Fife is, of course, the home of golf and a real mecca for followers of the wee white ball. Historic St Andrews itself is only a 20 minute away and every village along the coast seems to have its own course.

Earlsferry was the home town of James Braid - five times Open champion, who described the 13th hole at Elie and Earlsferry as 'the finest in the country'. Even making allowances for local pride, that's quite a claim! The village must be one of the most child friendly in the country, with full programmes of tennis and golf specially tailored for them and it is also easy to find creche facilities locally. Elie has a 9 hole course specially designed for children. The 19th hole of the Golf Tavern, serving food and, again, welcoming children is only about 20 yards along the road.

Golf apart, the East Neuk is a hugely popular venue for family seaside holidays, with sandy beaches and a great infrastructure in terms of shops, galleries, eating places and amusements. You can take boat trips from nearby Anstruther to view the seabird colonies on the Isle of May in the Forth, while Elie itself offers courses and instruction in all kinds of watersports, sailing, surfing, water skiing, cycle hire and tennis.

The East Neuk villages, where little erstwhile fishermen's cottages cluster round their harbours, all have their particular charms. Nearby Pittenweem, for example, hosts a lively Arts Festival in August each year. Inland there are other attractions, such as watching cheese being made at the St Andrews Cheese Factory just outside Anstruther, visiting the Scottish Deer Park, Scotland's Secret Bunker, Kellie Castle, Falkland Palace and the like. You can walk the Fife Coastal Path, fish off the rocks or pier or simply laze in the sunny garden and relax.