THE ACCOMMODATIONS:         Home at First’s six comfortable Kingdom of Fife cottages vary in size and occupancy capacity. There are cottages from one to four bedrooms, sleeping from two to eight persons. The larger cottages have multiple bathrooms. Most of the cottages have stone fireplaces for building a cozy evening fire. Each has its own distinctive character. Each has access to the courtyard and has a private patio with garden furniture.

COURTYARD PATIO AT KINGDOM OF FIFE COTTAGES

THE SETTING:
        The Kingdom of Fife Cottages are part of a larger farmhouse estate and outbuildings built in the 17th century on the site of a hilltop watering and resting place used by monks traveling to and from the old city of St. Andrews. One of the five original wells for the property has been restored and forms part of the attractive courtyard landscaping. The Fife Cottages are situated on two acres of garden, overlooking the Eden Valley with its wealth of bird life and the River Eden, which offers good fishing.

THE LOCATION:
        The Kingdom of Fife is that peninsular region immediately north of Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh, bordered on the south by the Firth of Forth, on the north by the Firth of Tay, and on the east by the North Sea. The region’s primary town, St. Andrews, is best known as the world’s capital of golf, although it has been an important center of learning (St. Andrews University), religion (St. Andrews Cathedral), and Scottish nobility (St. Andrews Castle) for centuries. The Fife area is not a Highlands region—there are no mountains and only one small loch in Fife—but it is within day-trip reach of some of the Central Scotland Highlands.


   ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL

ACTIVITIES:
        The Kingdom of Fife Cottages are ideally situated to enjoy the many attractions of St. Andrews, which is only five miles away. Its world famous golf courses, its university, St. Andrews Cathedral, the castle, and the town’s leisure pool, botanical gardens, and long sandy beaches all are good reasons to be located close to St. Andrews. There are also numerous quality restaurants in St. Andrews. These are supplemented by a very good selection of pubs and restaurants five-minutes drive from the cottages.

The Kingdom of Fife is a realm where golf is king—the heart of Scotland’s principal golf country. Within convenient reach of the Kingdom of Fife Cottages are the many golf courses of the Fife coast and the Lothian coasts (east of Edinburgh; south of the Firth of Forth) ranging from championship links to shorter courses more suitable for beginners. (See our SCOTLAND GOLF COURSE GUIDE.)

THE RICH GOLF LANDSCAPE AT ST. ANDREWS

        Within a few minutes drive of Home At First's Kingdom of Fife Cottages are several classic Scottish links courses: Lundin Links and Leven Links near Leven, to the south; Elie, also to the south; Crail to the southeast; and, of course, the great St. Andrews just 5 miles to the east. At least two highly-regarded new golf resorts—Kingsbarns and St. Andrews Bay—draw golfers from around the world to St. Andrews. Visitors could easily play a different great links course here for a week and not stray far from home. Even golfers whose handicaps don’t make the cut for places like St. Andrews and Elie still can play golf on true links courses that don’t have the restrictions—there are 4 fine courses at St. Andrews, and only the Old Course has handicap restrictions.

        If Golf is The Thing in the Kingdom of Fife, it’s not the only thing. The coast is well worth exploring for its fishing villages, like Pittenweem, Anstruther, and Crail, its coast roads, and its seafood. St. Andrews town—even without golf—is a worthy attraction, with a grand and fascinating history and a proud, upscale present, with shops and restaurants for all tastes and pocketbooks. Just west of Fife on the Firth of Forth is the preserved 17th century town of Culross.

17TH CENTURY CULROSS: SCOTLAND'S WILLIAMSBURG
 
        Not far from Fife across the Firth of Forth is Scotland’s most captivating city, Edinburgh, with its great castle, important museums, quality shops and restaurants, and vibrant festivals—all set on a rocky perch fit for Prometheus. Not far west is Scotland’s center, the start of the Highlands, a land of lakes and mountains and small villages full of friendly people eager to show off their traditional hospitality—traditional Scottish scenery and customs, and a great center for touring throughout much of Scotland. Another Scottish region within convenient day-trip reach is the ruggedly beautiful North Sea coast as far north as Aberdeen.

AVAILABILITY: For current availability information, call HOME AT FIRST at (800) 523-5842, or contact us by e-mail at: info@homeatfirst.com

NOTE: Kingdom of Fife Cottages are consistently highly-rated by HOME AT FIRST guests.

More information about Home at First's travel program to:
CENTRAL SCOTLAND