Out & About
About Madeira
Madeira is an ‘island’ of calm gardens and mature trees teeming with bird life and close to the village of Pittenweem. All the cottages offer a peaceful, comfortable place to spend a few days, or a week or two enjoying all Madeira and The East Neuk has to offer.
Madeira truly has its own microclimate allowing fruit trees including figs, kiwi and walnuts to flourish. We welcome dogs and our policy allows for 1 dog in a Terraced Cottage and 2 dogs in The Gardeners Cottage. There are lots of safe dog walking paths behind the house and you can walk for miles.
The village of Pittenweem is a 10 minute walk away down a safe path and you can walk to Anstruther easily across the fields.
Around and About
Pittenweem is very pretty and has a working harbour, baker, Post Office, pharmacy, general store, fish and chip shop and a gem of a cafe. You can go down to the harbour and pick up the latest catch to cook in your cottage or on the BBQ.
Pittenweem is one of a string of villages along the coast of the East Neuk of Fife. The Fife Coastal path links the villages and is a very popular walk. Each village offers up its own treats and style. For example the Lobster Shack in Crail is a delight, as is The Smoke House in St Monans, The Ship Inn in Elie and The Coco Tree in Pittenweem. Links to these popular destinations can be found in our directory.
Golf
Fife is the home of golf but The Old Course at St Andrews, 9 miles away is just one of many varied and challenging golf courses. Madeira is a fantastic place to base yourself and play these courses. All the courses at St Andrews (Old, New, Jubilee, Castle and Eden to name just a few), Kingsbarns, Crail, Elie and the newly opened and hugely acclaimed Dumbarnie are all within a 25 minute drive from Madeira.
Walking
There are many lovely walks in the area including the famous Fife Coastal path which is 1 mile from the cottages. This path links all the villages of The East Neuk and offers up spectacular views along the walk. Behind Madeira there is Balcaskie Estate and Inch Farm where you can walk for miles without seeing a soul. Dog walking couldn’t be easier and getting places on foot is an easy option too.
www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/things-to-do-in-fife.html
www.eastneukwide.co.uk
www.visitfife.com
Shopping
Fife is one of Scotland most abundant producer of food both from the land and the sea.
Try some of its local produce at The Ardross Farm Shop. Beware though you will go in for one thing and come out with a basketful. They sell seasonal fruit and veg together with artisan ready made meals and have a large selection of local sauces, honey, and meat.
Located on the road to Elie 2 miles from Madeira, Ardross Farm shop offers the best of both worlds – fresh seasonal fruit and veg and homemade goodies made in the farm kitchen. It is truly worth a visit.
The Cheese Farm
Since 2008 the St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company’s varieties of Anster cheese have been developing a wider following, but a pilgrimage to the place they’re made is a treat in its own right.
This fresh and strikingly new café on the Stewart family farm – where cheesemaker Jane sources the milk from husband Robert’s herd of Holstein Friesian cows – has a great aspect to the south, looking down towards a panoramic view of Anstruther and the Firth of the Forth.
Inside there’s a well-stocked deli corner and a viewing gallery where the public can watch the cheese being made, while the firm but delicately crumbly mild, mature and smoked versions are available to wrap up and take away or as a cheeseboard alongside oatcakes and chutney.
Eating Out/Eating In
A great part of any self catering holiday is enjoying the food and ambience of local eateries. The East Pier Smokehouse is our favorite and you can find more in the directory.
