Pittenweem, Scotland: a.k.a. The Inspiration for Heather Bay

Welcome to Pittenweem Scotland: one of the most picture-perfect seaside towns in the country, and the inspiration for parts of my Heather Bay Romance Series. Just look at it, though…

If you’ve read any of my Heather Bay Romance Series, you’ll know the town of Heather Bay itself is supposed to be in the Scottish Highlands. Actually, though, the inspiration for the town came from a few different places in Scotland: one of which is Pittenweem, in Fife. And, I mean, how could you look at this place and NOT want to set a book here? Look at it!

Pittenweem is a little fishing village on the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland, right on the coast of the Firth of Forth. It’s about 10 miles south of St Andrews and not far from other picturesque villages like Anstruther and Crail. It’s famous for its working harbour, colourful cottages, and the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August, when the whole village basically turns into an open-air gallery. The name comes from the Pictish for “place of the cave,” thanks to St. Fillan’s Cave, which is still there today.

Like the fictional town of Heather Bay, which it inspired, Pittenweem is a fishing village, and if you’ve read the books, you’ll instantly recognise the pastel houses that line the front as the same ones Lexie, Emerald, and Scarlett describe. These photos were taken back in August of 2020, when we visited during the pandemic and found the town almost eerily deserted, but don’t be fooled: on a more ‘normal’ summer’s day, Pitenweem is bustling with tourists, so be aware that you might find it a little more crowded than these photos suggest!

Our trip to Pittenweem Scotland

Unfortunately for us, ours had to be a flying visit to Pittenweem: we were literally only there for around two hours or so, and we almost didn’t make it AT ALL, because we woke up to fog so thick we couldn’t even see the top of the Queensferry Crossing as we were driving over it. Miraculously, though, the mist cleared almost as soon as we got to the other side, and Fife was filled with blue skies and people in shorts and t-shirts, which made me REALLY pleased I’d decided to wear a thick jumper under my jacket that day, but also relieved that I’d at least had the sense to leave the winter coats I’d brought along for Max and me in the car.

(I did put a t-shirt on Max under his jumper, but that’s his No. 1 Favourite Stripey Jumper he’s wearing, so he wouldn’t have taken it off even it it had been 100 degrees in the shade, seriously. We… need to get better at clothes, somehow…)

If you’re thinking of visiting Pittenweem, here’s some more info for you:

What to do in Pittenweem Scotland

I’ll be honest: when we visit Pittenweem, we tend to do it purely for the vibes — which are 10/10, ‘This place should be in a romance book’. No notes. 

On the off-chance that you’re not there in the hope of finding inspiration for your next novel, however, you might also want to try…

• Visiting St Fillan’s Cave — once home to an early saint, now tucked under the town. You need a key from the chocolate shop (yes, really).

• Exploring the Pittenweem Priory ruins and the 12th-century church, fora touch of medieval atmosphere.

• Checking out the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August.

• Walking part of the Fife Coastal Path — stroll towards Anstruther (40 minutes) or St Monans (30 minutes) along rugged coastline and sandy beaches.

• Wander the wynds (narrow lanes) of Pittenweem, with their whitewashed houses, painted doors, and tumbling flowers.