Lady's Tower, Elie

I took this on the way home from a day trip to Pittenweem Arts Festival in which 132 artists were exhibiting in houses, studios, galleries and public spaces throughout the village. It was my first time there, but I had E as a guide who had been several times before. It was fascinating visiting the venues which were often people's homes, reached through courtyards and gardens, along tiny cobbled streets - and often the art was good as well!

The weather had been showery, but got better as the evening progressed so we stopped off at Elie to take some photos of the Forth. It was a happy accident that we came upon Lady's Tower as it certainly added a lot to the scene. Apparently it was built in 1760 for Lady Janet Anstruther who used it as a changing room before swimming. A bell was rung to warn the locals to stay away while she bathed. You have to wonder a bit about all those tall windows though. On the right of the tower you can see the Bass Rock, home to the world's largest colony of Northern Gannets. It shines white in the sun reflecting off the gannets' feathers. I've now added an slightly hazy extra photo of the Bass Rock, but I reckon the haziness adds a bit to it - it's a unique and sightly other worldly sight.