The Lady's Tower, Elie – Sunset, the Bay and Supper
A few hours.
The route
Elie is a pretty seaside village on the East Neuk coast, and on a clear evening its little headland is a lovely place to watch the day end.
A short walk past the white lighthouse brings you to the Lady's Tower, a ruined stone tower on the rocks, with the bay spread out to the west. Then it's a few minutes back to the Ship Inn, the pub on the harbour beach, for supper, with an open fire in the bar.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book supper at the Ship Inn, Elie
Book a table at the Ship Inn online or on 01333 330246 for about half an hour after sunset: supper is served 5pm to 9.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and until 8pm on Sundays; ask for the ground-floor restaurant if stairs are hard (the first floor has no lift), say in the booking comments if a dog is coming, and order the hot shellfish platter at least 48 hours ahead.
The day
Elie
A short walk out to the headland as the light goes, and a warm supper by the harbour.
About two and a half hoursAbout 1.5 miles on foot
Lady’s Tower, Ruby Bay
An attraction
Park in the Ruby Bay car park at the east end of Elie: the first two hours are free, then £2 at the machine, by cash or card, and it's open until 11pm. From there it's about 9 minutes' walk east round Ruby Bay, past the white Elie Ness lighthouse, to the Lady's Tower on its rocky point. It was built in the 1770s for Janet, Lady Anstruther, who is said to have bathed in the sea below while a servant rang a bell to keep the village away. Arrive about half an hour before sunset and watch the light go down over the bay to the west. The path is rough and the rocks below are slippery, so start back while there's still light, and stay away from the edge in wind or wet. From October to March the sun sets before supper; in summer it sets after the kitchen closes, so eat first and walk out after.
6 min on foot
The Ship Inn, Elie
Supper
Back at the car park, the Ship Inn is 6 minutes' walk west on the Toft, by the harbour beach. Its restaurant serves supper from 5pm to 9.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and until 8pm on Sundays, and the bar has an open fire and real ale. Book a table for about half an hour after sunset. Ask for the ground-floor restaurant if stairs are hard, as the first floor has no lift, and say if a dog is coming.
If it rains
In rain or a strong wind the headland is no place to be: skip the tower and go straight to supper at the Ship Inn, 6 minutes' walk from the car park, where the bar has an open fire.
The Ship Inn, Elie, a restaurant in Leven.