The Ship Inn - Inn in Fife

There are few inns where you can sit on the terrace and watch a game of cricket on the beach below. But it’s not beach cricket as you know it. This is serious stuff, played at low tide, and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards and Wasim Akram have all tried their hand. As for this cute little boutique inn, it’s as good as any in the land, and it doubles as the pavilion… and the venue for post-match celebrations, no doubt. On sunny days, you decant onto the terrace for lunch in the sun and gaze across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh’s hills. Inside, contemporary rustic design mixes with roaring fires and the odd stone wall. Sofas and armchairs are scattered about, staff weave through the throng delivering delicious food – fish and seafood from local waters, lamb and beef from nearby farms, sinful puddings you can’t resist; there are regular barbecues on the terrace, too. Smart rooms have seaside colours, crisp linen, coffee machines, fancy bathrooms with walk-in showers; those at the front have sea views, too. St Andrews waits for a round of golf, the Fife coastal path for excellent walks. A perfect place.