A Complete Guide To Crail | Fife’s Pretty Harbour Village
Whilst it’s difficult to choose between Fife’s beautiful villages, Crail might be my favourite. Crail is a magical place, one that’s filled with quaint streets, cute cafes, and of course Crail harbour – perhaps the prettiest harbour in the wonderful East Neuk.
Once you arrive, you’ll see why it’s so easy to fall in love with this coastal haven.
The East Neuk is scattered with fishing villages, harbours, cottages, and sea views. Yet sleepy Crail manages to somehow stand out from the rest.
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Perhaps it’s the views: after a week-long road trip, the clifftop view above Crail harbour remains one of the most beautiful, and most iconic, I found. Or it could be the quietly wonderful foodie scene, a variety of eateries amongst the tiny streets.
Either way, Crail is a village to get lost in for hours.
Whether you’re on a weekend break, daytrip from Edinburgh, or a longer Fife road trip, Crail has plenty to see and do. And, despite being such a small village, there’s no shortage of accommodation options either.
I’d say Crail is one of my favourite places in Scotland for a long weekend. And in this guide I’m sharing the best things to do in Crail, where to stay, cafes, and how to visit pretty Crail harbour.
Are you Planning a Crail getaway?
If you’re booking a trip to Crail in Fife and want to know where to see, stay, and eat - we have you covered. Below are some of my favourite hotels, tours, and more!
Crail tours:
From Edinburgh: Fishing Villages of Fife Day Trip (popular day trip from Edinburgh)
From Edinburgh: St. Andrews and the Kingdom of Fife Tour (highly rated day trip from Edinburgh)
Top Crail accommodation:
19 Shoregate Holiday Home: If you’re looking for spacious Crail accommodation option, then this holiday home is perfect. Each of the six bedrooms and shared spaces are beautiful, there are excellent amenities, and harbour location incredible.
16 Westgate South Holiday Cottage: Another stunning stone cottage, but with 2-bedrooms. Inside is beautifully designed, spacious, with an excellent location. A roof terrace with harbour views adds a touch of luxury.
Balcombie Links Hotel: This recently renovated small hotel is within easy walking distance of the village and harbour. Good amenities, well-furnished large rooms, and includes breakfast.
Golf Hotel: Rooms are basic but comfortable and the central location of the Golf Hotel is excellent. The perfect Crail hotel if you’re planning to be out and about, rather than inside.
Neuk Hoose Cottage: This 3-bedroom cottage on Crail’s high street is beautifully finished, with homely touches and cosy rooms. The location is also perfect, being only a few minute’s walk to Crail Harbour.
Popular Crail tours:
From Edinburgh: St Andrews & Fishing Villages of Fife: popular day trip from Edinburgh.
Fife itinerary and map:
Want to explore coastal Fife and see it’s prettiest spots hassle-free? Check out our Fife itinerary here.
How to visit Crail Harbour
Every East Neuk village has a harbour, but Crail Harbour is exceptionally beautiful.
Easily identified by the red stone walls and white washed buildings that cluster around the bay, Crail Harbour is one of Fife’s most iconic places. No matter the time of day, this magical spot is always peaceful and it’s a must-see on your trip around Fife.
Here’s a quick guide on how to visit Crail Harbour.
Tour to take you there
Crail Harbour history
First up, a little history on Crail Harbour. Originally constructed with help from the Dutch, a second pier was built by the renowned engineer Robert Stevenson in the 19th century. Still active today, Crail Harbour sees fishing boats regularly landing their catch here – usually crabs and lobsters from local waters.
Crail Harbour Walking Route
The best way to visit Crail Harbour is on foot. It’s an easy walk from the village down to the harbour, along a road with a short and gentle hill.
Note that you can’t drive to Crail Harbour (access is for workers only), and you’re best to leave your car parked in the village. Walking down the short hill only takes a few minute’s and along the way you’ll see some of Crail’s most beautiful streets and buildings.
From the village, take a left and join the Shoregate - you’ll see The Shoregate restaurant on opposite side, whilst a small blue signpost points the way. From here, follow the road as it curves around the old village walls and heads downhill. Once at the bottom of the hill you’ll see Crail Harbour directly ahead.
The harbour is well-signposted, though you can also find it here.
Crail Harbour Viewpoints
Crail Harbour is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in Scotland, so make sure to bring your camera.
The best photography spots around Crail Harbour are from inside the harbour walls. Walk around the walls and you’ll see the distinctive harbour buildings behind, and colourful fishing boats bobbing below.
Alternatively, one of my favourite vantage points over Crail Harbour is from higher up. After visiting the harbour, follow the high street to West Braes for the best view of Crail Harbour in all its glory (here). It’s only a 10-minute walk and you can follow the Fife Coastal Path signposts to the top of the hill.
Crail Harbour Cafe
You’ll find a handful of excellent places to eat on Crail’s high street, however, the Crail Harbour Tearoom undoubtedly has the best views. Located next to Crail Harbour, head the sun terrace for the most gorgeous coastal views.
The best things to do in Crail
These are the best things to see and do in Crail, besides the harbour:
1. Wander the old streets
One of the best things to do in Crail is simply wander through the impossibly beautiful streets. From those leading to the harbour, to the countless traditional cottages along the Nethergate. All around the village is a treasure-trove of chocolate box cottages, grand stone houses, quaint little lanes, and sandstone alleys.
Be sure to follow your feet around the pretty village, though a few places not to miss are:
2. Indulge in the local food scene
Personally, I’d recommend you arrive in Crail with an appetite - despite being a small village there are numerous really excellent places to eat. Once here, sample the cafes and restaurants, whether lunch, brunch, or a sweet treat.
There’s a complete list of places to eat in Crail below but these are my personal favourites: in summer the harbourfront Seafood Shack, lunch at the Honeypot, for ice cream the Beehive, for dinner the newly opened Shoregate, and for sweet treats Barnett’s Bakery.
3. Explore speciality stores
Another of the best things to do in Crail is wander through the small, independent stores along the high street. From souvenirs to small gifts, to artwork and everything in between, if you’re looking for keepsakes, Crail has you covered.
Some of the best shops in Crail to visit are:
The Crail Pottery | Beautiful handmade earthenware, terracotta, and ceramics. Find it here.
Crail Gallery | Family run gallery specialising in coastal prints. Find it here.
Beehive | Gifts and crafts include prints, soaps, and homewares. Find it here.
Greens | Local deli selling local and speciality food. Find it here.
4. Crail Heritage Museum
Crail’s rich history is clear throughout the village; dotted amongst the streets you’ll find signs of its past in the historical buildings, church yard, and monuments. If you want to find out more, then visit Craig Heritage Museum.
Possibly an activity for a rainy day, this museum hosts a collection of exhibits showing how life has evolved in Crail since the 12th century. Entry is free and the museum is open during summer months. Find it here.
5. Walk the coastal path
One of the best ways to spend time in Crail is exploring the coastal path.
Crail is linked to the rest of the East Neuk villages by the epic Fife Coastal Path, a trail which takes you high above the sea and over the cliffs. The dramatic coastal scenery and spectacular views, as well as sweeping views over the village, backed by Crail harbour.
Once here, you can easily join the path which is reasonably flat. Either walk north around the headland to Fife Ness lighthouse (Fife’s most easterly point), where the crashing waves and big rocks reminded me of Portugal. Or follow the trail south across the cliffs to the lively harbour town of Anstruther and pretty fishing village Pittenweem.
Find out more about the coastal path from Crail and why it’s one the best parts of the trail in this guide.
6. Visit Crail beach
The Fife coastline is not short of beautiful beaches, but if you’d prefer to stay closer to home then Crail beach is worth checking out. A compact sandy bay around a sheltered cove, it’s pretty, clean, and perfect for an afternoon in the sun. Find it right next to the harbour.
Alternatively, stroll 10-minutes along the coast to Roome Bay where a cove of pebbles meets rock pools. This beach is best visited at low tide.
7. Crail Golf Club
This area of Fife is world-famous for one sport – golf and its excellent link courses.
Whilst I won’t pretend to be an expert, I have walked the coastal path beside Crail golf course and can guarantee the views over the sandy coastland are breathtaking. Also one of the world’s oldest link courses (at Balcombie), Crail Golf Club has heaps of history.
So, if you’d like to play a round whilst visiting the area, then check out Crail Golf Club. They offer visitor rates (single round £60), club and cart rental, caddie hire, and a driving range. Find out more about their packages and green fees.
Where to eat in Crail
Follow your feet (or tummy) but these are my Crail foodie recommendations:
Harbour Tearoom | Serving excellent coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch options. Find it here.
Beehive | Breakfast rolls, coffee, or ice cream. Find it here.
Barnett’s Bakery | Cakes, sweet treats, and yummy baked goods from the renowned Fife baker. Find it here.
Honeypot Tearoom | Order a big, cooked breakfast or pop in for lunch. Find it here.
Fish Bar & Cafe | Serving up traditional and super fresh fish & chips. Utterly delicious, expect queues at the weekend. Find it here.
Seafood Shack | The freshest crab and lobster you’ll ever taste, by the harbour. Open seasonally and weather dependent – check here for opening times. Find it here.
The Shoregate | Newly opened and serving a varied fine-dining lunch and dinner menu. Also serves fantastic cocktails and wine in a lovely bar. Find it here.
Golf Hotel | Whilst I haven’t eaten here, Crail’s traditional pub grub venue has lots of excellent reviews. Find it here.
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