What is another word for ‘enchanting’? That’s easy. C R A I L
I would say that Crail is my imagination come to life, but actually it was my jigsaw puzzle that came to life!
Located ninety miles to the northeast of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the Firth of Forth, lies the picturesque, historic fishing village of Crail.
Several of these old, charming fishing villages dot the coastline along Fife. In my opinion, Crail is one of the prettiest. Once a hub for the export of such commodities as fish, salt, mutton, and wool to mainland Europe, Crail Harbor still maintains itself, in a small capacity, as a working harbor today. It is well-known for its fresh shellfish.
Crail’s history reaches quite far back – to the time of the Picts (sometime between the Late Iron Age and the Early Medieval Periods). Historians know that by the 800s, Crail was a well-settled village, and by the 1100s, it was a thriving town. Robert the Bruce made Crail a royal burgh in 1310, marking it forever as the oldest royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife.
When you visit Crail, see the gorgeous harbor, of course, but also take time to meander down the lovely old cobbled lanes and admire the quaint fishing cottages. Visit the Parish Church, which dates to the 1100s. Stroll past the Tolbooth, from 1598, that once housed both the town council offices and the jail. Or, have a relaxing cup of tea in one of the local tearooms.
Take a stroll along the cliffs and bask in the sea views.
Crail is accessible via the main motorway. For a more scenic route, consider driving the picturesque Fife Coastal Route, a pretty 85 mile drive around the northeast coast of Fife. If hiking is more your thing, you might want to walk a portion of the 117 mile Fife Coastal Path which runs from the Forth Estuary in the south to the Tay Estuary in the north. This path passes by Crail and other fishing villages, including Elie and St. Monans.
No matter how you choose to get to Crail, the important thing is just to go!
Cheers,
I think I will have to make a stop here on my visit to Scotland in the summer. It looks beautiful!
You’re going back! Yay! You’ll love Crail. There are several adorable fishing villages on the way to Crail. Stop in Elie for a meal at The Ship Inn. It’s wonderful! Anstruther has some really cute shops and fish & chips places. And Pittenweem is beautiful. I could live there, I think. I know you are a very long way from home but I just want to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
It is a pretty place and you’ve taken some some lovely photos, Wendy. Fife has much to offer the visitor, and Crail is one of its little gems. It’s also blessed in getting more sunshine than many other parts of the country. I’ve walked bits of the Fife Coastal path but I quite like the idea of doing the whole thing some time. It would make for an interesting holiday.
Thanks as always, Lorna. 🙂
I love tagging along on your adventures. Your capture the essence of a community and bring its history to life. Thank you!!
That is such a sweet thing to say. Thank you.
I just love the community I am discovering on here.