Scottish Hideaway

An October 2003 trip to Scotland by Vic Chick

This was a week away in the half term with my husband, my two children, and my parents. Bliss!

  • 2 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
This is definitely a holiday with a relaxing atmosphere...The area is beautiful at any time of the year, and we went in late autumn. There is a beautiful beach just 1 mile from Kilconquhar called Elie, and it goes on for miles and miles! There is a harbour here and a lovely pub called The Boat Inn (highly recommended!). We also visited the one and only pub in the village of Kilconquhar, called the Kinquhar Arms, and again, lovely atmosphere, very friendly and reasonably priced food. The location is remote, but the access to Edinburgh and local towns / villages is very easy, as they are all on one main road. You can also get the train to Edinburgh from two local places for just £5 each!

Quick Tips:

You "must" have a car, as there is nothing much near the resort - the nearest supermarket is over 4 miles away!!

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving - definitely, but if you like walking, this is also an ideal location, as it is set in a beautiful part of the country. There are award-winning beaches nearby and plenty of little villages to visit. Also, Edinburgh is very accessible by road / train.
Best Things Nearby:
There is a lovely pub in the village of Kilconquhar and a beautiful and clean beach at Elie.

Best Things About the Resort:
Location, location, location! This is a beautifully secluded resort.

Resort Experience:
The resort itself is well off-the-beaten-track and is set in some lovely unspoiled countryside. The units range from studios to four-bedroom villas. We stayed in a four-bedroom unit and all I can say is "WOW!". There was a double room with en-suite, three twin rooms, and an additional two bathrooms! We also had our own sauna!!! One of the twin rooms is along a separate corridor and this makes the bathroom very private so, in effect, you almost have two en-suite bedrooms. There was a large living area, a well-equipped kitchen, and an upstairs space that was ideal for the children to play in! There was a real fire, which, at the time of year that we travelled, was a godsend -- we lit it every day and logs/coal are available from reception. The resort facilities are spot on and they have recently opened a small shop on-site where they sell milk and bread as there is no shop in the local village and the nearest supermarket is around three miles away.

This resort is one of the cleanest that I have stayed at and the grounds are very well cared for. To be honest, I would struggle to find a fault, except to say that the on-site restaurant was rather expensive and did not really cater for small children.

  • Unit Type: Other
  • Activities: Excellent
  • Amenities: Excellent
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Very Good
  • Service: Excellent
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Vic Chick on January 19, 2004

Kilconquhar Estate and Country Club
Fife, Scotland
(013) 3334-0501

The Boat InnBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

We found this pub in the UK Good Pub Guide. We have two children under the age of 10 and this pub welcomes children. It is in a lovely location overlooking the harbour in Elie and looks almost like a house -- it is so unimposing.


The food was excellent and the menu offered everything from locally caught fish with chips to king prawns to noodle stir-fry.


The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere very relaxed. The children were served first and made to feel most welcome, not like they were an inconvenience. I would recommend this to anyone!

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Vic Chick on January 19, 2004

About the Writer

Vic Chick
Vic Chick
Kettering, United Kingdom
  • "I am married to Richard with 2 children, both boys, aged 7 & 4"
  • 4 journals
  • 0 photos
  • 4 reviews

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