The Ship Inn at Elie

The East Neuk of Fife remains slightly off the beaten track, which is great for those who already know about it, but means many are missing a trick. The necklace of historic white-washed fishing villages, sandy beaches and links courses sit sandwiched between the Firth of Forth to the south and fertile farmland to the north in this part of east Fife. The Ship Inn at Elie has played its part in putting both the village and the East Neuk on the map, thanks to its award-winning food, welcoming staff, beach-side location and the inn's seasonal cricket schedule, which set it apart as the place to eat, drink and stay around here. Indeed, they were recognised at Scotland's 2023 National Hotels of the Year Awards, winning 'Seaside Inn of the Year' – well-deserved, too!

There are six swish, New England-style, nautically-named rooms to choose from as well as some lovingly-fashioned drinking and dining spaces. Four of its six double/twin rooms have sea views; go for the 'Admiral' on the top floor, with its roll-top bath and walk-in shower, whose big windows offer big views over Elie Beach. Meanwhile, the trio of 'Captain' rooms also face the sea and the two 'Sea Dog' rooms are dog-friendly. All feature king-sized beds, Egyptian cotton bed linen, Nespresso machines, flatscreen TVs and WiFi. It's a family-friendly sort of place, too, with bedrooms that can accommodate additional beds for little ones and a kids' menu in the restaurant.

Speaking of which, the menu stays local, dishing up 100% Scottish fish and meat including hand-dived scallops as well as East Neuk lobster, which star alongside the inn's renowned fish and chips. You can enjoy all of this in the main bar of the pub, which is bright and light in summer and impressively cosy in winter with a log fire and wood-burning stove; there's also a popular great beach-side beer garden with a beach bar and BBQ that fires up seven days a week during summer. Then there's the Ship's Cabin, a private-function space with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the beach. Plus, on match days, it acts as the pavilion for The Ship's cricket team.

Finally, there's the delightful village of Elie with its golden sandy beach, bracing strolls and year-round chance to watch seabirds. This stretch of the Fife coast is dotted with desirable shoreline villages, while the university town and 'Home of Golf', St Andrews, is only a short drive away. We strongly encourage you to discover this distinctive part of eastern Scotland; just please don't tell anyone else!