St. Andrews is probably second only to Edinburgh as the most visited town in Scotland. Most come to visit The Home of Golf as it is the headquarters of the sport's governing body and the site of the world's most famous course, the Old Course.
There is much more to the town than golf. It is the seat of Scotland's oldest university and was once the ecclesiastical capital of the nation.
It is also a popular seaside resort.
Getting there
St.Andrews is 13 miles south of Dundee and 55 miles north of Edinburgh. The nearest train station is at Leuchars, 5 miles away, on the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen line.
There are frequent bus services from Stirling, Dundee and Edinburgh.
If you are driving, parking can be difficult.
The Main Points of Interest
The Cathedral was founded in 1160 and was the largest ecclesiastical building ever built in Scotland, and the second largest in Britain. It is in ruins now but is still impressive. The Cathedral was not destroyed by the English (for a change), the Scots managed this one by themselves during the Reformation in the 16th century.
Nearby is St. Rule's Tower which affords excellent views although it is a bit of a climb.
St. Rule, legend has it, brought some of the bones of the apostle Andrew here in the 4th century and they were enshrined where the cathedral was built. This led to the town attracting pilgrims from far and wide.
The Castlewas built in the 12th century as the stronghold of the bishop's of St. Andrews and has been the scene of many blood-stained incidents. Not much of the castle remains but there is an excellent exhibition in the visitor centre which brings the history of the castle to life.
The University was founded in 1410 and is the third oldest in Britain after Oxford and Cambridge. Many of the buildings of the university date from the 15th and 16th century. Prince William, the future King, is currently a student here.
Three streets; North St., Market St. and South St. fan out from the Cathedral maintaining the medieval street plan. These are the main shopping streets and are linked by narrow alleyways, or ''closes''.
The best way to explore the town is by getting a map and a guide at the tourist office and simply wander around. There are interesting and historic sites around every corner.
Eating and drinking
As you would expect from a town that is popular with tourists and has a large student population there is no shortage of restaurants, cafes and bars.
The best restaurant in the area, and indeed, one of the best in Britain, the Peat Inn is located 7 miles south of the town.It is VERY expensive but exceptionally good. More of that another day.
Many of the hotels have good restaurants and there are many cafes such as Brambles, The Merchant's House and The Victorian. These are good for lunches and light snacks.
Littlejohn'sis good for steaks and burgers.
The New Balaka Bangladeshi is one of the best curry houses in Scotland.
The best pubs, particularly for bar meals, are; The central Bar, Featherie and Firkin, Ma Belle's and the Dunvegan. These pubs are always busy and have the best atmospheres.
My personal favourite is the 400 year old Castle Tavern. It is a traditional pub that is located between the castle and the cathedral. Cheap and cheerful, the regulars are very friendly and it's very welcoming. The food is mainly snacks so the ales, whiskies and atmosphere are the attractions here.
You cannot visit St. Andrews without sampling the delights on offer at Janetta's, a traditional, Italian ice cream shop. They have a multitude of different flavours including Irn Bru sorbet. Amazing!
Accommodation
St.Andrews has plenty of accommodation in all grades, from horrendously expensive luxury hotels to simple, inexpensive B&B's. The university rents rooms from June to September and there are also caravan parks and campsites. Holiday flats and houses are also available.
During the summer booking should be made in advance. If you plan to visit when the Openis on you may have to book YEARS in advance and prices go through the roof !
Check these websites for accommodation:
https://visitscotland.net/
https://all-rooms.com/fife/fife.htm
https://saint-andrews.co.uk/Business/accm.htm
Attractions
Most visitors come for the golf and it is possible for anyone to play on any of the six courses, including the Old Course.
The British Golf Museum is directly behind the clubhouse and has audio-visual displays which trace the history of the game and it's association with the town.
Apr-Oct daily 0930-1730 Nov-Mar 1100-1500 3.75GBP
The Museum of St.Andrews Preservation Trust has some really good 19th century shop interiors among other things.
May to Sept daily 1400-1630 free
St.Andrews Museum charts the history of the town from the earliest times.
daily all year free
The Castle and Cathedral both have museums attached to them and a joint ticket will cost 3.50GBP.
St.Andrews has two beaches, West Sands which is quieter and was where the opening sequence of the movie Chariots of Fire was filmed. East Sands has a leisure centre with water slides, swimming pools, squash courts and various other activities.
The Sea Life Centre is a very popular attraction with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures on display.
daily all year 1000-1800 3.25GBP
The Byre Theatre and the Crawford Arts Centre stage live productions throughout the year. There is also a cinema.
Two miles west of the town is Craigton Country Park which has a Dutch Village and Italian Gardens surrounded by an ornamental lake and miniature railway. Boats can be hired and there is a restaurant and picnic area.
The Lammas Fair is held every year in the beginning of August. This is Scotland's oldest surviving medieval market and is a lively affair. Showmen come from all over Britain and set up their stalls in the three main streets.
Although St.Andrews is a major tourist resort it still has the feel of a small town and is worth visiting, even if you hate golf.
Disclaimer:
Although my username on MS is maxpro, I write as proxam elsewhere and as such own copyright to this.
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