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Elie and Earlsferry are two Villages, now
joined, in the Fife area of Scotland, 45 miles
north of Edinburgh.
Elie and Earlsferry are popular for their
vast Beach, Watersports, Boat Trips, Beach
Cricket, and Coastal Walks. The top sections of
the Fife Coastal
Path are here, 6 miles north to St Monans,
Pittenweem, and Anstruther, 8
miles south to Largo and Leven.
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Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is looking north along the
High Street in Elie with the Elie Parish Church on the left.
The earliest parts of this Church are from
1639, with the Steeple added in 1726, then the
Main Building was rebuilt in 1831.
The Ship Inn and Harbour
are downhill from the north end of the High
Street. If visiting at a busy time in a car,
best park at the large Car Park out by the
Lighthouse, about one third of a mile walk from
the Harbour.
The Beach Bar is across the road from the
Ship Inn with views over the Harbour, Harbour
Beach, Watersports, and Elie Beach Cricket Ground. Cricket is
played from May to September, mainly Sat &
Sun, with games arranged for Low Tides.
Elie
Watersports are at the Harbour Beach, a
great sheltered location for almost every
watersport you can think of, ideal for learning
or experienced visitors.
The Harbour has a Marina and Cafe with Boat
Trips sometimes available to view scenic
Fishing Villages along the coast, and Wildlife
such as Seals, Porpoises, and Dolphins.
Elie Ness
Lighthouse is at the north end of Elie,
just north of the Harbour with a large Car
Park. There is a 1 mile walk around the
Headland here for the Lady Jane Anstruther
Tower and the Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse was completed in 1908. Sea
Fishing from the rocks at the Lighthouse is
popular.
The Lady Jane Anstruther Tower is a few
hundred yards north of the Lighthouse. This
Tower was built in 1760 for Lady Jane to change
in before going for a swim. A bell was rung
when she was swimming so locals would keep
clear, as Lady Jane was a Naturist.
Elie Golf Club
is on the south side of Elie where Elie and
Earlsferry join. This Links Course was founded
in 1832.
Elie Sports
Club is next to Elie Golf Club with a Nine
Hole Golf Course, Putting, Driving Range,
Tennis, Bowls and more.
Chapel Green is on the south side of
Earlsferry. This is where the Ferry ran from in
the 1100s, 7 miles across the Firth of Fourth
to North Berwick. The Earls of Fife set
up the running of the Ferry for Pilgrims
traveling from southeastern Scotland to the
Shrine of Saint Andrew, at the vast St
Andrews Cathedral, 12 miles north.
Records state 15,000 people used the
Earlsferry Ferry in 1413. This trade stopped
after the Reformation in 1560 made Catholic
Worship in Scotland illegal. St Andrews
Cathedral, largest Church ever built in
Scotland, was in ruin by 1561.
Elie Holiday
Park is 2 miles south of Elie by a Sandy
Bay. The Park has a wide range of Holiday Homes
for hire, also, Touring and Tent pitches.
Elie History
732 - Relics of St Andrew were brought from
Hexham to Fife by Bishop Acca. The Relics were
held at Kilrymont, later renamed St
Andrews.
1070s - St Margaret, wife of King Malcolm
III of Scotland, set up a Ferry Service, 2
miles across the River Forth at North and South
Queensferry, for Pilgrims traveling
north to St Andrews, 41 miles north of
Queensferry.
Around the same time, the Earls of Fife, set
up a Ferry Service between North Berwick and
the east coast of Fife, mainly for Pilgrims
traveling between southeast Scotland and St
Andrews, a 7 mile crossing, leaving just 12
miles by road north to St Andrews.
The Village that grew around the East Fife
Ferry Port was named Earlsferry.
There are remains of a small Hostel or
Chapel at Chapel Green in Earlsferry, where
Pilgrims would be welcomed and given
shelter.
1560 - the Reformation in Scotland made
Catholic Worship illegal, leading to the end of
the Ferry trade for Pilgrims to St Andrews.
The founding of Elie Village is unknown,
only that the Parish Church was built from
1639. The Villages also grew around Fishing,
and the weaving of Linen from Flax.
1832 - Elie Golf Club was founded, one of
the earliest in Scotland.
1850 - Elie's harbour was expanded.
1863 - the Railway reached Elie and
Anstruther 6 miles north, bringing in tourists
for the Beach and Golf.
1870s - regular Steam Ships began visiting
Elie and Earlsferry from North Berwick and
Edinburgh, bringing in more tourists.
1930 - Elie and Earlsferry were officially
merged.
1960s - the Railway was closed.
1970s - inexpensive Flights to Spain led to
a dramatic decrease in Tourism to Scotland's
coastal Towns.
1998 - the first modern home Computers are
sold, leading to vast amounts of information
and images to be found about Scotland's many
Attractions.
2000s - numbers of foreign tourists to
Scotland steadily increase, along with many
Scots exploring the numerous attractions.
2003 - the first sections of the Fife Coastal
Path were opened, leading to an increase in
Tourism.
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