Anstruther, Cellardyke and Kilrenny are three interconnected communities bound together by a shared heritage in the heart of the East Neuk of Fife. While Kilrenny initially served as the primary settlement, the coastal villages evolved through medieval times to become leading lights in Scotland’s fishing industry.

In 1592, Cellardyke and Kilrenny were combined into a single Royal Burgh and were later joined with Anstruther, which grew more significantly to become the major trading port in the area. Cellardyke and Anstruther thrived in the beating heart of Scotland’s east coast herring trade throughout the 19th century.

Our seafaring legacy and rich maritime history are well preserved at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, a visitor attraction at the centre of a well-established tourist hub with ‘world-famous’ fish and chip shops and a variety of things for people to see and do here.

People living here work hard to maintain the peaceful and picturesque old-world charm that all the old fishing villages enjoy along the East Neuk coastline, while appreciating the need to keep offering something new and different to anyone requiring ‘added value’ to their visit.

People can easily stroll between Cellardyke, Kilrenny and Anstruther but for those who like to explore a little further afield the whole East Neuk area is often described as the highlight of the Fife Coastal Path, which stretches 116 miles from Kincardine to Newburgh, and it is only a short drive to the home of golf and all that St Andrews has to offer.

Visitors and locals alike will also recommend a summer season boat trip from Anstruther harbour to the Isle of May, where puffins and other wildlife can be observed on the protected nature reserve there.