Travel Scotland
Farming Travel In and Around Cupar, Fife by Janice Hopper Fife is renowned for golf, tourism and miles of scenic beaches, and travellers flock to popular seaside destinations such as St Andrews and along the scenic East Neuk. But when you’re in search of good produce and farmland it pays to head inland. We based ourselves in Cupar’s elegant Burgh Chambers, now refurbished to create smart and spacious two-bedroom accommodation. The building was the former beating heart of administrative life and local decision making. This traditional market town gained Royal Burgh status in the fourteenth century, and was situated on a historic royal route linking Stirling, Falkland, Cupar and onto the sea. Renowned guests, such as King Charles II, are said to have been entertained in the Burgh Chambers’ assembly room on his journey to Falkland in 1650. Produce and goods flowed along the busy roads, placing it at the heart of
Cupar Burgh Chambers
106
agricultural Fife, with links as far afield as Flanders. Wool was a key trade between Cupar and Flanders. In the 14th and 15th centuries it’s said that Cupar exported more wool than any other town in Fife. Exports departed from the ‘port of Eden’ on the Eden Estuary, taking the raw material to Flanders, which was then a hub for cloth manufacturing. Today, a monthly farmers market brings goods to town every third Saturday of the month, and quality is still the name of the game. Downstairs from the Burgh Chambers is the renowned Minick Butchers. The ‘boss’, Stuart Minick, learned his trade alongside his father in their first shop in Tayport in 1984, and he’s now been a butcher for over three decades with successful shops peppered across Fife. Next, cross the road from the Burgh Chambers and you’ll find yourself in dangerously tempting territory - Fisher and
Donaldson’s bakery! This Royal Warrant-holding fifth generation family bakery has been creating delightful savouries and treats since 1919, including their famous Fudge Doughnut. The bakers use as many local ingredients as possible, sourcing their meat from Simon Howie in Perthshire. All of the flour (except some French imported flour for baguettes) is milled in Kirkcaldy. The bakery uses a Fife fruit merchant, the cream comes from a big Scottish dairy, and the team gets through ninety tons of oats a year, all sourced from Fife farms. The Cupar branches both have cafés so it’s an excellent, low key, family friendly and affordable lunch option. Grab some stovies and a doughnut, or a pie and some tiffin, and you’re set for the day.
Adding colour to Cupar is the environmentally friendly Country Garden Company, which offers a different take on growing and transporting flora. Rather than ship in flowers from far afield using refrigerated containers, they grow the vast majority of flowers, herbs and foliage themselves, nurturing seedlings and harvesting their blooms before transforming them into seasonal bouquets, buttonholes or statement floral installations. This new sustainable approach to floristry is turning heads. After exploring the town of Cupar itself, we then ventured slightly further afield to Muddy Boots farm shop, café and kids adventure play. It’s an excellent rural destination for those with active little ones, offering both
Bring on the pies - at Fisher and Donaldson
www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com
