Tennis is in the spotlight in Scotland thanks to Andy Murray’s recent successes. And 2014 is set to be a year of almost unprecedented opportunity for Scottish tourism businesses, thanks to the “triple whammy” of the Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Year of Homecoming.
With this in mind, a multi-award-winning Fife-based luxury countryside resort is capitalising on its £150,000 investment in Scotland’s only indoor dedicated tennis and leisure complex by launching tennis short breaks for the 2014 consumer markets.
The packages include tuition, court time, accommodation and the option of luxury spa treatments or golf.
Morton of Pitmilly, a stunning rural estate at Kingsbarns, just outside St Andrews, is now a high-end countryside resort offering five-star boutique holiday houses in a steading setting together with four-star country courtyard properties. There is also an onsite swimming pool, leisure centre and boardroom and meeting space for corporate events. The indoor tennis centre has its own spa treatment rooms, games room and viewing gallery.
Run by keen competitive tennis player Eilidh Smith and her stepfather, John Parker, Morton of Pitmilly has added luxury foodie breaks to the mix, too.
In a tie-up with Fife’s food ambassador Christopher Trotter, and leading local suppliers such as Woodmill Shootings, Pittenweem fish merchant David Lowrie, Balgove Larder and Pillars of Hercules, Morton of Pitmilly will play host to keen foodies who will be given the opportunity to select their own seafood from Crail and Pittenweem harbours, their own cut of roe deer, and to forage for fresh herbs in the countryside surrounding the estate.
Under the guidance of Upper Largo-based Christopher Trotter, who has years of experience as a lecturer, restaurant chef and food author, they will then prepare a variety of dishes to enjoy over the three-day break, which will also showcase Morton of Pitmilly’s four and five-star accommodation and superb onsite facilities.
Eilidh Smith said: “We are hugely excited about these new short-break packages and our overall offer in 2014. This business has been established for the past 23 years and is now multi-award-winning, with recent awards including Best Tourism Business in the Dundee Courier Business Awards and Certificates of Excellence from Trip Advisor for the past two years.
“We wanted to come up with packages which are quite distinctive, which reflect where we are based – just a stone’s throw from the East Neuk and the golf Mecca of St Andrews – and which reflect my background as a competitive tennis player, too.
“Tennis is very much in vogue at the moment and it’s a great team builder,” continued Eilidh.
“It’s a sociable pastime, too, which is ideal to play with friends and family.
“We want to make the most of our fabulous indoor court. Scotland could certainly do with far more indoor courts to develop the game, but as an indoor year-round addition to our holiday resort, which also has the swimming pool, it is increasing our appeal for customers who play tennis already or who want to have their children enjoy a few lessons while they holiday here.”
Christopher Trotter, who was given the honorary title of Fife Food Ambassador due to his enthusiasm for Fife’s local produce, added: “I am hugely excited about working with Morton of Pitmilly, which has superb kitchens at my disposal. Eilidh and I have spent eight months developing these gastronomic experiences and we are confident that those attending will not be disappointed. The workshops are aimed at all skill levels, from the interested but unsure to the committed gastronome.
“Fife is the perfect place to learn about quality ingredients, as we have absolutely everything here, from fantastic seafood and game to fresh vegetables from our fertile fields.”
Tennis packages start from £249 per person based on a group of six. Foodie packages start from £299 per person. Visit www.pitmilly.co.uk for further details.