If you’re looking for a Scottish accessible holiday that’s equal parts relaxing, adventurous, and incredibly beautiful, then Homelands Trust Fife should be at the very top of your list.
I’ve just returned from an amazing three night stay at Homelands Trust Fife, a Scottish charity providing accessible self-catering holiday accommodation in the Fife coastal village of Lundin Links, Scotland.
Homelands Trust Fife – accessible self-catering accommodation
Nestled in mature woodlands overlooking the Firth of Forth are nine purpose-built accessible lodges equipped with ceiling track hoists, electric profiling beds with airflow mattresses, and wet rooms with Closomat toilets. This makes it perfect for disabled people and their families looking for a peaceful and relaxing holiday with all the comforts of home.
The setting instantly feels peaceful, with coastal views and plenty of space to unwind.
If you are planning your own accessible holiday, keep reading to discover more about these incredible accessible lodges. I’ll also share a roundup of wheelchair accessible things to do in Fife that we enjoyed during our stay at Homelands Trust.
Disclaimer: Homelands Trust invited me to spend three nights at Largo Lodge as part of a paid collaboration. All views and opinions expressed in this post are my own and are completely honest.
Our Family Holiday at Largo Lodge
I had previously stayed at Homelands Trust two years ago in the Durham Lodge with my partner, so I was already familiar with their accessible self-catering accommodations.
This time, however, we chose the slightly larger Largo Lodge and were joined by our family, which included four adults and two children. As a family, we have had a very difficult year, so coming together at Homelands was exactly what we needed.
The main downstairs living area has a large, open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. We had plenty of room to spread out and enjoy our time together, with lots of space for the kids to play and comfortable seating for the whole family to relax, including a rise and recline chair.
Largo Lodge sleeps up to eight people, featuring two accessible bedrooms on the ground floor and two bedrooms upstairs. This setup was perfect for our family holiday!
The two accessible bedrooms have electric profiling beds, airflow mattresses, and ceiling track hoists.
Across the hall from the two accessible bedrooms is a spacious wet room designed for accessibility, which includes a roll-in shower, a Closomat wash and dry toilet, a bath, and an H-frame ceiling track hoist.
You don’t often find accessible accommodations like this with such great facilities and bathroom setups, but they are a game changer and often the main reason some disabled people can even go on their holiday in the first place. Knowing their accessibility needs are covered, and they can maintain their dignity and independence while travelling.
I requested a shower commode chair since I find wall-mounted seats difficult to use due to my lack of core strength and balance. You can request a shower commode chair or any other equipment you need free of charge when booking your stay at Homelands Trust.
For more access information and available equipment: Accessibility at Homelands
Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms, one of which can be converted into a twin if needed. Both bedrooms have a cosy atmosphere, with natural light streaming in from the windows and beautiful sea views. The upstairs family bathroom includes a shower cubicle and a bath, which my youngest nephew particularly enjoyed.
With our two nephews along, there needed to be enough room for them to play, and our lodge provided plenty of that. They enjoyed playing games outside on the patio and in the garden, while the upstairs library nook, which has a balcony overlooking the downstairs living area, became their favourite little chill-out zone.
Accessible Patio and Garden
It was early spring and chilly when we last stayed at Homelands Trust, and I remember saying how much I’d love to sit out on the patio in the summer with my family. This time, in July, we could finally do just that.
The weather was beautiful, so we enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside on the level-access patio. Since it was so warm, we kept the patio doors open, allowing me to move in and out freely without asking for help. It’s little things like this that make a big difference.
One of the highlights of our stay was having a BBQ. Everyone got involved in the preparation, cooking, and setup, making it all the more special, and most importantly, eating together outside in the evening sun with sea views. What more could we ask for?
The large paved patio made it super easy for me to get around, so I could be close to my nephews and join in the fun when they were playing.
Exploring the Local Area | Wheelchair Accessible Things to do in Fife
Staying at Homelands Trust in Lundin Links provides a peaceful retreat for relaxation and adventure. There is something for everyone.
Our family trip was all about spending quality time together and creating special memories while exploring the beautiful Fife coastline and beyond.
In my opinion, we couldn’t visit Fife without checking out at least one of its stunning beaches. During our trip, we managed to visit three of them and a few family-friendly attractions!
Silverburn Park Beach Wheelchairs
One of my favourite activities was hiring a Silverburn Park beach wheelchair, which is just a few minutes’ drive from Homelands Trust. While they don’t have all-terrain power chairs available yet, I used a manual sandcruiser with balloon wheels and my family took turns pushing me. It’s best to pre-book online to ensure you get the beach wheelchair that suits your needs.
We had an amazing time at the beach, breathing in the fresh sea air and enjoying the stunning views. The beach wheelchair can go a little bit into the water, so I was even able to join my nephews at the water’s edge, which was lovely.
Just a heads up: there isn’t a hoist available at the moment, but I believe the team is hoping to get one in the future. The route to the beach is a few hundred meters, so I’d suggest bringing one or two people who can manage the push and slopes. It was definitely worth it!
100% recommend Silverburn Park beach wheelchairs. We had such a lovely time and it’s a beautiful beach. Plus, Adam, the volunteer, was fantastic.
Silverburn Park and The Cottage Window Café
We also enjoyed a woodland walk through Silverburn Park. I used my own wheelchair for this, but you can use the beach wheelchair for accessing the rest of the park, the woodland trail and the walled garden.
We couldn’t visit Silverburn Park without stopping at The Cottage Window Café for delicious cheese toasties and homemade cakes. We sat and enjoyed our food at the wheelchair accessible picnic table next to the café.
The historic former Flax Mill within Silverburn Park is currently being redeveloped into a new café and museum. It’s a beautiful B-listed building, and I’m already looking forward to revisiting the park once it’s complete.
There’s an accessible toilet at Silverburn Park right by the campsite. There might be another one around, but I didn’t see it while we were there.
Craigtoun Country Park
Craigtoun Country Park was another great accessible day out for all the family. With over 40 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands to explore, it was perfect for a relaxing day out in nature.
We could have spent all day there, as there is also lots for kids to do, including an adventure playground and an accessible play area, as well as some paid attractions like the miniature railway and a boating pond.
We had lunch at the cafe, and it was another round of toasties for all of us. There is a Changing Places toilet next to the cafe, which is accessed with a RADAR key.
St Andrews Beach Wheelchairs
After spending most of the day at Craigtoun Country Park, we took a ten minute drive to St Andrews to visit West Sands Beach. I’ve been to this beautiful beach before, but there is now an accessible wooden boardwalk leading from the car park down to the beach.
Although we didn’t hire a beach wheelchair from St Andrews Beach Wheelchairs this time, I would definitely recommend it for future visits. They have a range of options available, including all-terrain power chairs, manual beach wheelchairs, and beach walkers. They also have a hoist available to assist with transfers.
Read more: Exploring St Andrews West Sands in a Beach Wheelchair
Accessible toilets are available at the beach and I love that there is a Changing Places toilet located at Bruce Embankment, making day trips to St Andrews and West Sands Beach possible for so many disabled people.
The Scottish Deer Centre
The Scottish Deer Centre is a wildlife park and zoo covering 55 acres and home to not just deer but also wolves, bears, lynx, Scottish wildcats, and birds of prey.
We’ve visited the deer park a few times over the years, but my nephews were keen to go again, especially because of the recent arrival of capybaras. And it’s only a twenty minute drive from Homelands Trust.
The Scottish Deer Centre currently operates on a ‘pay what you can’ system, so you get to decide how much you want to pay to get in, which I think is fantastic for families. We purchased some bags of food to feed the deer, and even though my nephews were a bit nervous, the deer turned out to be really gentle.
It was scorching during our visit, so my nephews weren’t keen on playing in the sun, but there was lots for kids to enjoy, including the playgrounds, indoor/outdoor activities, and tractor and trailer rides.
Lower Largo Beach
One evening after dinner, we visited Lower Largo Beach, which is only a few minutes drive from the lodge. It is also possible to walk directly from Homelands and there are directions provided in the folder in the lodge.
It was a little chilly, but we still enjoyed our time at the beach. Thankfully, we found one of Allan’s jackets in the car to keep me warm. All fashion sense was thrown out the window. My nephews played happily and searched for the perfect stones to paint once we were back at the lodge.
I was excited to see a Changing Places toilet and storage facility for Largo Beach Wheelchairs that will be open soon. The scheme will launch soon and will provide a debug rollator, a Hippocampe all-terrain beach wheelchair, and a debug beach wheelchair.
Things still to try
We ran out of time on this trip, but the next time we stay at Homelands Trust, we’d like to take the train from Leven Station to Edinburgh via Kirkcaldy. Leven and Cameron Bridge stations opened in June 2024, marking the return of train services to the area after more than 50 years. This route offers a whole host of fun day trips.
Final Thoughts on Homelands Trust Fife
Is Homelands Trust Fife the perfect place for an accessible family holiday or weekend getaway?
Absolutely.
My family and I had a great time staying in the Largo lodge and would love to come back.
Whether you’re looking to relax, explore, or spend quality time with loved ones, Homelands Trust Fife is an excellent base for discovering Fife and its surrounding areas. The location offers breathtaking views and a beautiful coastal setting, with plenty of activities and places to visit.
The luxury self-catering lodges are designed for comfort and accessibility and are equipped with a wide range of specialist disability equipment. All this combined makes Homelands Trust a game changer for wheelchair accessible holidays.
Where Next: You Might Also Enjoy
Homelands Trust Fife – Wheelchair Accessible Holiday Lodges in Fife, Scotland
Explore Anstruther and St Andrews with This Accessible Day Trip Guide
Scotlands Accessible Beaches: Exploring St Andrews West Sands in a Beach Wheelchair
Strawberry Picking In A Wheelchair | Cairnie Fruit Farm
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