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Bow of Fife, Collessie & Letham

Tourism in Bow of Fife, Collessie & Letham

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.

What's New?

Fife Tourism partnership logo 

Join new Cupar & the Howe Tourist Association
Join the Fife Tourism Network today and have your say on if and how a local tourist association might help local businesses in Cupar and the Howe of Fife.

Cairnie maze 

Reach for the skies at Cairnie maze!
The 6-acre maze at Cairnie (pictured left) opened for the summer on 12 July 10. Look closely and you should be able to make out the shape of a true British icon.

Raptorworld  

Save £ whilst visiting the Howe in 2010!
Visit Scotland and local tourism businesses have got together to deliver some fantastic offers on accommodation and attractions in the Howe this spring/summer. Check em out!

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Accommodation in Bow, Collessie & Letham

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.

  Fernie Castle

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

  Woodmill House

Lindifferon Court has three 2 bedroom cottages, beautifully converted from a listed farm steading just north of Letham village.

  Shepherds Cottage exterior, Lindifferon

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

  Lavendar Cottage in nearby Ladybank
   

> View all accommodation in the Howe


Attractions in Bow, Collessie & Letham

Scottish Deer CentreOne 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.

Fife Animal ParkThose 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.

Both 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 Historic Monimail graveyard

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. It is home to popular local artists Alfred Malocco & Marianna Lines, both of whom have studios in the village.

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 on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm between 24 Feb and 29 Sep 2010 as part of Scotland's Gardens Scheme.

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

> More local visitor attractions


Eating and drinking in Bow, Collessie & Letham

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. Patsy'z Pantry 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.

> More local drinking & dining options           > More 'glorious' Fife Food


Transport in Bow, Collessie & Letham

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.

> More help getting around the Howe


Weather

Letham Playing fieldCheck 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. Try the Deer Centre or the Animal park if desperation strikes!

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What’s Happening

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Latest News

  1. Newburgh: a unique orchard town

    Tuesday, 31st August, 2010

  2. Community Bakehouse update

    Thursday, 26th August, 2010

  3. Top 5 family days out in Fife

    Wednesday, 25th August, 2010

  4. Discounted tickets for Fife Animal Park

    Tuesday, 24th August, 2010

  5. Met Office advisory weather warning

    Monday, 23rd August, 2010

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  1. Scotland's Garden Scheme: Barham, Bow of Fife

    Wednesday, 24th February, 2010

    Geo: 56.302492, -3.101921

  2. Newburgh Orchard Group: Plum Market

    Saturday, 4th September, 2010

    Geo: 56.350961, -3.241117

  3. Freuchie's Glorious Weekend

    Saturday, 4th September, 2010

    Geo: 56.246873, -3.157014

  4. Energy Group meeting: Collessie

    Monday, 6th September, 2010

    Geo: 56.306872, -3.154235

  5. Optics weekend at Vane Farm

    Saturday, 11th September, 2010

    Geo: 56.178002, -3.355036

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