Pittenweem - Simple Pleasures By The Sea...




Pittenweem - 'the place of the caves' - is the most enchanting village you may never have heard of...until now.  This ancient Pictish coastal settlement is tucked away like a pirate's hidden treasure in Scotland's East Neuk of Fife.  If you're lucky enough to find your way here, like many others, you may fall under its spell and never want to leave.

Now 'home' to an eclectic, vibrant mix of people; fishermen, artists, multiple generations of locals, incomers, part-time residents and regular visitors, Pittenweem also attracts the interest of holidaymakers from all over the globe.  The village has been featured in some of the world's most glamorous publications too, including Conde Nast Traveller, The Times and Coast Magazine. Unsurprisingly, some of our area's best known attractions have been well publicised.

On the other hand, without local knowledge, it's easy to miss what's happening beneath the surface - what you'll learn from a travel journalist is really just a drop in the ocean!  If you're a new visitor or recently-arrived resident, learn to live like the locals and discover the simple pleasures of everyday life in Pittenweem.  It's the perfect way to support the community - and become a part of what gives our seaside village its spirit! 

So, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge....
  • take a morning stroll on the high street, buy a loaf from the artisan baker, fish from the summer season FMA Fish Shop down at the harbour fishmarket...
  • make eye contact, smile and say hello to strangers
  • be a fisherman's friend; visit the nearby fisheries museum, support RNLI or The Fisherman's Mission
  • choose local gifts for your loved ones, from a boutique like Funky Scottish or the Weem Gallery and Framer.
  • visit the local pub and get to know real people, real fishermen, real stories....
  • ramble along the coastal path to a string of postcard-perfect east neuk villages
  • taste a just-caught cooked lobster or dressed crab from The Fisherman's Larder 
  • get to know the side streets, discover the 'neuks' and crannies 
  • live in the outdoors - plant a garden, bathe on the beach, grow your own, eat alfresco
  • venture along School Wynd, Bruce's Wynd, Cove Wynd, Water Wynd, Calman's Wynd, West Wynd and the well-hidden "Ghosty Wynd" - know the wynds and you know the village
  • visit the Funky Scottish cafe-gallery-boutique for an Illy coffee and delicious hand-made cakes.
  • pamper yourself with a massage from a trained, local therapist  
  • love your local farmer and enjoy the fruits of his labour - there's an abundance of local produce being grown in the fields behind Pittenweem.
  • place an order with celebrated Penmans Butcher of Crail...and have it delivered to your door!
  • take a deep breath of the fresh sea air - it's so good for you!
  • get your fish & chips from a local favourite - the little retro chippy on Pittenweem's high street.
  • talk to your neighbours 
  • keep the coast clear - reduce, reduce, reduce your plastic, reuse and recycle
  • be kind to the ocean and support a marine life rescue or marine conservation charity
  • be inspired by the local water babies...and go wild swimming at our outdoor pool
  • take part in local festivals in the area; food and arts...and more arts.
  • eat an ice cream from the little seafront shop, watch the waves as your worries melt away...
  • play on the seaside swings
  • indulge in handmade, chocolate specialities from The Pittenweem Chocolate Company and experience their signature hot chocolate in the Cocoa Tree Cafe.
  • visit the old church, learn about the 'weem witches and get keys to St Fillans cave - on Cove Wynd - from The Pittenweem Chocolate Company.
  • If you need a place to stay, choose accommodation with character in the heart of the village. We can especially recommend self-catering at Driftwood CottageThe Cooperage and Kirkgate Cottage. If you'd like B&B, cosy up in the Crows Nest on Bruce's Wynd, between the high street and the sea.
  • Walk along the coastal path or take a short drive to the Ardross Farm Shop for delicious, locally grown vegetables and local, artisan foods. 
  • relax, you're on the coast, the pace is slower and that's a good thing....

Welcome to Pittenweem! 



Credits
Boat image via Visit Scotland
Wild swimming image via Ben Howard - Every Kingdom (great seaside music)
Ice cream shop image via Conde Nast Traveller.

Original post written and published by Vicky Watt at Acoustic Wave 
Edited, updated and republished for Funky Scottish (April 2016) and The Fishermans Larder (Aug 2017)

Repost via instagram @thefishermanslarder

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