🧭 Why Is Fife the UK's Campervan Capital?

Good morning, Fifers! In Friday’s newsletter, we highlighted the story of Dysart Harbour repairs and asked if you’d been before. Unsurprisingly, pretty much everyone has visited the location before, with only 10% of people saying they’d never been.

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• Why Is Fife the UK's Campervan Capital?

• Fife's Record Women's Golf Tournament

• 40 Events to See This Week

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🚧 The northbound off-slip at M90 Junction 1C (Admiralty) will be closed overnight from the 9th to the 13th of March and again on the 17th of March (8pm–6am) for maintenance works.

• 🛣️ Councillors in North East Fife have approved more than £2.7 million of investment to improve local roads, pavements and travel safety across the area, including £2.3m for road resurfacing, £320k for footway upgrades and £157k for road safety and traffic management measures.

• 🏌️‍♀️ St Andrews Links has expanded the field for the St Rule Trophy to 72 players for 2026, up from 60, after record demand for one of Britain’s leading women’s amateur golf tournaments. The 54-hole tournament will feature two rounds on the New Course and a final round on the Old Course.

• 🏠 Fife’s Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme is helping connect owners of empty properties with people looking to buy, offering a free service to give homes a new lease of life. Owners can advertise their properties online, while local buyers on Fife’s list are notified when new homes become available. Find out more here.

• 👥 Residents in Lumphinnans and Hill of Beath are being invited to help shape new Local Community Action Plans for their villages. Fife Council community teams are working with local community councils to gather views and set priorities, supported by £20k of funding approved by the Cowdenbeath Area Committee.

• 🏘️ MSP Annabelle Ewing has called for Fife to be made the first test case for More Homes Scotland, the new national housing body, calling for the Kingdom to be prioritised for both funding and the location of social housing.

• 🛠️ Fife College, Forth Valley College, and Babcock International have signed a joint skills agreement to boost Scotland’s defence and advanced manufacturing workforce. The agreement will provide clear pathways into high-value careers in engineering, digital, and technical roles. Over 260 apprentices are currently training with Babcock via the colleges, with 100 more expected to join in August 2026.

• 🌙 Project Ramadan is back for its fifth year across NHS Fife, with 500 food and drink bags, funded by Fife Health Charity, being provided across sites for staff breaking their fast during busy shifts, particularly during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

• 💧 Work to improve bathing water quality in Lower Largo Bay is set to begin on the 9th of March, with Scottish Water installing a new secondary treatment plant adjacent to the existing wastewater works.

• 🏨 The new 18-bedroom Amorist Hotel has officially opened on Dunfermline’s High Street following a £700,000 refurbishment, aiming to boost Dunfermline as a short-break destination.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🚐 Why Is Fife the UK's Campervan Capital?

Fife has been named the UK's hottest spot for campervan and motorhome demand, according to new data from Gumtree. The Kingdom topped the entire country with over 45,000 views on campervan listings, beating Essex and Lancashire, and was the only place in Scotland to make the top 10. It seems our access to stunning coastlines, the Fife Coastal Path, and easy routes to the Highlands makes the Kingdom the perfect base for road-trip enthusiasts.

The data comes as spring sunshine has sparked a 133% surge in campervan demand across Britain since the start of the year, with interest in leisure vehicles rising four times faster than the wider car market. For many, campervans offer the chance to spontaneously explore without relying on expensive accommodation, a particularly appealing option given that accommodation costs are often cited as the biggest barrier to taking holidays in the UK.

The most in-demand models are the Volkswagen Transporter (averaging £29,495), Ford Transit (£10,500), and Fiat Ducato (£33,995). With the overall number of listings also up, now could be the time to take a look if it's something you've been thinking about for a while, with Fife offering great options right on our doorstep, from the East Neuk villages to St Andrews and beyond.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

Tuesday, 10th March

Lamb Bottle Feeding - Meet and bottle feed our baby lambs.
📁 Family | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £25.08

The Queen of Instruments: The Lute within Old Master Paintings - Discover how the Lute holds a Special Place in the History of Art!
📁 Talk | 🕢 1:45pm | 📍 Cupar Corn Exchange | 🎟️ £10

No Stress Art Class - Looking for something different? Come and join the Arty Party. All levels and abilities.
📁 Art | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Kelty Community Centre | 🎟️ £10

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

Women In Mind Dunfermline - Volunteer-led peer-to-peer women’s mental health group.
📁 Support Group | 🕢 7pm | 📍 St Ninians Church, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Wednesday, 11th March

Lamb Bottle Feeding - Meet and bottle feed our baby lambs.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £25.08

Hamnet - After losing their son Hamnet to plague, Agnes and William Shakespeare grapple with grief in 16th-century England.
📁 Movie | 🕢 11am | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5+

Seeds of Thought: Dr Damiano Benvegnù - Explores the memories embedded in this specimen and reflects on the challenges of conducting environmental humanities research.
📁 Talk | 🕢 12:30pm | 📍 St Andrews Botanic Garden | 🎟️ £3

Meet the Roaster - Whether you're a coffee newbie or a seasoned sipper, come hang out, learn, and enjoy some great vibes!
📁 Drink | 🕢 5:30pm | 📍 Zest Café, St Andrews | 🎟️ £7.21

The Stewart Widows Club - Historian Susan Morrison presents a lecture about the wives of the Stewart Kings of Scotland.
📁 Talk | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ £5

Saxophone Dreams with Jess Gillam - An inspiring fixture on radio and TV, Cumbrian-born Jess Gillam is first and foremost a world-class saxophonist.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews | 🎟️ £6+

Robin Michael (Cello) Daniel Tong (Piano) - They will play Fauré, Sonata No.2 Op.117; Mendelssohn, Sonata No.2 Op.58; Listz, Consolations: La Lugubre Gondola; Brahms, Sonata Op.38.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Old Kirk | 🎟️ £18

Collage Book Making Workshop - Workshop hosted by Lang Toun Partners to gather views local people for Kirkcaldy's bid for UK Town of Culture 2028.
📁 Workshop | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Greener Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Thursday, 12th March

Lamb Bottle Feeding - Meet and bottle feed our baby lambs.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am & 1pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £25.08

Stress Release Art Session - Join us for a calm, creative break designed just for carers a chance to breathe, unwind and let art melt the stress away.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Nourish Support Centre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Dreel Crafters - All skill levels welcome for knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, embroidery and more.
📁 Art | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £3

Three Men in a Boat - Hilarious retelling of this much-loved tale by three well-known local actors.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 St Andrews Bowling Club | 🎟️ £9+

Eric Bell Trio - Playing early classic Thin Lizzy tracks from the period of Eric’s time in the band.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

Kirsten Adamson & The Tanagers - Engaging mix of heartland Americana folk rock.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Crail Community Hall | 🎟️ £15

Onóir - Contemporary Irish folk group.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

Friday, 13th March

Powódź/Flood - Bocian’s paintings explore the global climate crisis through local trauma and catastrophe.
📁 Art | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

StAnza 26 - Packed schedule of events for Scotland's international poetry festival.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Varies

Creative Craft Club For Adults - Come and enjoy a regular Friday morning of creativity.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £15

Gaelic Conversation Group - Join this informal group of Gaelic learners for a relaxed morning working together on Gaelic Conversation.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:15am | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Free

StAnza 26: Powódź/Flood - Join Natalia Bocian and StAnza Poet in Residence Nazaret Ranea who will read her poem produced in response to Bocian’s works.
📁 Art | 🕢 11am | 📍 Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day - Showing all the day's racing live from Cheltenham.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 11:30am | 📍 Pratis Barns, Leven | 🎟️ £52.82

Hayley Matthews Art Paint & Sip: Meadow - Paint, sip, create! No experience necessary! All art materials and refreshments provided. BYOB! 
📁 Art | 🕢 6pm | 📍 St Peter’s Church, Kirkcaldy  | 🎟️ £35

Friday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

Day Sleeper - Alternative rock band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.20

Mark Nelson - Multi-award-winning Scottish stand-up Mark Nelson returns with his brand new tour show.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.50

Snow White - Spectacular family‑friendly dance theatre production that reimagines the classic fairytale in a bold, modern way.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16+

Three Men in a Boat - Hilarious retelling of this much-loved tale by three well-known local actors.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:15pm | 📍 St Andrews Bowling Club | 🎟️ £9+

The Journey - We’re bringing the best Rangers night out to Rothes Halls
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £25

The City Sinners - Scottish Country/Americana band featuring top scene players, led by singer-songwriters John Hinshelwood and Louise McAtee.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £22

🎉 Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

Scottish Snowdrop Festival 2026 - Visitors can enjoy our winter garden and specialist snowdrop collection, and the swathes of naturalised snowdrops in our woodland walk to the sea.
📅 Sun, 25th January - Sun, 15th March | 🕢 10am | 📍 Cambo Country House and Estate | 🎟️ Varies

Muir Walker Pride: 175 Years of Practice - Supported by historical drawings & instruments, this exhibition will chart the changing nature of architectural practice and its reflection of society over the years.
📅 Wed, 18th February - Sun, 15th March | 🕢 10:30am - 4pm (Wed - Mon) | 📍 St Andrews Bowling Club | 🎟️ £7.50

St Andrews Cocktail Week - 10 days of incredible cocktail experiences at the best venues across town!
📅 Fri, 20th - Sun, 29th March | 🕢 Varies | 📍 St Andrews | 🎟️ Varies

Lambing Experience - Meet our shepherd, see newborn lambs, and discover life on a working farm.
📅 Sat, 14th February - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Ring Farm, Cupar | 🎟️ £13+

Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan