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Tourism in Bow of Fife, Collessie & Letham Online

Whilst the villages in this area have fewer facilities than some of the larger nearby towns, the fertile farmland and rolling rural landscapes make this corner of the Howe of Fife well worth exploring further.

Accommodation

 Fernie Castle  

Fernie Castle just outside Letham is perhaps the area's best known hotel. Its 17 acres of woodlands and loch provide a perfect backdrop for weddings and relaxing weekends in the country.  

 Woodmill House 

Woodmill House, just one mile north of Collessie at Lindores offers bed & breakfast (with a dinner option) in a beautifully converted water mill.

 Lavendar Cottage in nearby Ladybank 

Or try Stewart Country Cottages for a selection of nearby self-catering accommodation.

For more accommodation options try neighbouring Auchtermuchty and Ladybank.

Attractions

One of the most popular attractions in the Howe, is Bow of Fife's Scottish Deer Centre. Over 140 deer (of 9 species) roam free in 55 acres of beautiful countryside. Visitors can enjoy bird of prey demonstrations, ranger tours, a treetop walkway, children's play areas and traditional Scottish food and gift outlets.

Those who prefer more exotic animals can head a few miles further west on the A91 to the Fife Animal Park at Collessie, where ostriches, wallabies, emus, bison and llamas as well as more familiar breeds are on display.

Scottish Deer Centre  Fife Animal Park  

The Scottish Deer Centre and Fife Animal Park cater particularly well for children and families.


Historic Monimail Tower and surrounding woodland are open to members of the public. For a £1 entrance fee visitors can enjoy fine views of the Howe of Fife from the Monimail Tower tower rooftop and explore its fascinating history in an interesting exhibition on the first floor.

 

Monimail Tower historical exhibition  View from Monimail Tower across the Howe 

The other parts of the Tower and its grounds are not open to the public but visitors are invited to visit historic Monimail graveyard to the north.

Collessie, with its pretty thatched cottages, ancient church & graveyard and Pictish Warrior standing stone, is another popular and much photographed location.

West End Cottage, Collessie  Tomb of Sir James Melville, Collessie Kirk  Collessie

Keen gardeners will enjoy the small and attractive woodland garden at Barham, Bow of Fife, with its rhododendrons, spring bulbs, trilliums and ferns. It is open to visitors during the summer months, by appointment only as part of Scotland's Gardens Scheme.

 Barham gardens, Bow of Fife Barham's woodland gardens, Bow of Fife 

Eating and drinking

Whilst there are few facilities in the villages themselves (Bow of Fife has a Post Office), the Scottish Deer Centre has a courtyard café, open 10am to 5pm serving snacks and meals as well as a number of retail outlets selling Scottish produce eg venison and haggis. Buzz's Bistro at Fife Animal Park is open 10am to 6pm every day and sells breakfasts, hot and cold snacks, fresh home baking, hot and cold drinks and take-away foods.

Nearby Auchtermuchty & Ladybank, have a range of grocery shops, eateries and bars, whilst Cupar, 5 miles east, has a wide selection of restaurants and take-aways.

Transport

If you're planning to travel in the Howe using public transport Traveline makes it easy.Travelline Scotland 

By car: Collessie, Letham & Bow of Fife are linked by the A92 Dundee-Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh trunk road. Due to their rural nature they are most easily reached by car. Muchty taxis or A Robertson & Son (Kingskettle) can help you get there.

By rail: Collessie, Letham & Bow are approx 3 miles from Ladybank railway station. For further information & booking see Scotrail, Trainline, or  National Rail Enquiries, tel: 0345 484950

By Bus: Stagecoach operates several local bus services to and from the area from Glenrothes, Cupar, Perth and further afield. For timetable info call Travel Line on 0871 200 22 33.

If are interested in car sharing, reducing petrol costs and helping the environment Tripshare can help. Lots of NE Fifers are regsitered now, making it a viable option for Howe residents to travel to work, or simply get around. Tripshare logo

Weather

Check our the Letham and surrounds weather forecast for today and the weeks ahead.

  

Toilets

There are currently no public toilet facilities available in Collessie, Letham or Bow of Fife.

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