The great thing about The East Neuk in winter is that all the things you really enjoy about it, the beaches, the coastal walks, the inland scenery and many of the outdoor activities are all still there to be enjoyed, but often in near solitude! OK, so the wind is colder and the sky often greyer, but there are days like jewels when the low sun sets everything sparkling and the shadows bring the contours of the land to life. The local folk, possibly under less pressure from the number of visitors, seem to have more time to stop and chat.
However, many of the little cottages appear to just sit and hold their breath waiting for their owners to return in the spring and the villages seem quieter by far than they should be. There seem to be few positives about this other than that the older houses and cottages are, in large part, being renovated and preserved. The planning constraints imposed on those carrying out work on properties in the conservation areas are pretty strict. As a result the options available on, eg choice of replacement windows are very limited and may be outwith the budget of local young couples. The result is numerous attractive, well-renovated but frequently empty second homes.
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