6 Best Things to Do in Anstruther, Scotland (+ Itinerary)
- Shal & James
- Aug 20
- 8 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
The best things to do in Anstruther for the perfect weekend in a charming harbour town tucked along Scotland’s Fife coast.
Anstruther is small, charming, and full of surprises. We wandered its quaint streets and harbour, taking in the views…until a full rainbow appeared over the water and we watched as a bold seagull made off with someone's dinner.
That mix of cosy charm, colourful characters, and seaside magic is exactly what makes Anstruther such a great base for visiting the Isle of May National Nature Reserve. This guide covers everything we wish we’d known before visiting the Isle of May—how to get there, what to see, when the puffins are in residence and the best things to do in Anstruther while you’re at it.
CONTENTS
We’ve included opening hours, prices with currency conversions based on current exchange rates, and what we paid to help with planning—but things can change (things to do, hotels, the lot), so it’s always worth double checking to dodge any last-minute surprises.
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KEY INFO: ANSTRUTHER, SCOTLAND
BEST TIME TO GO TO ANSTRUTHER
May–Sep is sunniest and warmest. We went in late Jul—great weather, no puffins (visit May–Jun to avoid missing them).
HOW TO GET TO ANSTRUTHER
Fly to Edinburgh Airport (EDI); hire a car or take the train to Leuchars, then a bus/taxi to Anstruther. Or drive 9 hours from London like we did (road trip!)
HOW TO GET AROUND ANSTRUTHER
It’s a compact harbour town—perfect for strolling between fish & chip shops and the sea wall. If you want to explore further afield, local buses and a car hire work well if you didn't bring your own.
IDEAL TRIP LENGTH
2–4 days (we stayed 2); enough to explore the harbour, hop over to the Isle of May, wander the Fife Coastal Path and explore locally.
LANGUAGES
English (with a delightful Fife lilt).
UK ESIM
We never travel without an Airalo eSIM—grab one through our link for 15% off if you’re new, or 10% off if you’re already part of the club.
UK TOURIST VISAS
To visit Scotland (UK), you need a valid passport—except Irish citizens, who can use a national ID card. Some nationalities also require a visa, so check the UK government site. For domestic UK flights, no passport is needed, just a photo ID.
SCOTLAND CURRENCY
Pound sterling (£). Credit cards are widely accepted. Using cash? English and Scottish notes and coins look different but spend the same across the UK.
IS ANSTRUTHER SAFE?
We felt perfectly safe wandering day or night, but check Scotland's website before you go.
CAN YOU DRINK TAP WATER IN SCOTLAND?
Yes—Scotland’s tap water meets very high quality standards and tastes great too!
VACCINATIONS NEEDED FOR SCOTLAND
None to our knowledge—just keep your routine jabs up to date.
6 BEST THINGS TO DO IN ANSTRUTHER
Things to do in Anstruther in order of photos above.
1) ANSTRUTHER HARBOUR
Daily 24/7
Free
Breathe salty sea air and watch boats bobbing like lazy seals. Walk along the seawall for a great view of the harbour.
2) FIFE COASTAL PATH
Daily 24/7
Free
Anstruther sits smack on the scenic Fife Coastal Path—head in either direction for views. We wish we stayed a day longer to walk more of it.
3) ISLE OF MAY BOAT TRIP
Annually 1 Apr - 30 Sep; daily sailing times vary
£38-50 pp; converted: US$51-68 / €44-58
Isle of May National Nature Reserve is one of the UK's largest puffin colonies with 50,000 breeding pairs! Only one boat per company per day is allowed to land—so spots go fast. Book early. We booked 3 months ahead, and May/Jun—peak puffin season—were already gone in a flap. Google, AI, and even the boat companies may tell you puffin season stretches to mid-Aug, but when we went the last weekend of Jul, the little charmers had already set sail for the North Sea (so rude!).
Two boat options for landing trips:
Isle of May Boat Trips (£50 pp; converted: US$68 / €58) – A speedy, bouncy 20–25 minute ride with up to 12 people on a rigid inflatable boat (you will be in waterproofs and a life jacket). Smooth on the way there, but our return was... aggressively thrilling (think airtime). Best to avoid if you have back or bone issues. Round-trip is ~4 hrs.
Anstruther Pleasure Cruises (£38 pp; converted: US$51 / €44) – A bigger, slower boat (about an hour each way) means a gentler ride—unless you’re prone to seasickness, in which case, maybe not the dream. The round trip takes roughly ~5 hours, with space for 100 passengers (35 of those blessed with covered seats), plus refreshments, a toilet, and partial disabled access.
4) KELLIE CASTLE & GARDENS
1 May - 31 Oct 10AM - 5PM; closed 1 Nov-31 Dec
£13.50 pp; converted: US$18 / €16; free for National Trust Members
Kellie Castle's fairytale turrets, sprawling gardens, and Scotland’s first plaster ceiling, created in 1617 to honour King James VI’s visit.
You can peek inside the castle on Sundays from 1–4PM, or join an hourly guided tour daily between 10AM and 4PM—a solid choice if you fancy hearing its fascinating stories and having the place (almost) to yourself.
Kellie’s gardens may all be wrapped in honeyed stone walls, but there’s one especially tucked-away corner that feels like your own private Eden—quiet, leafy, and just a little bit secret.
5) CELLARDYKE
Daily 24/7
Free
A pint-sized fishing village on the Fife Coastal Path with serious charm. You can walk through it in about 10 minutes.
6) DREEL TAVERN
Wed - Sun 12PM - 11PM
Dreel Tavern is housed in one of the town’s oldest building, this family-run spot has a beer garden overlooking a charming stream. Can’t speak for the food, but the beer garden was a glorious little sun-trap, and a local(ish) pint—brewed in Edinburgh—will set you back around £7 (converted: US$9.50 / €8).
BEST RESTAURANTS IN ANSTRUTHER
In summer, Anstruther’s handful of restaurants fill up fast—so book ahead or risk going hungry. Most places require a deposit (and happily keep it if you’re a no-show), but two local gems—The Rockies and The Waterfront—don’t.
THE ROCKIES RESTAURANT
It may not have a website, and it definitely doesn’t have ambiance, but this quirky spot hidden inside Anstruther Golf Club serves surprisingly brilliant food. We tucked into spicy lamb koftas, followed by cod and steak fillet mains, then rounded it all off with sticky toffee pudding—utterly delicious. The staff are lovely, and if you’re lucky with your table, you might even catch a rainbow arching from Anstruther Harbour straight into the sea, as we did. Epic. Call +44 (0)1333 313314 (or get your B&B to do the honours) for a reservation.
THE WATERFRONT
It feels a bit like a diner, but trust us— The Waterfront does cracking pub grub, including one of the best steak pies we’ve ever had. It’s just across the road from Anstruther Harbour, so ask for a window seat. The view isn’t quite Rockies-level rainbows, but you’ll still see boats bobbing and seagulls terrorising anyone brave enough to eat al fresco. Book via enquiries@anstruther-waterfront.co.uk.
THE CELLAR AT 24
This new Spanish wine and tapas bar has been winning rave reviews, but we ran out of nights to try it. The £40 (converted: US$54 / €46) booking deposit (non-refundable if you cancel within 24 hours or don’t show up) felt a bit steep, so we passed this time. At the time of writing, their website was a bit temperamental, but you can check reviews on Google and book online.
BEST HOTELS IN ANSTRUTHER
Anstruther doesn’t really do hotels—it’s all cosy B&Bs and pubs with rooms.
BRACKNESS HOUSE LUXURY BED & BREAKFAST
Rooms in Robert and Catriona Nee's lovely historic home, Brackness House (£145 pn; converted: US$196 / €168) are immaculately clean and very comfortable. We were pleasantly surprised by all the toiletries provided, but if you use hair conditioner, make sure to pack your own. There’s a long driveway with free parking, and you can stroll to everything in town (Kellie Castle being the one exception—you’ll need wheels for that).
Robert whips up a fab Scottish breakfast (or a healthy one) and swings by your table for a morning chat. Catriona makes jam from her own garden fruit. We repeat: homemade jam. Unlike most B&Bs, you actually get to choose when you want breakfast—and a table all to yourselves to enjoy it. If you’re in luck, you’ll even get to meet their sweet-natured, six-toed cat, Pebbles.
ROOMS AT THE WATERFRONT
You’re practically on the harbour at The Waterfront (£104-150 pn; converted: US$140-203 / €121-174)—just roll out of bed and onto your boat bound for the Isle of May. If Brackness House had been full, this would’ve been our pick: clean, comfy, modern rooms with rave reviews to match. And if their dinner is anything to go by, breakfast is probably just as good.
BEST TIME TO VISIT ANSTRUTHER?
May to September is sunniest and warmest. We went in late July—great weather, no puffins (visit May to June to avoid missing them).
HOW MANY DAYS IN ANSTRUTHER?
Two to four days is the sweet spot for Anstruther (we stayed two)—plenty of time to explore the harbour, hop over to the Isle of May, stroll the Fife Coastal Path, and explore local sights.
STEAL OUR 2 DAY ANSTRUTHER ITINERARY
For all the juicy details for each sight—think entry fees, opening times, and our recommendations—return to the section 6 Best Things to Do in Anstruther. It’s all there, neatly bundled and ready to make your planning a breeze.
DAY 1: LOCAL SIGHTS
Anstruther harbour and seawall
Fife Coastal Path via Cellardyke
Drinks at Dreel Tavern
Dinner at The Waterfront
DAY 2: FURTHER AFIELD
11AM - 1PM Kellie Castle & Gardens
2PM - 6:30PM Isle of May landing boat trip
Dinner at The Rockies Restaurant
HOW MUCH DOES A LUXURY TRIP TO ANSTRUTHER COST? (WHAT WE SPENT)
All costs are for two people travelling together.
ITEM | GBP | USD* | EUR* |
Brackness House Luxury Bed & Breakfast 2 nights in a double room including breakfast | £290.00 | $391.50 | €336.27 |
Isle of May boat trip (We're National Trust members so entry into Kellie Castle was free) | £100.00 | $135.00 | €115.95 |
Food + drinks | £139.05 | $187.72 | €161.24 |
Grand Total | £529.05 | $714.22 | €613.46 |
*Approximate conversions for reference based on current exchange rates.
HOW TO GET TO ANSTRUTHER?
Fly to Edinburgh Airport (EDI); hire a car or take the train to Leuchars, then a bus/taxi to Anstruther. Or drive nine hours from London like we did (road trip!)
HOW TO GET AROUND ANSTRUTHER
It’s a compact harbour town—perfect for strolling between fish & chip shops and the sea wall. If you want to explore further afield, local buses and a car hire work well if you didn't bring your own.
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