A family retreat to Scotland

Did I really mention sunshine and Scotland within a paragraph of each other? Yes I can’t believe it either, having spent many late summer holidays on the west coast of the country huddled in a kagool peering up despairingly at leaden skies.

But this is the Kingdom of Fife on the east coast - a region saddled between the wide waters of the Firths of Forth and Tay which, according to John, have the meteorological habit of pulling apart incoming western cloud formations, leaving a window of mild and very often sunny weather throughout the summer. Right over John’s 150-acre farm.

If the old yard is the centre of his flowering holiday business - called Morton of Pitmilly after the farm’s old local name - then its petals are the environmental projects taking place around it.

They involve the planting of 27 acres of woodland complete with walks and plans for a group of new geo-thermally heated holiday homes expanding the green feel to the place.

John, 58, knows he is onto a winner. Like many crop farmers, he was pushed to the brink of extinction in the Nineties. “Things were very difficult. But when we took over here we thought about what could we do with these farm buildings – and the holidays idea really appealed.

We also wanted the business to be green and to use the natural resources that existed here. In the past four or five years we’ve also planted 10,000 new trees which have the effect of making us carbon neutral.”

Global warming and the carbon footprint debate has only served to eco-fuel the success of Morton.

“The airports may still be packed, but more people are deciding to try holidays at home. We’re a one-stop shop offering everything you’d need to relax once you come and kick off your shoes. It means we can re-energise people quickly because none of their break is wasted in airports and queues. And for Scots it’s not hard to get here.”

It’s certainly an effort from England, hacking up the A1, but no pain, no gain - and once you cross the Forth Road Bridge it doesn’t take long to realise it was worth it. The only long drives most foreign visitors make here are at the Old Course at St Andrews. But there is much more to Fife than famous fairways.

The pulse of this kingdom beats along its beautiful coastline. At the pretty village of Anstruther, where you’ll find the Fish Bar, a chippie so fine Camilla Parker Bowles stopped there for a takeaway in May, the award-winning Scottish Fisheries Museum will tell you all about sma’ line fishing - bait strung out at regular intervals along a line which brought in a healthy catch from inshore waters.

Our Morton troupe from the Well House (including our two children, granpa and grandma McEwan and Uncle Eric) went on a sma’ line trip of our own - along the coast to catch Fife’s string of pearls, a combination of breathtaking beaches and fishing villages like Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem and Elie.

Crail boasts one of the most photographed fishing harbours in the world while Pittenweem hosts an amazing annual art festival where over 100 artists exhibit in the village in houses, garages, studios and gardens.

And the beaches . . . Kingsbarn was the one that won it for Leo and Chloe. Plenty of rock pools, crystal clear water and of course no crowds in this quiet neck of the woods. We spent a whole day there, remarkably in T-shirts and sunshine, before heading up to St Andrews for dinner and a stroll past the 18th on the famous Old Course.

This is where the money is in Fife. Golfing Americans mingling with University students in the many cafes and restaurants of this ancient port, only eight miles away from our comfortable base.

Quite often, it’s as far as Morton guests get. The farm boasts enough facilities to keep any family occupied - a swimming pool, tennis court, large putting green, badminton area, children’s football pitch - plus a playroom with table tennis, pool and even a playstation and internet access. On rainy days there’s no arguing over the TV as there a flat screens in every bedroom as well as a large one in the lounge.

Strolls around the woodland were a joy - and a chance to chat and catch up with family members we had not seen for ages. It was not hard to see why Morton is popular for friends and family reunions.

John says: “It’s a big part of our business. And we find that word of mouth works really well for us - plus we get a huge number of returning visitors.”

We may well be among them. It was the perfect tonic in a calm and restorative atmosphere for my wife Lynne and her father John as they recovered from illnesses.

At the end of our stay we all went our separate ways with a definite feeling that we’d be doing this again.

Next time, along with the geo-thermal houses which will draw heat from bore holes sunk 450ft into the ground, there’ll also be a fully-equipped leisure centre with a bigger pool run by John’s stepdaughter Eilidh and a restaurant.

It’s a big move and will certainly attract more visitors – hopefully not at the expense of the homely and rather cosy feeling the place has now.

But if carried out cannily, progress - as John found that day when his modern tractor trundled to a halt at the ancient farmyard arch - pays off.

NEED TO KNOW

The Burke and McEwan families stayed at the Well House, which sleeps six to eight, for four nights in early September. A similar midweek break (Mon-Fri) in 2008 will cost £430. There are 10 units to choose from – from the Byre (sleeps2-4) to the Granary (8-10). Weekly lets and thre-night weekend breaks are available. For more information visit www.pitmilly.co.uk.