Introduction
Anstruther is the East Neuk's main event, a proper Fife fishing town with a working harbour, a high street that has resisted the worst of homogenisation, and the Anstruther Fish Bar, which has won more awards for its haddock and chips than most restaurants receive in a lifetime.
The queue outside the fish bar on a sunny afternoon is a Scottish summer pilgrimage. The fish is impeccably fresh, the batter is right, and eating it on the harbour wall while a seal bobs in the water below is a specific kind of happiness.
Isle of May boat trips depart from the harbour for puffin and grey seal viewing between April and July. The Scottish Fisheries Museum is on the harbour and better than its name suggests.
Getting There
On the A917 Fife Coastal Road, about 10 miles from St Andrews. Bus connections from St Andrews run regularly. No train, the East Neuk requires a car for full exploration.
Areas to Know
Shore Street runs along the harbour and is the heart of the town. The fish bar queue starts here. The high street runs inland with independent shops and the museum at the harbour end.
