By William Coleman
Fife’s tourism industry received another boost this summer when Willie Rennie MSP took time out to launch a new development of leisure homes at Elie Holiday Park.
The MSP, who is Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said the 20 Castaway forest holiday homes would make a valuable extra impact on the local tourism economy.
Mr Rennie was the VIP guest of Abbeyford Leisure which has owned Elie Holiday Park for over 30 years, investing continually in new guest facilities and attractions.
Its latest initiative at the East Neuk of Fife park creates an additional area of high quality homes available for holiday rentals by families staying in the region.
Set on the edge of Elie forest, guests will enjoy not just first-class accommodation but also picture-postcard views across the surrounding countryside.
The development has been made possible by a partnership between Abbeyford Leisure and Elie Estate which own the land on which the holiday homes are located.
Cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony, Mr Rennie said that both organisations should be congratulated on working successfully together to further bolster Fife tourism.
Abbeyford Leisure, he added, was already responsible for generating a large amount of tourism spending in the area which benefitted many other smaller businesses.
The new holiday homes at Elie Holiday Park has almost tripled the number of properties available for hire, and complements its existing popular beachside Castaway holiday homes.
Located on Shell Bay near the village of Elie, the park also provides luxury holiday homes to own, a lodge with hot tub, plus pitches for campers, touring caravans and motorhomes.
As well as drawing thousands of visitors from across the UK and overseas, Elie Holiday Park also provides free entry to local people in the area.
Attractions include its family-fun Robinson Crusoe Adventure Park which celebrates the area’s literary connections with Daniel Defoe’s famous novel.
Abbeyford Leisure chairman David J Evans said he was delighted that Mr Rennie was able to come along and declare the new holiday homes open for business:
“Both Elie Estate and ourselves wanted to ensure that this development met the very high quality standards with which tourism in Fife is associated,” he said.
“This area has always had a very special appeal to people with a love of natural beauty, and these new holiday homes provide a wonderful window on that world.
“Elie has been fortunate over the years to have won many awards, including those recognising our environmental care, and I am proud that these new homes reflect our values,” added Mr Evans.
