With beautiful seaside villages, 25 blue flag beaches, St Andrews, and, oh gosh, really incredible food, I have no idea why Fife, and in fact, the whole east coast of Scotland is so underrated. Why do we spend so much time on the A9 or driving west when we have so much on our doorstep? So let’s change that! If you fancy exploring and are looking for the perfect family & dog friendly self catering in Fife, then let me introduce you to Newhill Farm Cottages.
Newhill Farm cottages – self catering Fife
In the countryside of rural Fife but just two miles to the north of the village of Auchtermuchty (pronounced ‘och-ter-muck-t’ and famous for the BBC series Dr Finlays Casebook) is Newhill Farm. Offering up accommodation for fourteen across three self-catering cottages – the Old Stables, Horse Mill Cottage and the Old Cart House – Newhill Farm is more than a place to just rest your head after a long day exploring, with a swimming pool, hot tub(s), tennis court and games room and if you really need it, free wifi – it’s your own mini resort in the Scottish countryside! Let’s check in.
Self catering cottages in Fife
On-site at Newhill Farm are three cottages – the two-storey Old Cart House which sleeps four – I had a sneaky look in, and loved the original features and open log fire – and Horse Mill Cottage which sleeps six, with lots of space for family dining and relaxing.
Our home for the weekend was The Old Stables – a traditional single-story cottage located in a beautifully refurbished farm steading, which was once, yes, Newhill Farm’s stables. With two bedrooms (a-four poster double and a twin), two bathrooms, and a big double-height kitchen, dining, comfy living space with a wood burner all set up – it was the perfect size for a couple or small family.
With high-quality fittings throughout, the cottage comes with its own parking space and located is at the far end of the steading which gave the large garden some privacy. We ate out (don’t miss these excellent Fife restaurants and farm shops) but there is a bbq and full kitchen if you fancy self-catering – there was also lots of little extras including a bottle of wine, milk and tea and coffee.
If you are looking for large family group accommodation in Fife, then the three cottages can also be booked together – which means you have the pool and hot tubs all to yourself!
…and ahh, yes, the pool. The leisure facilities on offer at Newhill Farm are really what makes these Fife self-catering cottages special. The facilities are included in your booking and include a large spotlessly clean indoor pool (with showers, changing rooms and lots of pool noodles for the kids) with a small indoor jacuzzi, a games room with pool table and gym, outdoor play area and a huge outdoor hot tub hidden away for evening dips. The whole site has been designed for families perfectly and you can see why groups come back again and again.
Things to do in Fife near Newhill Farm Cottages
Checking in for a week or a long weekend, there is loads to get up to around Newhill Farm Cottages:
- Go for a mountain bike in the woods – the cottages sit on the edge of Pitmedden Forest, a popular spot for mountain biking, full of tracks for experts and beginners alike. Explore the forest with Walk Fife or explore on your bike with these Mountain Bike Route Cards. The cottages are dog-friendly, so you can really make the most of the forest on your doorstep!
- Visit Falkland – just to the south of Auchtermuchty is the pretty conservation village of Falkland. Hike up Maspie Den to the waterfall, visit Falkland Palace or just have a wander around spotting Outlander locations – Falkland stood in for Inverness in the TV series. There are plenty of cafes and bars for lunch including Pillars of Hercules.
- Explore the Hills – the Lomond Hills Regional Park is just 20 minutes drive away from Newhill Farm has plenty of routes to explore. Why not walk to the Bunnet Stane or if you are feeling energetic, climb East Lomond – for more details about the park, download the Lomond Hills Map.
- Take a day trip to St Andrews – Whilst most famous for golf and Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews is actually a buzzing little town surrounded by spectacular Fife countryside. Head down to West Sands, stroll amongst the St Andrews University Colleges via the Town and Gown Walk, and visit St Andrews Harbour for the best view of the town. On the outskirts of St Andrews, kids will love Craigtoun Country Park (40 minutes drive)
- City trip to Dundee – just across the Tay from Fife is the buzzy city of Dundee. Art fans will love the newly opened and rather spectacular V&A Dundee, as well as Dundee Contemporary Arts and the ‘McMenace’ Gallery. History buffs? Explore Discovery Point, which tells the tale of ‘Scott of the Antarctic’. (40 minutes drive)
- Visit Anstruther & Crail – The East Neuk of Fife is one of the prettiest parts of Scotland – and is less than an hour away from Newhill Farm. Head to Anstruther for fish & chips, Crail for crab butter and fresh lobsters on the harbour and explore the Fife Coastal Path between St Monans and Pittenweem.
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- Anstruther, Fife
…or just get in your hot tub and watch the stars come out. Even with the delights of Fife right on your doorstep, you might want to check in to Newhill Farm Cottages and not leave!
For self catering Fife, stay at Newhill Farm Cottages
Love, from Scotland x
Our accommodation was provided as part of a paid partnership with Welcome to Fife & Visit Scotland.
Kate Hopper
The blogger behind Love from ScotlandLove from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.