Choose an area: Cupar | St. Andrews | Dundee
Local Area: Cupar
History
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk Cupar lies on the 128 mile coast to coast walk from Oban to St. Andrews. Look up this website for more information on this route and the history of Cupar.
www.nts.org.uk/property/1/ to link to Hill of Tarvit mansion house and gardens designed by Sir Robert Lorimar. There is also a nine hole golf course where you can play golf the old fashioned way with Hickory clubs and a canvas bag containing just five clubs! Near by is Scotstarvit tower also worth a visit.
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/balmerino/abbey/ BalmerinoAbbey situated just above the little village of Balmerino (10 mins drive from Mountquhanie). It was founded in 1229 by Queen Ermengarde who invited the Cistercian monks at Melrose Abbey to set up a daughter house at Balmerino. There is a lovely walk along the shorefront here to Wormit.
www.nts.org.uk/property/93/ Falkland Palace built by James IV and JamesV between 1450 and1541 was the country residence for the Stuart monarchs for over 200 years. It's beautiful gardens, real tennis court, interiors and tapestry gallery are worth a day visit.
Golf
www.cupargolfclub.co.uk believed to be the oldest 9 hole club in the world. Open to non members.
www.elmwoodgc.co.uk also open to public. Good value place for a bar lunch looking out onto the golf course.
www.ladybankgolf.co.uk established in 1879 the original architect of the 6 hole course was Tom Morris. Now an 18 hole course and according to my mother ( a golfing addict from Crail ) it is the most exciting and challenging course in Fife!
www.drumoigleisure.com golf course, driving range and restaurant.
Food
www.pillars.co.uk Organic shop and café near Falkland so could be worked in with a trip to Falkland Palace.
www.toptable.com website where you can look up restaurants in around Cupar. We would recommend Ostler's Close in Cupar - 2 AA rosettes 01334655574 and for something not so expensive the Shenai Indian Restaurant 01334655784 in the centre.
www.thebigeat.com/takeaways/in/cupar list of takeaways in Cupar - some deliver out to Mountquhanie.
Indoor
www.fifeleisure.org.uk Cupar leisure centre which has a swimming pool, gym and fitness classes. Check opening times through the above website.
www.bonkersplaybarn.co.uk Indoor soft play area with café suitable for younger children.
www.wemyss-ware.co.uk beautiful pottery in Ceres making the traditional Wemyss ware
Outdoor
www.fifedirect.org.uk/fife-cycleway plan your cycle routes round Cupar using this site.
www.walkingstories.com personal stories of the walks around Cupar and Mountquhanie. Some that we would recommend are Norman's Law ( 5 miles, easy/medium ), Lucklaw Hill, Balmullo (5 miles and easy ), and the Lomonds where there are many routes of varying difficulty. To obtain maps for some of these walks look up www.walkingscotland.com .
www.tentsmuir.org this is a great place for walking, cycling, and horse riding ( Kinshaldy riding stables 01334838527). It has a wonderful beach, forest, picnic area and play area. Free day out (£1 for car park though!).
www.tsdc.co.uk The website for The Scottish Deer Centre where you can see different species of deer, falconry, treetop walk, children's indoor and outdoor play area, coffee shop and retail area.
www.cairniefruitfarm.co.uk situated on the road from Mountquhanie to Cupar Cairnie is a fun day out for all ages with activities like pick your own fruit, play area and fun yard, mega maze and tearooms.
www.barbarafieldrs.co.uk Horse riding lessons and hacks.
Creich Castle stands next to the farm at Creich. It was the ancient residence of the Bethunes. Mary Beaton of Creich was one of the 'four Maries' chosen by Mary of Guise to attend her daughter Mary 1st of Scotland ( Mary Queen of Scots). Near to the castle is our working farm where you are welcome to visit and, if you are lucky, get a tractor/combine ride. Along from there is the old Creich graveyard which has some interesting stones. On the hill up from the graveyard, the Green Craig, are the ruins of an old Pictish Fort (shown on OS maps).
On the road between Creich and Mountquhanie is a lovely walk up the Black Craig (signposted and on OS maps). You will get views right across the Tay from here. On the other side of the road opposite Foresters cottages is Drumnod wood ( on OS map) where there are hut circles hidden away - they take quite a bit of hunting to find them but they are marked on OS maps.
Behind Mountquhanie House is the old castle which dates from the 13th century. This was lived in until Mountquhanie house was built in 1820 by John Gillespie. Behind the old castle are the stable block built in1811 and across near the Lodge is the walled garden also built in 1811 now home to Mountquhanie bulls! Mountquhanie house was designed by Gillespie Graham ( no relation to John Gillespie) and is one of only two houses designed by Gillespie Graham in the classical style which are still inhabited. The house is "severe and masculine in design", with no ornate plaster or woodwork typical of the Georgian era. The house cost a modest £8,000; the Gillespie's were notoriously mean!
The property passed to David Gillespie and as none of his children wanted it, he gave it to his wife's nephew, Harry Bethune of Nydie, and his great grandson ( Patrick Wedderburn-Bethune) and family now run it as a business, farming 1600 acres with beef cattle and grain, with a further involvement in forestry, conservation and tourism.
Local Attractions
St Andrews Aquarium
Fife Tourist Board
Norman's Law
Image of one of St Andrews Country Cottages Holiday Homes
The Mountquhanie Sweet Chestnut