Crail

Crail is a picturesque fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife. Built around a harbour, it has a particular wealth of vernacular buildings from the 17th to early 19th centuries, many restored by the National Trust for Scotland. It features regularly in local paintings, as its preserved harbour and winding lanes are favourite subjects for artists. The most notable building in the town is the 13th century parish church. Though much altered, this is one of Scotland's most beautiful ancient churches.

The large kirkyard surrounding the building has a fine collection of mural monuments dating from the late 16th century on.

Other historic buildings in Crail are the tolbooth, with a tower dating from about 1600, which stands on its own in the large marketplace, and the doo'cot (Scots for dovecot) of the town's otherwise vanished Franciscan Friary.

Crail once had a royal castle above the harbour. The site is still visible as an open garden, but little or nothing of the structure survives above ground. A Victorian 'turret' jutting out from the garden wall recalls the castle.

The Trail is around a mile and half, and takes you to Crail Parish Church, through the town centre, down to the harbour and around Castle Walk, with splendid views across the river Forth. There is a flight of shallow steps which could be negotiated by pushchairs with assistance. Regrettably it is not suitable for wheelchairs.