Scotland

Fife is an region of Scotland surrounded by water on three sides, the Tay, the Forth and the North Sea. While much of the land is turned over to agriculture the small region is actually the third largest, in terms of population, in Scotland with a rather industrial southern part. Tourism provides an important income and much of the interest in the area is associated with golf, that ancient Scottish game that is known, and well loved, throughout the world. For this reason I have decided to introduce you to the British Golf Museum and the St Andrews Museum. There are a great many places to visit in Fife but for an area surrounded by so much water it will not come as any great surprise that I have chosen to also take a look at the Scottish Fisheries Museum.

British Golf Museum

The British Golf Museum is found in St. Andrews, Fife, the home of golf. By using diverse displays and exciting interactive exhibits, the museum tells the story of British golf, from its origins in the middle ages through to the present day. The museum was set up by members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1864, who set up a committee to collect ‘articles relevant to the game’. The collection was originally exhibited in the clubhouse, but by the 1960’s it became clear that the collection needed it’s own premises. In 1985, a charitable trust was set up to build and run the museum. The new museum premises eventually opened on 25th June 1990.

Scottish Fisheries Museum

The Scottish Fisheries Museum is situated on the harbour front, in Anstruther, Fife. The museum tells the fascinating story of fishing in Scotland, and it’s people from the earliest days to the present. The museum first opened in 1969, and has grown considerably since then. The site houses, the Abbot’s Lodging, Fisherman’s Cottage, Merchant House, Historic Boatyard, and 19 historic boats, including the ‘Zulu, Research and the sailing flagship, Reaper. The collections consist of over 66,000 objects from across Scotland, items include boat models, paintings, costumes, equipment and household items. There is also an extensive library and photo archive. The museum was recently received a ‘Recognition of National Significance’ award.

St Andrews Museum

St Andrews Museum is located in Kinburn Castle, a beautiful mansion situated in the grounds of Kinburn Park. The house was originally built as a private residence in 1855, and was named after a Crimean battle of the same year. Kinburn Castle became the home of St Andrews Museum in 1991. The museum tells the story of St Andrews from the early days to the 20th century. It covers the medieval period when the Cathedral was one of the great religious centres of Europe, and when St Andrews became a popular place for tourists during the Victorian era. The museum is owned and operated by Fife Council.

If you are planning a vacation in Fife you may find the following accommodation listings useful:

Accommodation in Fife – http://fife.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Fife Hotels & Accommodation – http://www.virtualscotland.co.uk/accommodation/KingdomofFife.htm