Sitting on a beautiful sandy beach on the east coast of Scotland, Elie is a popular choice with holidaymakers thanks its proximity to major golf courses and the capital city of Edinburgh. Characterised by a quaint town centre that’s brimming with boutique shops and chocolate-box cottages, it benefits from a wonderfully rural location. You can relax beside the sea, take a stroll along the harbour or hike through the rolling meadowlands that surround it on all sides.
The harbour, established in the 16th century, is popular with yachts and small pleasure craft while the surrounding bay is well-known to windsurfers and bathers. The town is also home to two fantastic golf courses. Elie’s most famous son is James Braid, the celebrated golf course designer and five-time winner of the British Open Golf Championship.
The lighthouse near Elie
Elie has many interesting historic buildings, some of which date back to the 17th century, including The Lady's Tower, a coastal summer house built for Lady Janet Anstruther. A bell inside the tower would ring out whenever she was bathing to warn the locals to stay away. Elie also has a diminutive lighthouse close to the village, ripe for some classy photo opportunities.
Pay a visit to Pittenweem, a picture-perfect harbour town that is the only place along the East Neuk coast to have retained its fishing culture and tradition. A local place of interest is St Fillan’s Cave – the key for entry can be borrowed from the Cocoa Tree Café on the High Street if you’d like to visit. The Church of Scotland is also worth a look because of its potted history as a prison for local witches during the 17th and 18th century. St Andrews and Edinburgh, although in opposite directions to one another from Elie, are within easy driving distance and are worthy of an excursion during your break too.
“Elie is well located for beautiful walks along the Firth of Forth, and day trips to St Andrews or Edinburgh…”
You can also catch a ferry to the Isle of May which is 6 miles out to sea. Owned by Scottish Natural Heritage it’s a great day trip to see puffins and seabirds at play. See the natural beauty of the place and you’ll know why its earnt the name, the ‘Jewel of the North’. A popular walk through the area is the Fife Coastal Path that passes through Elie; the walk originates in Leven and ends near St Andrews. The scenery along the coastline of East Neuk is breathtaking and provides plenty of opportunities to make the most of the peace and quiet. You may even see the odd seal or two on your outing.
We have some lovely holiday cottages in Elie. Why not visit our collection to feel inspired?