Elie and Earlsferry in East fife

Elie and Earlsferry in East Fife.

 Elie, from ‘Ailie of Ardross’, the island on which the Granary now stands, evolved into a harbour in 1582 when a causeway was built out from the mainland to the island. In the 1850s a road was built on top of the causeway further improving it. The Granary was used to store goods that were traded to and from the harbour. A viewpoint with direction dial stands near the Granary. The car park next to the Granary charges a modest fee.

Elie Parish Church, originally a T-plan, was built between 1630 and 1638 by Sir William Scott of Ardross Castle. The distinctive clock tower sited on the south elevation was commissioned by Sir John Anstruther in 1726. There are clocks facing only three directions as there were no houses to the north when the tower was built. Walk through the Kirkyard as it contains some very interesting tombstones. Situated in the centre of Elie.

Lady’s Tower was built sometime after 1750 as a summerhouse for Lady Janet Anstruther who enjoyed bathing naked in the sea. It is reported a bellman was sent round Elie to warn the villagers to keep away. The seashore between Lady’s Tower and Elie Lighthouse is called Ruby Bay as garnets (Elie rubies) are found on its beach. Ruby Bay Car Park at the east end of Elie has a circular path/route past the Lighthouse and Lady’s Tower. A most delightful walk.

The Castle demonstrates the finest traditional architecture in the town, a well-proportioned L-plan building with a back stair tower dating from the late 16th Century. It is the private townhouse of Gourlays of Kincraig who have been here/in the area since the 12th Century.

South Street is Elie’s original High Street and in it you will find some of Elie’s oldest and finest houses. This doorway, richly carved but worn by salt winds and sand, is complete with console pilasters and key-blocked lintel. It is said to have once given access to the sawpit for timber imported and off loaded at Elie from Lithuania.

The Muckle Yett (big gate), a richly carved stone lintel, has been incorporated in the rebuilt doorway of Gillespie House. It is complete with console pilasters and key-blocked lintel and bears the marriage initials of Alexander Gillespie and his wife Christine Small (1682). The Muckle Yett was once the entrance to an earlier house on the site which was residence of the Duke of York, Governor of Scotland (1679-82), later James VII of Scotland and II of England.

Chapel Ness. Legend has it that in the 11th Century, MacDuff, the Thane or Earl of Fife, fleeing from King MacBeth, hid in a cave until local fisherman could safely ferry him across the Firth of Forth and hence his escape. In gratitude, MacDuff built a chapel which was run by Cistercian nuns who set up lamps to safely guard travellers through thick mists & heavy seas to Earlsferry. Many of the travellers were pilgrims on their way to St Andrews. This ruin is said to stand on the site of the ancient chapel.

The Chain Walk on the Fife Coastal Path offers those who are energetic and have a head for heights a walk with a difference. A series of carved steps accompanied by vertical and horizontal chains allows access to the cliffs, several caves, columnar basalt and other coastal features. While this is great fun, make sure everyone is wearing good sturdy footwear, the tide is far out (otherwise you can be trapped by the sea) and you have a full hour for (otherwise you can be trapped by the sea) and you have a full hour for this route. The return walk gives you commanding views from Kincraig Point. Follow the coastline from Chapel Ness, past the golf course and along the shoreline to the rocky coastline below Kincraig Point to the chains.
 

Anstruther and Cellardykes / Ceres / Crail / Elie and Earlsferry / Falkland / Pittenweem