Visit St Andrews in Fife, Scotland

LNER, St. Andrews, c.1920
Giclee Print
Gawthorn, Henry...

60 in. x 44 in.
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Accommodation

St Andrews is not very large, but it's packed with pretty little B&Bs (bed and breakfast) and self-catering accommodation. There are also hotels ranging from cozy and affordable to expensive elegance such as the luxury Fairmont St Andrews Resort which hosts top political summits (such as the G20 financial summit in November 2009) and of course The Old Course Hotel.

Restaurants

You'll find a restaurant or other eating place every 10 paces in central St Andrews! As a student town, there are plenty of affordable eateries and restaurant chains (Pizza Express, Littlejohns Bella Italia), but there is also a host of more elegant dining options including Continental and Asian cuisine. Closer to the golf course, you could visit the Old Course restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Grocery Shopping

If you have self-catering facilities, you'll find the local supermarkets the easiest places to buy everything you need. There is a small town center supermarket (Tesco) - which gets very busy at lunchtimes but is within walking distance of most accommodation - and also a larger supermarket (Morrisons) further out of town.

Gifts and Souvenirs

While there are no department stores in the town, there are several little gift shops selling all manner of gifts, artwork and souvenirs - many with a Scottish or golf theme. Naturally, there are also a few golf shops! Larger stores can be found in Dundee or Edinburgh.

Ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Beanland, Glenn

12 in. x 9 in.
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The cathedral was founded in 1158 on the site of an even older church, and subsequently became an important site for religious pilgrims. It took over a century to complete the cathedral, which was soon after badly storm-damaged and had to be partly rebuilt in the 1270s. The unlucky cathedral was then partly destroyed by fire in the 1300s and again had to undergo extensive repairs.

In the Scottish Reformation of 1560, when Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church in Rome, the celebration of Mass was forbidden and religious icons and altars were removed from the Cathedral in keeping with the Protestant style of worship. The Cathedral fell into ruin when its central tower collapsed at the end of the 1500s, but several of the ruins still stand today and are carefully maintained.

The ruins and graveyard are open to public access and have seating areas and pathways. There is a charge to go up the stone spiral staircase to the top of St Rule's tower, from which there are wonderful views of the town. (These are shown in the above photograph by flickr user Son of Groucho, and the earlier photo.)

Saint Rule is said to have brought relics of Saint Andrew to this place.

Ruins of St. Andrews Castle at Dawn, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Smith, Jonathan

12 in. x 9 in.
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St Andrews Castle is another site of historic interest - and also a ruin.

The Castle is as old as the Cathedral and was home to the Bishops of St Andrews, as well as Scottish Kings (King James III of Scotland was born in the Castle).

However, the Castle has a darker side with its infamous Medieval prison - a pit below the tower where several notable men had the misfortune to end up.

The Reformation of the mid 1500s saw St Andrews become a scene of clashes between the new Scottish Protestants such as John Knox (pictured) and the existing Catholics. Protestant George Wishart was imprisoned in the Castle before being burnt at the stake in St Andrews.

Although the Castle, like the Cathedral, fell into ruin, the remaining structures (including the dungeon) can be visited today. There is an entrance charge.

(Image: Son of Groucho, flickr)

Early Morning on the Pier, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Smith, Jonathan

12 in. x 9 in.
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Thankfully, not all of St Andrews' ancient buildings are in ruins! The University of St Andrews, founded between 1410 and 1413 and about to begin its 600th anniversary celebrations, maintains many fine old buildings dating from several centuries of its history. The University has grown considerably over recent years and now has a modern science campus on the edge of town.

The oldest parts of the University are St Salvator's Chapel and St Mary's College, both of which are still in use today. Protestant Patick Hamilton was burnt at the stake outside the Chapel in 1528 and his initals mark the spot in the cobblestones. It is bad luck for a student to step on these initials, which is why you will see them side-step or leap as they pass!

Students at the University wear the traditional red gown and celebrate a number of old customs including the May Dip (plunging into the icy North Sea) and the Kate Kennedy Procession in which a fresh-faced male student will dress as Bishop Kennedy's niece 'Kate', to be paraded through the town streets on a daffodil covered coach led by St Andrew himself.

Prince William is the most famous of the University's more recent graduates.

(Image: Son of Groucho, flickr)

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St Andrews has 2 stretches of wide sandy beaches. The smaller East Sands can be found to the east of the cathedral ruins. The West Sands is a long stretch of beach running beside the St Andrews Links (golf course).

It was here that runner Eric Liddell would practise. He won the 400 metre race in the 1924 Olympics, and is commemorated in the movie Chariots of Fire. Although the East Sands reportedly appear in this movie as one of the filming locations for beach scenes, only Broadstairs beach (in England) is credited.

St Andrews
Giclee Print
Sipos, R.

56 in. x 42 in.
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Golfing the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th Hole, St Andrews Golf Course, Scotland
Photographic Print
Bachmann, Bill

12 in. x 9 in.
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St Andrews and Golf are a famous combination! The oldest golf course in the world, the St Andrews Links, and one of the oldest and influential golf clubs in the world, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, make this a top destination for golfers and golf enthusiasts from all over the world.

The St Andrews Links has seven public golf courses, set in a beautiful location. The Old Course of St Andrews is over 600 years old.

If you come to St Andrews for golf, be aware that even in summer there can be a cool breeze from the North Sea. However, St Andrews is one of the sunniest towns in Scotland and you also have a good chance of bright sunshine. Winters can be cold and wet - wrap up warm.

The Open Championship is hosted at the Old Course of St Andrews approximately every 5 years in summer. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship comes to St Andrews in October each year. Pros and amateurs (many of them celebrities) compete in this event (professional only participate in the final round).

The Harbour, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Jenner, Michael

9 in. x 12 in.
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Like many of the towns and villages in the area, particularly in the East Neuk of Fife, St Andrews has a harbor with working fishing boats.

The harbor is just beneath the Cathedral ruins, and from here you can walk along the West Sands, maybe enjoying an ice cream on a sunny day.

Wild seals can occasionally be spotted in this part of Fife. If you want to see them up close, you'll need to head back along The Scores (by the Castle) to the St Andrews Aquarium where you can see Laurel and Hardy the resident seals, alongside a host of other sealife!

Seals Poster

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