The historic fishing village of Crail is one of many picturesque settlements along the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. Sitting across the bay from Edinburgh, these small towns make up an area known as the East Neuk (east corner).

Crail, the farthest along the coast line, is a particularly fine example of the features that make the East Neuk so special. The origins of its church seem to stretch back as far as the 8th century and the numerous fossils found on the shoreline take us back many more millions of years beyond that.

The historic Crail harbour dates back some 400 years and is typical of the area with its sandstone structure and pastel-coated houses which surround it. The Fife Costal Path – a 117 mile long trail – runs through each of these towns and makes for a memorable and rewarding hike (though most visitors tend to do small sections before visiting one of the many quaint cafes!)

A unique asset of Crail is the wonderful pottery studio which has been ran by the Grieve family since the 1960’s. The studio is housed in one of Crail’s many historic dwellings and a viewing window offers a chance to see their wares being made by hand. A colourful addition to the old neighbourhood, few visitors can visit without taking home something special from the area.

With the world-famous home of golf, St Andrews, only 20 minutes away, Crail and the towns of the East Neuk make for excellent additions to any tour of the east coast. Worthy of a slight detour when heading north out of Edinburgh, come and see where the Scots like to vacation!