This fabulous, semi-detached stone building, complete with a red pantile roof, is a great location for a family holiday, celebration or for friends to spend time together is rural Fife, just minutes’ drive to the seaside, in the grounds of the owners home. The Barracks @ East Neuk Orchards is a spacious and welcoming holiday home just ozzing character and charm. With views over the countryside down to the sea, the spacious and welcoming living room has a feature fire place with an open fire and makes the ideal hub for everyone to gather together.

This wonderful abode has an interesting history. The ground floor of the property predates 1750, being originally part of a larger estate and later extended upwards. Further farm buildings and accommodation were constructed forming a traditional courtyard with a very untraditional but historic dovecot. The Barracks was named because the building was used as a billet for British and Polish officers during WW2. During the 1970s the barracks accommodation was converted into a single residence and the two original front doors were turned into French windows. The upstairs drawing room fireplace was refitted with a chimney piece from old Montrave House. The upstairs toilet also has mahogany fittings rescued from an old house in St Andrews. This imaginative conversion and redecoration provides an excellent standard of accommodation for guests whilst maintaining the original and character and charm.

There are the grounds to explore, but you will need your boots as are there are no footpaths. Perfect for walkers and cyclists, there are many quiet roads and paths to explore. Kellie Castle and gardens with its tea room makes for a great walk, and is about 1½ miles away. This is a super location for spotting wildlife, and nearby Gillingshill Reservoir has a variety of water fowl, including coots, little grebes and swans. Look out for rare green sandpipers during the migration season, and in late summer the air is filled with dragonflies and damselflies. The woodland also hosts a multitude of wild flowers in spring.

Four miles away is the magical old harbour village of Pittenween which oozes charm. There is a working harbour where you can watch the boats landing their catch and purchase freshly caught fish for your supper. If you would like to catch your own, fishing is available from the piers in St Monans, Pittenweem and Anstruther. Wander around the old lanes with their coffee shops or visit the harbourside ice cream shop for refreshments. For a walk along the shore, the Fife Coastal Path follows the coast to old fishing villages, pretty coves and sandy beaches where lots of sea life is visible from the shore.

Only a 20-minute drive is the historic city of St Andrews, a popular tourist location which offers a great selection of quality cafés, bars and restaurants, excellent shopping, historic buildings, a harbour and a sandy beach. Renowned worldwide as the home of golf, it regularly plays host to the Open Championship and there is also the British Golf Museum. Beach 5½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 4 miles.