Focus on: The Garden Cottage, Fife

The Garden Cottage, in Blebo nr. St Andrews, Fife

With the days growing longer again, January is the time to start fantasising about holiday destinations. If you’re looking to experience something truly different in a location that fuses the best of countryside and coastal holidays, Fife might just be the spot for you.

A rural retreat in the Scottish Lowlands

The Garden Cottage is nestled in a tranquil corner of a country estate just 4 miles from St. Andrews. Nature lovers and walkers can set off on epic treks right from the doorstep, and the area is also dotted with traditional country inns and shops for provisions – many within easy walking distance.

A Victorian stone cottage with elegant parkland views, this quaint escape features a south-facing walled garden, as well as open fire and patio with furniture and barbeque. Accommodating up to four people, it provides all mod cons, including dishwasher and Wi-Fi, and gives drivers and cyclists alike a secure place to park their ride.

Enjoy coast and countryside in the same trip

The Garden Cottage is situated just off the coast of south-east Scotland, close to the Firth of Forth. The historic cities of Sterling and Edinburgh – both steeped in history and boasting fine examples of mediaeval architecture – are within easy reach, as are quintessentially Scottish villages such as Crail Harbour.

St. Andrews is reputedly home to the oldest golf course in the world (suitably called the ‘Old Course’), as well as the picturesque ruins of St. Andrews Castle. Tentsmuir Forest and the beach at West Sands provide two enviable natural retreats, and no visit would be complete without a jaunt across the iconic Forth Bridge.