The Artist's House, Cellardyke, Fife

The Artist's House,
Cellardyke, Fife

Sleeping 2(3)

We are always on the lookout for cottages which are both comfortable and in lovely locations. Just occasionally however, one comes across an owner who has thought right 'out of the box' and created a property that is quite unforgettable. We think that you will find The Artist's House is one of these.

Situated at the 'quiet end' of the fishing village of Cellardyke in the picturesque East Neuk of Fife, just 10 miles from St Andrews, it comprises the second and third floors of an old fisherman's house in a peaceful street (walking up the middle of the road is a perfectly feasible option!) just one row back from the shore.

The ethos of the house is that the owners, instead of thinking 'How many will the house sleep?' have asked themselves instead how they could arrange the accommodation to give tenants the most memorable and delightful holiday experience that they possibly could. Thus, on the lower floor, there is a beautifully fitted kitchen-diner, a bathroom, utility room and a large sitting dining room, with lots of lovely art work to admire, a living flame gas fire and a table conveniently placed at the window so you can glimpse the sea over the roof tops. Off this sitting room there is a small but most attractive double bedroom. But it is perhaps on the upper floor that the Wow! factor really kicks in. Here, there is a further large sitting room, with more interesting decor and again with living flame electric fire, an arrangement of chairs round it for evening, and a further grouping round the window, from which this time you get the most beautiful sea views. In one wall, there is an original Scots 'box bed', a small dressing room, and tucked away round the corner at the back of the room, there is a further double bed. It means that the house is not only a perfect honeymoon retreat, but can also easily accommodate two friends or other family members who are not a couple. The only caveat is that, sadly, because of the many stairs, it is not suitable for those of limited mobility.

As if this were not enough, you also get a garden area thrown in! This is a little paved terrace (furniture) on the rake of the hill at the back of the house, which gets the sun for most of the day and is a lovely quiet place to sit with an evening drink.

Cellardyke runs into Anstruther, which is a busy little place, with the Scottish Fisheries Museum just a few hundred yards from the house, and some excellent shops, pubs and restaurants also within a few minutes walk. You can take boat trips to see the seabird colonies on the Isle of May in the Firth, visit Kellie Castle with its lovely gardens, Scotland's Secret bunker, a unique legacy of the Cold War, or head on up to St Andrews for a game of golf on one of its hallowed courses. (There are also lots of other courses, maybe less prestigious but excellent none the less, much nearer to Anstruther.) Bed linen, towels and heating and electricity are all included. Sorry no pets, and smoking is not permitted within the cottage.