The UK can be overlooked when it comes to choosing a holiday destination, which is a shame when there are so many beautiful spots on offer. This is true of a tiny fishing village found on the east coast of Scotland, complete with stunning views of the North Sea.
Pittenweem, in Fife, can be found roughly halfway between Edinburgh and Dundee. Despite this, it is rarely visited by tourists and boasts a population of around just 1,400.
But what can you expect to find there and is it worth a visit? According to Visit Scotland, the harbour is the “main focus” of the village.
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Every morning the fishing boats return and the daily fish market begins.
This is unsurprising as Pittenweem is thought to have existed as a fishing village since the early Medieval period.
Remnants of its history still remain with the settlement’s oldest structure, St. Fillan’s Cave, dating back to the seventh century.
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Other historical sites include the Pittenweem Parish Church, local tollbooth and gatehouse.
Visit Scotland adds: “Interesting buildings in the village include Kellie Lodge, a late 16th century town house that was once the residence of the earls of Kellie, the parish church that dates from the same period and the attached ruins of the 12th century Augustinian priory.
“In the cliff face beneath the priory, St Fillan’s Cave once housed the eponymous saint and is now regarded as a shrine to him.”
Churches and ruins are not the only interesting structures in Pittenweem though.
Like many fishing villages, its houses are both hardy and quaint.
“Many of the picturesque houses around the harbour are of traditional Fife design with red pantile or grey-slate roofs with crow-step gables and have been restored by the National Trust for Scotland,” Visit Scotland.
But if fishing, history and architecture are of little interest to you, there is still the natural beauty of Pittenweem to enjoy.
Aside from the obvious sea views, there are plenty of nearby walks that showcases the local area.
The 183 kilometre-long Fife Coastal Path even passes through, and visitors can choose how much or how little of it they will take on.
Parts of the coastline at Pittenweem is also a sandy beach, providing the perfect place to relax or walk.
There is also a man-made tidal pool along the beach, acting as an ideal swimming spot.
And for art and culture lovers, Pittenweem hosts a “thriving” arts festival every August.
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