Pittenweem
Next stop on my trip around the East Neuk was the fishing village of Pittenweem. I had visited Anstruther before so due to time decided to keep driving after leaving Crail and make a stop at Pittenweem. This location is very well known for its August arts festival. Local residents open their houses to exhibit artists work allowing the public to view the paintings in a homely setting. It’s hugely popular and attracts thousands of visitors.
As noted I was under time constraints, so although I found St Fillan’s Cave, I left going in for a look for another day. It is the oldest known structure in the village. There is a locked steel gate across the entrance and a small plaque on the cave wall has instructions where to request the key. Saint Fillan was a sixth century Scottish monk and the cave is associated with him. Originally maintained by monks who established a priory over the cave in the mid 1100’s, it became a place for pilgrims to visit on their way to St Andrews for example or St. Ethernan’s shrine on the Isle of May. From what I’ve read it was used as a prison during the Scottish witch hunts of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Pittenweem Parish church and Tolbooth Steeple like many such structures in Scotland, has a varied history as additions and improvements were made over many years. The priory church has occupied the site from the 12th century with the Toolbooth completed in 1588. Again from my research, the church has a Norman doorway dating to before 1200.
A statue has been erected down at the harbour dedicated to the men and women who made their living from the sea and to those who lost their lives while doing so. The Pittenweem Fishermen’s Memorial is a permanent piece, and is the work of figurative sculptor Alan Herriot. It depicts a mother looking out to see, with her child, who has tilted their head glancing up at their mother. I’ve seen many statutes over many years, and this really is worthwhile the trip. My own photographs don’t do it justice, so please look it up online.
There are terrific views from the hilltops surrounding the village and well worth taking the time to walk around. For this blog I’ve chosen to use one image I took which was an unexpected but very welcome surprise after taking the path up that particular hill. A fantastic mural of a Puffin on the side of a shed!
The Fiction Factory 