Sustainable travel: Fife's many riches revealed
The ancestral home of Scottish monarchs has an abundance of green accommodation and activities hidden among its quaint villages and bucolic scenery.
The secluded Bracken Treehouse opened this summer, tucked away in the 30-acre Airdit Woods at Balmullo, just a short drive from Cupar. Sleeping two, this cosy cabin is nestled on a cliff side above the forest, where red squirrel and native deer roam.
The Treehouse is filled with modern luxuries, and a skylight for watching the illuminating stars from the bed at night, and an outdoor bath on its wood decking.
Less than ten minutes away is The Snug at Logie Farm, Cupar, which provides award-winning accommodation thanks to its Camcase and California Armadilla pods, with their hot tubs and breathtaking views across the Tay.
The energy-efficient and sustainable pods were inspired by the bothies once used for salmon fishing on the river and have been manufactured locally.
Each one features private decking, a hot tub, and barbecue/fire pit, offering an stylish hotel experience on a rural hilltop setting.
Also new for this year is Off the Track Getaways near Crail. The eco-friendly lodge’s owners featured in the BBC’s Scotland’s Home of the Year 2022 and it was their own home that influenced Off the Track.
The open-plan lodge has a king-sized bed and fully-equipped kitchen. Its Scandinavian wood-fired hot tub is the perfect spot for feeling warmed through while taking in the fresh countryside air.
To fuel a visit to Fife, there are many farm shops around the Kingdom offering a wide range of organic food and drink.
Woodlea Stables, south of Crossgates, has reopened following extensive renovations to provide a cafe and sales area.
The champion of the “loaf” category at the Royal Highland Show for two consecutive years serves free-range eggs, sandwiches, fruit and veg, and cakes, including a vegan pumpkin and cranberry slice.
Pillars of Hercules, at Falkland, uses their own vegetables where possible to create organic, vegan and vegetarian cakes, soups and sandwiches. Its shop has a variety of wholefoods, gluten-free produce, meat, dairy and wines.
Details of the region’s extensive selection of farm shops can be found online at welcometofife.com.
Certainly not to be missed, however, is The Cellar at Anstruther, a Michelin-starred fine-dining venue that uses locally-sourced ingredients and is run by head chef Billy Boyter.
With a vast coastline and number of lochs and rivers, no visit to Fife is complete without having a go at water sports.
Och Aye Canoe offers kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and Leave No Trace Awareness courses.
Kayaking and paddle boarding are some of the best ways to get out on the water without disrupting local ecosystems, as the vessels don’t produce any pollution.
In addition, these watersports can provide a fantastic boost to mental health, while allowing people to explore Fife’s unrivalled lochs and coastline.
Four-legged friends can join in the hour-long paddle boarding sessions and those with their own equipment can take part in advanced versions.
All levels of experience can enjoy a leisurely kayak around Lochore Meadows, a sea trip at Burntisland, or a journey along a wildlife abundant river.
To discover the Kingdom on foot, the region is home to Scotland’s longest continuous pathway, the 117-mile Fife Coastal Path.
Stretching from Kincardine to Newburgh, the path provides a sustainable route between many impressive sights and attractions, including Dunfermline Abbey, which dates back to the 11th Century, Scotland’s oldest standing castle at Aberdour, Kingsbarns Distillery and Kirkcaldy Galleries.
To find out more, visit www.welcometofife.com