In pictures: East Neuk of Fife over time

THE East Neuk of Fife is one of the most stunning parts of Scotland.

Once known as Inverin or Inverie, St. Monans takes its name from the legendary Saint Monan. The original jetty is recorded as early as 1590 and the harbour extensively rebuilt in the 1880s.

Boasting beautiful sandy beaches, world-famous golf courses, fascinating caves and historic castles and landmarks, the area is home to a string of fishing and farming communities.

Neuk is the Scots word for nook or corner and fewer regions in Scotland offer the number off attractions found in this hidden enclave of the country.

In his new book East Neuk of Fife Through Time, author Jack Gillon uses images on old postcards to chart the history of the area, and gives a fascinating glimpse of how it has changed over the last century.

St Monans Harbour as it looks today.

“It’s an area I used to visit as a kid and my wife’s family have ties to this part of Scotland, so there were personal reasons for writing the book,” Gillon explained.

Gillon, who lives in Edinburgh and has worked as a town planner involved in conservation of historic buildings for around 30 years, put together the book in part by using old postcards he collected himself.

He said: “There were a lot of parts of the villages I hadn’t discovered before I was researching the book, hidden streets I didn’t know existed.

“It’s such a beautiful part of Scotland, but because it is so tucked away, it’s not somewhere that everyone knows to visit.”

East Neuk of Fife Through Time is available through Amberley Publishing and to buy here