Elie – a Sauna on the Dunes and Lunch at the Ship Inn
A few hours.
The route
Elie Seaside Sauna stands on the dunes at the entrance to Elie Harbour, two wood-fired saunas with big windows looking west across Elie Bay and the beach a few steps away.
Book a seat in the larger one, run into the sea or stand under the cold shower between rounds, then walk along to the Ship Inn on the bay for lunch. It's a lovely East Neuk morning for grown-ups and swimmers.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book a seat in the Harbourmaster at Elie Seaside Sauna on its website before you go, £16 for an hour at the time of writing (over-16s), or the Original privately for up to six from £96 an hour, for late morning so lunch at the Ship Inn follows.
Book lunch at The Ship Inn, Elie
Book a table at the Ship Inn on its website or on 01333 330246 for lunch after the sauna (Monday to Saturday noon to 2.45pm, Sunday noon to 8pm); ask for the ground-floor restaurant if stairs are hard, and say in the booking comments if a dog is coming.
The day
Elie
Wood-fired heat with the bay in the window, a cold dip off the beach, and a long seafood lunch by the water.
About three hours
Elie Seaside Sauna
Elie Seaside Sauna is on the dunes at the entrance to Elie Harbour, at the east end of the bay. Parking at the harbour is very limited, so leave the car in the Ruby Bay car park at the east end of the village, where the first two hours are free, then £2 for the day at the time of writing. There are two saunas. The Harbourmaster seats 12 and sells single seats at £16 for an hour, at the time of writing; the Original, a converted horsebox lined with aspen, is private hire for up to six from £96 an hour. Book a time on its website before you go. Bring swimwear, two towels, a water bottle and beach shoes. Between rounds, walk straight onto the beach for a dip, or use the cold showers if the sea isn't for you. Seat bookings are for over-16s; children from 12 come only as part of a private hire with an adult. The Harbourmaster has one small step at the door. The saunas run in all weather and cancel only for safety.
About 4 min on foot
The Ship Inn, Elie
Lunch
Lunch is at the Ship Inn, a few minutes' walk round the bay. The restaurant serves lunch Monday to Saturday from noon to 2.45pm and on Sunday from noon to 8pm, with fish and chips, Fife beef burgers and plenty of local seafood, and a children's menu. The first-floor dining room looks over Elie Bay but has no lift; ask for the ground-floor restaurant if stairs are hard, and say when booking if a dog is coming, as dogs are welcome downstairs. Book a table on its website. On a summer weekend its beach bar and barbecue is open too.
If it rains
The sauna runs in all weather and the Ship Inn has open fires and wood-burning stoves; only the walk between is out in the rain.
The Pavilion, Elie, a café in Elie and Earlsferry.
Make it a weekend
More days out near St Andrews.
Photograph by Carole Boyd via Google