There’s truly nothing better than those first few sunny days of spring, when it’s clear that winter is behind us for another year. It instantly just makes you want to head to the beach, even if there’s still a bit of a chill in the air and it’s not quite time for a swim yet.

Last weekend, I decided to take advantage of my newfound joy and optimism for life, and drove to a gorgeous coastal village that many people have never heard of. Granted it’s tiny, and there’s barely anything there, but there’s a cosy pub and restaurant, spectacular sea views, and it’s close to another popular seaside spot too. Lower Largo in Fife has a population of around 2,300, and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen.

The tiny village overlooks Largo Bay, on the north side of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. It took around an hour and a half to drive from Glasgow, and from Edinburgh, it’s only an hour’s journey away.

Largo is an ancient fishing village, split into two different parts – Lower and Upper, with the small village of Lundin Links just to the left. Here, you won’t find amusement arcades or throngs of tourists, and it has a much more tranquil vibe than other seaside villages I’ve been to recently.

But don’t let the lack of attractions put you off. The slower pace of life here was truly addictive, and already I can’t wait until my next chance to visit.

Waking up to those gorgeous sea views was an instant mood-lifter, especially when the sun was beating down. It didn’t matter that it was still actually pretty cold – it looked the part, and the brisk sea air was so invigorating.

Lower Largo’s beach is made up of sand and rocks, and it’s so clean. We saw loads of people out walking their dogs, and even spotted one daring woman taking a dip in the sea, which I’m sure felt amazing after the initial shock of the cold.

The streets were equally as entertaining to walk around. It’s pretty quiet, so you’ll barely see any cars, but you will see some extravagantly decorated gardens. The maritime theme was strong, with garden gates adorned with pirates, fish and mermaids.

Breakfast was at The Aurrie, a charming cafe housed inside an old church that had such a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. There was art on the walls from local creators that you could buy, and a great selection of hot meals, coffees, and a cake cabinet stuffed full of treats. I opted for the veggie haggis and potato scone roll and a flat white, and it was delicious.

During our stay, we also dined at The Crusoe, another beautifully welcoming four-star hotel with a restaurant and pub. It has all the pub classics you’d expect, from mac and cheese to fish and chips, and my whole family thoroughly enjoyed it.

Just across the road is the Railway Inn, another pub with a real fire that I never got the chance to visit, but my parents said it was great and the perfect spot for an after-dinner drink.

The pub is conveniently situated right beside an impressive viaduct, which is now abandoned but still standing strong. It crosses the Keil Burn, and was built to serve part of the Fife Coast Railway Line. It’s not been in operation since 1965 due to the restructuring programme of British railways known as the Beeching cuts, but it’s still a major landmark and worth seeing.

Another key part of Lower Largo’s history is that it’s actually the birthplace of the man who inspired the story of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – hence the name of the hotel.

Born in 1676, Alexander Selkirk lived in the village, and the house that now stands at his birthplace on 99-105 Main Street features a life-sized statue of him looking out over the horizon.

A signpost at the harbour points towards Juan Fernández Islands, 7,500 miles away, where he lived for more than four years as a castaway.

I already can’t wait until my next visit to Lower Largo. The overall vibe of the place was just so friendly, and you can tell it has such a strong sense of community.

It’s the perfect place to spend a relaxing couple of days, but if you’re up for venturing a bit further, the popular seaside town of St Andrews is only around 20 minutes away. It’s probably most famous for its golf scene, and for being the place where royals William and Catherine first met, but there’s also loads of great pubs and restaurants, bookshops and cafes too.