Elie

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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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.