The Mill Lade

The Mill Lade is a substantial sandstone home, converted from a water mill, situated in Dura Den, an area designated of outstanding natural beauty. The Ceres Burn borders the property on the North side and from the living room balcony guests can experience a bird's eye view over the magnificent waterfall.

The property was architect designed to make the most of both natural light and the stunning views. It features wood burning stoves in both the living and dining rooms and is tastefully decorated throughout. Both the dining room and the kitchen have large tables and ample seating for guests to enjoy mealtimes together and the kitchen has everything guests could need to make everything from a toastie to a banquet, with ample everyday and formal crockery and glasses to match. All guests receive a generous welcome basket with wine, beer, home made baking and jams.

The bedrooms are all named after Scottish painters, and their art adorns the walls. The property is on a quiet road, surrounded by beautiful woodland walks, only 6 miles from St Andrews, 10 from Dundee, 50 from Edinburgh and 70 from Glasgow, guests are ideally situated to enjoy the Kingdom of Fife and all it has to offer.

This beautiful, converted Mill was built over 150 years ago and renovated in the 1990s. The innovative restoration is finished to an excellent standard throughout; the beauty of the inside is matched only by the scene outside, sitting above a stunning river with fantastic views of a magnificent waterfall.   Owned and operated by Louise, this property is the perfect destination for groups of up to 9 looking to relax amid mother nature while only a 10-minute drive from St Andrews.

The property is an inverted build, purposely designed to create a light and airy feel in the living, dining room and kitchen, maximizing natural light throughout the day. With an open plan design, you are sure to reconnect with those you are travelling with but with plenty of different seating areas for those who want a bit of peace to enjoy one of the many books.

The living room has a piano, a large wood-burning stove, and sumptuous leather sofas. The dining room has a banquet table seating up to 10 people and a wood-burning stove to add to the atmosphere. Both rooms are perfect for evening festivities or just relaxing after a long day of adventuring.

The property’s open kitchen has every cooking appliance any aspiring chef could dream of and a breakfast table for all your guests to join in; too many cooks create lifetime memories.

There are four bedrooms, all named after contemporary Scottish artists, two with super king-sized beds that can be converted into twins, and two have ensuite bathrooms; all are furnished for optimum comfort. The Morocco bedroom includes a sofa bed. Bedrooms all have televisions and hairdryers, with 3 of the rooms having views over the river and the other having its own patio with table and seating for 4. 

There are two bathrooms available for general use for those guests who do not have access to an ensuite, with one having a shower.

For guests planning to stay a while or those who want to go home with no washing to do, there is a well-equipped laundry with a washer, drier, iron and ironing board. Here you will find spare towels for the beach or swimming pool and an area to dry wet walking gear.

There is a cupboard with board games for those travelling with children or simply the young at heart. And for infants, a cot, highchair, playpen, activity bouncer, baby bath, changing mat, baby monitor and baby crockery are provided.

Louise makes sure that every guest feels immediately at home in her property with a generous welcome basket, including wine, beer, homemade jams, and baking. After a long journey, there is no better feeling than being able to relax immediately upon arrival. It is just the humans who receive a welcome basket; the house allows two well-behaved dogs to stay, and your four-legged friends will also receive a welcome basket with bowls, towels, treats and tennis balls.

The grounds are terraced down to the river, with outdoor seating for 8, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful surroundings in comfort. A large BBQ with coals and tools are provided for those wishing to cook alfresco. There is also a secure grassed seating area with reclining chairs where if you’re quiet, you can watch the heron, kingfisher, and otters feast on the local brown trout or both red and grey squirrels and deer in the woodland opposite. Regardless, you will hear little but nature - birdsong and the river.

The property owns the fishing rights to this section of the river, and guests are welcome to bring their rods and try their luck at catching supper.

Car parking for two cars directly outside the property is supplemented by extra parking at the bottom of the drive for additional vehicles.

The Mill Lade is situated in Dura Den, designated an area of outstanding natural beauty and famed for its fossils and waterfalls. There are beautiful woodland walks minutes away from the property.

If you are looking to restock on any items or wish to experience a small Scottish market town, then Cupar is the perfect location. Just three miles from the Mill Lade, Cupar has a mainline train station, several supermarkets, cafes, a fuel station, and all the speciality shops you would expect.

Just six miles away is the iconic, historic university town of St Andrews; world-famous golf courses, stunning beaches, a cinema, sports centre, and some fantastic shops with cafes and restaurants to suit every taste and pocket. 

St Andrews, West Sands Beach: A part of popular culture featured at the start of the film Chariots of Fire, this beautiful beach stretches for miles and edges the world-famous golf course. It is suitable for swimming and long walks with or without dogs. Regularly featuring ‘Blown Away’ sand yachting and surf school for the more adventurous visitors. It is a great day out for young and old alike and comes highly recommended by Louise.

St Andrews Links: Proclaimed as the home of Golf and the iconic Royal and Ancient Golf Club, these historic courses are a must-see for any golfing fans. Existing for more than 600 years, St Andrews has been the epicentre of all things Golf. There is something for everyone with seven public courses, although booking in advance is a necessity due to the area’s popularity. For the non-golfers who wish to experience the famous Old Course without the golf clubs, the course is open to all to walk on Sundays when there is no play, and even well-behaved dogs are welcome.

The East Neuk of Fife: A string of beautiful fishing villages are dotted along this stunning coastline, an adventure for those wishing to explore Scotland’s relationship with the sea and the magnificent scenery surrounding it all. Featuring everything from Michelin starred restaurants, award-winning fish and chip shops, a smokehouse restaurant built on the pier, quaint gift shops and the Scottish fisheries museum.

 Cairnie Fruit Farm: This is the perfect day for a family with young children where you can pick strawberries, raspberries, cherries, pumpkins and sunflowers in season while the kids enjoy the extensive play area. From mid-July to October, there is a Mega Maize maze where the whole family can lose themselves having fun. On-site, there is a restaurant featuring delicious home baking too. The Scottish Deer Centre: A vast outdoor learning space with herds of deer, birds of prey, a pair of attention-seeking otters, a stunning Lynx, a pack of wolves, an elusive bear and more. This is another great day out for the whole family and features gift shops and a small café serving good food in a beautiful courtyard.

Falkland: You can spend a great day walking, either up the hills or in the maze of narrow streets. Falkland is the former residence of the royal Stuarts and heavily favoured by Mary Queen of Scots; the palace is a glorious example of Scottish history. This is a must-see with fantastic renaissance architecture and a beautiful garden amid the historical village of Falkland. For any Outlander fans, Falkland will be recognized as it was extensively used in the filming of the series. The centre of the village has several excellent pubs and cafes, with Fife’s premier organic farm and café, Pillars of Hercules, on the outskirts.