Scotman.com Living Published Date: 26 April 2011

By ALICE WYLLIE

FOR decades, Edinburgh fowk have taken a breather at weekends by nipping across the water to the picturesque East Neuk of Fife, where pretty fishing villages nestle into windswept bays, and long walks in the sea air are rewarded with the freshest fish and chips around.

A favourite among those villages is Elie, with its idyllic beach, great restaurants and quaint, quiet streets, and a recent addition to the self-catering scene in the village is Elie Cottage, a rather charming holiday home with a short path to the beach.

Wining and dining? The East Neuk is a paradise for foodies, with some of the best seafood in the country on its doorstep. Don’t be fooled by its size – there are more great eateries in this area per square mile than in most parts of Scotland. Your first stop has to be the Seafood Restaurant in St Monans a local favourite for 17 years. It serves sumptuous seafood in chic surroundings and is always packed with natives and visitors alike.

Staff are lovely, the atmosphere is low-key and sophisticated, and their halibut with peas and pancetta is an absolute must. Anyone looking for something a little more casual need look no further than the Ship Inn, a great stop for pub grub on the shore. Order fish and chips and you’ll get two battered fish. Need we say more? And if you’re eating in, Elie Deli (www.eliedeli.co.uk) has enough gourmet treats to satisfy the most discerning gastronome.

Room service? If you like your holiday cottage cosy, modern, spacious and clean, but full of character, look no further. Elie Cottage is 150 years old and has recently been refurbished to a very high standard, with ample space for families and great amenities, from a cosy wood-burning stove to a ping-pong table. Sleeping eight in four bedrooms across two floors, it’s the perfect base from which to explore this pretty town.

Worth getting out of bed for? The cottage is a stone’s throw from the award-winning beach, where kite surfers, dog walkers and families needn’t jostle for space on the wide sands. The beach provides more than enough entertainment for a quiet weekend away, but if you want to cast your net a little wider, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Shopaholics can stock up on gifts and treats at Ardross Farm Shop while energetic types should head straight for Elie’s watersports centre where you can have a go at everything from windsurfing and water skiing to canoeing and sailing. Outside of Elie, villages like Crail, Pittenweem, St Monans and Anstruther all compete for the title of prettiest village in the East Neuk, and each is worth a visit.

Budget or boutique? Elie has been a favourite weekend spot for well-heeled Edinburghers for generations so it’s geared up for visitors with exacting standards. From restaurants to accommodation, good service and a boutique atmosphere come as standard. The luxury at Elie Cottage is in its simplicity and efficiency. It is boutique self-catering at its best, with modern fittings, bright, chic décor and creature comforts at every turn, not to mention enough space to easily accommodate large groups.

Little extras? Elie sits on the Fife Coastal Path so it’s great for walkers. If you’re not looking for anything too strenuous, park your car at nearby Crail then take a walk along the coast to the spectacular gardens at Cambo House . The Victorian walled garden is spectacular year-round, and a must for families. It has the largest specialist snowdrop collection of spring, while summer sees the garden transformed into a riot of colour. Children will love the six pigs that root around the garden while adults can try one of the many classes on offer (we were dying to have a go at dry stone walling).

Don’t forget to stop in at the Anstruther Fish Bar on the drive back to Elie. Regularly named as best in the UK for fish and chips, everything is sustainably sourced, from the fish, caught locally by the family who run it, to the potatoes grown exclusively for them by a farmer friend. There’s often a lengthy queue outside but it’s worth the wait.

Guestbook comments Elie Cottage is the perfect balance between a quaint old cottage and a slick, modern retreat; roomy enough to give everyone their space but cosy enough for the perfect family get-together. A week’s stay costs from £790, with short breaks starting from £400. Visit Elie Cottage to book.

• This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday on 24 April 2011