to visit Fife? Then let’s go!
Where is Fife?
Situated on the east coast of Scotland, Fife is only an hour’s drive north of Edinburgh.
Often overlooked in favour of Scotland’s more remote northern destinations, Fife is nonetheless a stunning place and one that is teeming with history. From its ancient royal connections to its seaside harbours, Fife’s winding roads through coastal and countryside landscapes guarantee a picturesque journey with lots to see and do.
How far from Edinburgh: approx. 45-minutes.
How far from Glasgow: approx. 55-minutes.
If you’re coming from Edinburgh/the east, you’ll use the Queensferry Crossing Bridge. And if you’re starting in Glasgow/the west, you’ll cross the Kincardine Bridge. Ultimately, both routes meet in southern Fife, though you may want to adjust some of the first stops depending on your direction of travel.
Where does A coastal Fife trip start and end?
Our Fife coastal journey starts in Culross, a beautiful village in West Fife, and ends in the town of St Andrews.
The best Fife coastal road trip (coming soon), starts in the west and heads north, and your itinerary is Culross > West Fife > Aberdour > East Neuk villages > St Andrews.
However, you could easily choose any start point in the middle, visit any of the villages along the way, or skip ahead to St Andrews. Depending on your travel style and how much time you have available, there’s a perfect Fife day trip, weekend, or 1-week itinerary.
For me, the most beautiful part of Fife is Lower Largo through the coastal East Neuk and onwards to St Andrews, and you’ll want to travel slowly and savour your time there. Plus, if you’re short on time then this is the area I’d prioritise the most.
However, if you have time, West Fife’s beautiful villages are also very much worth visiting; Culross, Limekilns, and North Queensferry are packed full of history, charm, walks, and cosy cafes and make a wonderful day trip, especially from Edinburgh.
How to visit Fife
By car
Personally, I recommend visiting Fife by car. This gives you flexibility, freedom, and the ability to go off-the-beaten-track. Each of our destinations has parking readily available, meaning you can park up and go explore on foot.
If you’re travelling from further afield or don’t have a car, then car rental is available in Edinburgh or Glasgow via Discover Cars.
By bus
This Fife coastal itinerary is also entirely doable on public transport. If you are choosing the bus, then you’ll need the Stagecoach journey planner to connect west Fife with the East Neuk and onwards to St Andrews. However, whilst public transport visits some of the coast’s prettiest stops, you may have to sacrifice a few less accessible places.
On foot
Lastly, there’s always the option of doing it on foot! This route follows much of the Fife Coastal Path, a 183km trail along Fife’s coastline. For anyone looking to combine stunning scenery with an adventure this is most definitely an option.
Choose a base for Fife day trips
Instead of driving every day, you might want to base yourself in one place and plan a series of day trips.
This is an excellent alternative because it saves packing up and checking out each morning - meaning more time to both explore and relax. Plus, you can use this Fife itinerary as a guide for a bunch of fantastic day trips, either by car or bus.
If you’d prefer this option, I’d recommend St Andrews and its abundance of hotels as the perfect base.
How long to visit coastal Fife
Theoretically, you could drive the Fife coastal route in one long day, but you’d miss so many experiences.
Ideally, the minimum time you’ll need to visit Fife is a long weekend. Or a week would be amazing to see and experience everything. Alternatively, if you live within easy travelling distance, Fife is perfect for day trips.
This is especially true if you love the outdoors, walks, and the beach, of which there are many to choose from. Also, expect to spend around a half day in each of Fife’s harbour villages. Whilst you’ll want at least one whole day in St Andrews.
To help you plan, check out this carefully curated coastal Fife itinerary, which is packed with ideas for both short and long trips.
How to find your way around Fife
This is a coastal route, but not a single coastal road. Personally, I recommend setting up Google Maps / your GPS each day and saving each stop, or you might find GPS pulling you on a faster (but less idyllic) route.
Also save any experiences or places you want to visit that day, your accommodation, and places to eat. And if you are using Google Maps, remember to make your map offline so you can use it even if you don’t have internet access.
Lastly, a note on driving in Fife. Unlike the Highlands with its single-track roads, driving in Fife is easy-going and straightforward. However, a Fife road trip will use coastal and countryside roads which can be narrow and slow moving. My advice is to give yourself plenty of time to get around and enjoy the journey.
What to do on the Fife Coast
From spending the day on Fife’s abundant blue-flag beaches, dining out in award winning seafood restaurants, visiting whisky & gin distilleries, boat trips, or coastal trails and discovering castle ruins – there is a massive array of things to do and see along the Fife coast.
All in addition to the picture postcard villages and gorgeous scenery which you’ll visit along the way.
My advice is that you research and plan activities before your trip and make a ‘must-do’ list in advance. Just be sure to balance a fixed plan with time for being spontaneous!
My Fife Coastal itinerary is an excellent starting point for planning your journey.
Where to stay in Fife
Guest house or Airbnb. Cabin or luxury hotel. Coast or countryside.
There’s a range of accommodation options available in Fife, designed for all tastes and budgets. My advice is to take your time finding the right stay – in the right village or town – to suit your trip. Also, be sure to book well in advance. Especially during summer months, when visitors flock to the more popular spots along the coast.
With that in mind, and to help you plan, I’ve included my favourite Fife hotels, Airbnbs, and self-catering options in my Fife itinerary.
Where to find the best food in Fife
Cosy cafes, boujee restaurants, world famous fish & chips, and spectacular seafood - Fife is a serious foodie destination.
Rich and diverse, the area is packed with the most amazing eateries that cater for all tastes, like these Anstruther restaurants. From personal experience, choosing a menu based around seasonality and local produce is always best, and this is especially easy in Fife with ingredients readily available from the nearby coast and countryside.
If you can, plan ahead because popular restaurants usually require reservations. Though more casual spots are usually walk in, such as cafes and bistros.
My ultimate Fife Coastal Route
Before your own Fife coastal trip, you’re going to spend a huge amount of your time working out how to structure the perfect itinerary, plan your accommodation, choose the best activities, discover the best walks, and find the most incredible restaurants.
Phew!
Thankfully, I’ve spent a month exploring the best Fife has to offer, including a coastal road trip and a walk along the Fife Coastal Path. So I can happily recommend an excellent Fife route, alongside tips on visiting gorgeous villages, and a carefully curated list of delicious eateries, coffee shops, hotels, and the best walks. Plus, plenty of options for day trips, a long weekend, and a 1-week road trip.
Intended for slow travel with the best experiences, download my Fife Coastal Itinerary - and have the most incredible trip.
