Silent Hill: Townfall releases on Thursday, September 24, and horror fans worldwide are counting down the minutes until they can play the next instalment of the popular Silent Hill franchise. Scots should be extra excited, as the game takes place right here.
The survival horror game is set in 1996 in the fictional Scottish town of St. Amelia and follows protagonist Simon Ordell as he puts together fragments of his memory while fending off terrifying monsters. St. Amelia is actually based on the real-life village of St Monans, which can be found along the coast in the East Neuk of Fife.
Blue skies and warm temperatures
Ahead of the long-awaited release of Silent Hill: Townfall later this week, I made my way to St Monans to see the village for myself. Although not quite as spooky as I was expecting, or hoping, I had an amazing day out and got to see some mysterious historic landmarks up close.
If there is one thing you can usually count on over autumn in Scotland, it's gloomy weather that is perfectly suited to a horror game. Fate had other plans though, and during my visit to St Monans I was ironically treated to blue skies and warm temperatures.
That said, one aspect of St Monans I noticed that did make it feel perfect for a horror game is that the village was eerily quiet, with only a few hikers wandering around. While this was probably due to visiting on a Monday morning, it did feel very atmospheric.
Cafes and a famous harbour
The first thing I did after arriving in the village after the long journey from Edinburgh was find somewhere to eat. I've heard amazing things about the Giddy Gannet and Craig Millar @ 16 West End, but Cafe Malo was the only food spot I could find that was actually open on a Monday.
The unfussy café more than did the job though, and I've got no complaints about my modest yet tasty lentil soup lunch. The staff were really friendly too. I just wish I got the chance to visit more of St Monans' eateries. I did get to nip into the charming Harbour Food Shop, which had lots of fresh fruit, veg and artisan meat.
After fuelling up, I made my way down to St Monans' famous harbour, and the views did not disappoint. Backed by stunning pastel-coloured fishermen’s cottages, the zig-zag pier has incredible views out over the peaceful waters of the Firth of Forth to the Isle of May and Bass Rock.
Landmarks and a creepy castle
Just off the harbour is another of St Monans' unique landmarks. The Welly Boot Garden is a strange community garden that features more than 200 wellies that have been decorated and are full of flowers. It was pretty, but there's also something weirdly unsettling about seeing so many welly boots sprawled across the ground.
As I wandered around the village, something else that caught my eye were many tiny side streets and passages. Even walking down the narrow alleys on a sunny day was a little bit creepy with no one around, and imagining them crawling with monsters sends a shiver up my spine.
Another landmark that I was keen to check out was the St Monans Auld Kirk, which is actually one of the only remaining medieval churches in Scotland that is still in use. Perched in a dramatic position above the rocks and water, its imposing setting made me wonder if the 14th century structure features in Silent Hill: Townfall at all.
By this point, it was getting late and it was almost time to head home. I finished off the way with a walk of a tiny section of the Fife Coastal Path out to Newark Castle. The 15th century ruins sit in a dramatic position overlooking the North Sea and it was definitely the creepiest place I visited, especially because it was all fenced off.
I absolutely loved St Monans, even if the sunny weather killed most of the horror vibe I was hoping to find. If you are thinking of heading there after playing Silent Hill: Townfall, I'd recommend visiting on a cloudy day so you can really soak up the atmosphere.
