Elie Library

Three days a week, this modest library keeps the literary lights burning in one of Fife's prettier coastal villages. Located just a few minutes from the harbour and beach, Elie Library operates on a rather selective schedule - Mondays and Fridays from 2pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am.

It's a proper community hub rather than a tourist attraction, but that's precisely what makes it worth knowing about. Parents staying at nearby Elie Holiday Park will find it handy for rainy afternoon reading sessions with the kids, while the weekend Saturday morning slot works well for picking up local walking guides or checking emails on their public computers.

The building itself won't win any architectural prizes, but the staff know their patch well and can point you towards local history books about the East Neuk fishing villages. Given Elie's proximity to St Andrews - about twenty minutes by car - it's a useful pitstop if you're touring the area's golf courses and need somewhere quiet to plan your next round.

Best combined with a walk around Elie's harbour and a coffee at one of the seafront cafes. Don't make a special journey just for the library, but if you're already in the village and it's open, it's worth popping in for ten minutes. The irregular hours mean checking their schedule before you go is essential.