How To Spend The Perfect Day In St Andrews
It’s one of the best known towns in Scotland, famous for old courses and an even older cathedral. There’s more to the perfect day in St Andrews than just a round of golf or a visit to some ruins though. Scotland’s spiritual home deserves much more recognition as a place full of history, folklore and legends.
As a born and bred Fifer who spent much of his youth visiting St Andrews, I like to think I know how to get the most from this little town. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s just a beautiful place to wander the cobbled streets and enjoy the seaside air.
There are things to do in St Andrews for everybody and it’s so compact that you can easily get them all into a single day!
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How To Get To St Andrews
First of all, you’re going to need to know exactly where St Andrews is and how to get there! This quaint little town is in the northeast corner of Fife and if you have the option then it makes a great road trip. It takes around an hour and a half from Edinburgh and slightly longer from Glasgow.
Once you get off the motorway though, the drive through country roads is worth it and you should try and tie in some of these Hidden Gems of Fife.
If driving isn’t an option then your best option to get to St Andrews is by train, although the town doesn’t have its own station. Take the train to Leuchars and from there you can find regular 15 minute buses into St Andrews itself.
Start your day in St Andrews off right!
Obviously, history and folklore are two of my main interests, but food is always high on my list of priorities. If there’s one place I would always recommend for brunch in St Andrews it would be Forgan’s. Located right off Market Street, this little restaurant is situated in an old golf club factory, very in keeping with the history of the town!
Great food in beautiful surroundings, there’s no better place to start the perfect day in St Andrews. You can even hire out little bothy areas for private group dining. More importantly, if you’re visiting St Andrews at the weekend and find yourself at Forgan’s in the evening then you can enjoy a ceilidh! It’s fun traditional Scottish dancing and they have one for beginners on Fridays and a party on Saturdays.
Explore St Andrews Cathedral
Nobody should spend a day in St Andrews without a visit to the magnificent St Andrews Cathedral. Even lying in ruins this place is magnificent, with enormous towers defying gravity by poking the sky. This was where St Rule was said to have carried the bones of St Andrew, founding a shrine which would develop into the present day town.
It was Scotland’s largest cathedral, seeing pilgrims from all over the world visiting St Andrews. Over the years it weathered storms and fires, even seeing King Robert the Bruce ride a horse down its aisle! Unfortunately, like so many churches it was the 16th century Reformation that marked its downfall.
This is understandably one of the top things to see in St Andrews, even if its under maintenance at the moment. Without the church here, there would have been no town so worth paying your respects. Find out all the information you need by clicking here!
Enjoy the view from St Rules Tower
One building looks a little out of place inside the grounds of St Andrews Cathedral, but it’s actually the most interesting. The square St Rules Tower predates the rest of the ruins, although not quite as old as the saint himself. Always check the website before visiting, but when open you can climb the 33m tall tower for a spectacular view of St Andrews.
Watch yourself on the way up and down though, you might not be alone. St Rules is said to be haunted by the ghost of a monk who was pushed to his death from the top. Don’t worry though, he’s friendly and often lends a hand to people struggling with all the stairs!
Learn the violent history of St Andrews Castle
If you liked the cathedral, then you’re going to love St Andrews Castle. This wasn’t the seat of an Earl or a Clan Chief, but where the Bishops and Archbishops spent their nights. Their holy status didn’t help the castle when it came to violence though.
The most dramatic events followed the execution of a preacher named George Wishart by Cardinal David Beaton. Look around near the entrance and find his initials marking where he was burned at the stake in 1546. Later, Wishart’s friends sneaked inside the castle in disguise, taking the garrison by surprise and escorting everybody out.
Everybody apart from the cardinal who was killed before being hanged by bedsheets out the window!
A siege followed with the attackers trying to tunnel until the castle walls and the defenders tunnelling back to meet them. Once you’re inside the castle you can actually enter that counter-mine and imagine what it was like there in the 16th century. The defenders held out for 15 months before a French fleet arrived and bombarded them into surrender!
If history is your thing then you really have to include the castle, I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s run by Historic Scotland and you can check opening times and prices by clicking here!
Hidden Histories in the University
Wandering around for a day in St Andrews, you might notice a lot of university building signs. That’s because the town can claim the title of Scotland’s Oldest University. Founded in 1410, the University adds much to the hustle and bustle of the town and St Salvator’s Chapel is at the heart of it.
There’s something peculiar about the chapel though and if you look down near the entrance, you’ll spot PH marked in cobbles. This was where Patrick Hamilton was burned for heretical, Protestant preaching in 1528. It was a rushed decision and the execution was arranged quickly to avoid Hamilton being rescued by powerful friends.
In fact, it was so rushed that the freshly collected wood refused to light. Poor Hamilton’s agony was being stretched out by the slowly smouldering logs, so somebody threw gunpowder on to speed things up. All they achieved was a small explosion which caused even more torment! Eventually, the preacher cried out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” and promptly died.
Part of him is still here though. When the smoke cleared after the 6-hour burning, the impression of a tortured face had appeared on the wall of St Salvator’s. Look up high above the entrance and see if you can spot it. Watch out for University students avoiding the bad luck in their exams that comes from stepping on the cobbled initials!
There were a tragic amount of religious violence in this corner of Fife, which you can learn more about here.
Head to St Andrews Beach
Fife has some fantastic beaches and of course, St Andrews is no exception.
There’s actually more than one beach here, but the most popular by far is West Sands. It’s a beautiful spot with incredible views across to the town perched on the cliffs. I know that beaches can be difficult for people with mobility issues, but luckily that’s not a problem here.
Simply book a free beach wheelchair and get back to enjoying your day in St Andrews! This is honestly one of the best ideas I’ve seen and something I wish was available at every Scottish beach. At the moment it’s not available at all times but usually Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 10:00am – 4:00pm. Always check ahead just to be sure!
Enjoy some Ice Cream
Can you really go to a seaside town, visit the beach and not enjoy an ice cream?
Luckily St Andrews has you covered with two different companies vying for top spot. Jannettas Gelateria has recently been refurbished and offers an enormous variety of flavours. It’s easy to find on South Street.
My personal favourite though is Luvians Ice Cream, started by three Italian brothers Luigi, Vincenzo & Antonio. I might be biased since I went to school with one of the brother’s sons, but then again, Luvians also sell a great selection of whisky so that’s an important factor!
Maybe you don’t need to choose between themm. If you’re going to spend a whole day in St Andrews, I’m sure you can find time for two ice cream stops!
Play at the Home of Golf
There are thousands of people around the world who travel to St Andrews for just one thing. Playing golf on what’s now hallowed ground for the sport!
St Andrews has earned itself the title Home of Golf and the Old Course officially recognised as oldest in the world. There has been a course here since at least the mid 16th century, now a place of pilgrimage for golfers. A picture standing on the iconic Swilcan Bridge is an essential souvenir.
A lot of famous golfers have played in St Andrews, including two men called Tom Morris. They were father and son golfers who were amongst the greatest of their time. Their name pops up all over the town and you can easily spot their graves in the cathedral grounds. The younger Tom Morris tragically died on Christmas day aged just 24, already a championship winning golfer!
You can find out lots about the history of golf at the nearby museum or you can even play the Old Course yourself!
If you’re as bad as me at the game but have your own clubs, then try one of the easier courses like the Balgove. Better yet, as a local teenager one of the best things to do in St Andrews was crazy golf, better known as the Himalayas!
St Andrews Brewing Co
It’s already been a long day in St Andrews, so you’re going to need some refreshments. There’s loads of great places to eat and drink in town, but I always find myself at St Andrews Brewing Co. Brewing since 2012 with the bar opening in 2013, this has quickly become an institution for the town.
Enjoy a range of local beers, refreshing ciders, Scottish whisky and a bite to eat in comfortable surroundings. Trust me when I say you might need to stiffen your courage with a few drinks before the next activity. It involves a very different kind of spirit…
Get Spooked With Ghost Stories
Any place as historical as this is going to have a few ghosts kicking about. What better way to end the perfect day in St Andrews than with an evening Ghost Tour?
St Andrews Ghost Tours will lead you on a trail of terror around the cobbled streets of the town. They’re keen to point out that this isn’t your typical overdramatic, cheap scare tour – this is the real deal. It’s a 5 start tour and not just one of the top things to do in St Andrews, but one of the best in the country.
Maybe you’ll bump into the White Lady, or the Veiled Nun. It might be the ghost of John Knox walking the streets or one of the many instances of hearing disembodied hooves. With so many spooky stories crammed into one small area, you won’t be disappointed.
Where To Stay In St Andrews
Spindle Guest Rooms – If you don’t want to break the budget, here’s a reasonably priced but still central guest house!
Doune Guest House – Another highly rated guest house in a great location, just slightly more expensive.
The Arran – A large Aparthotel this time, great for people who need a little more space.
Hotel Du Vin – A fantastic hotel in the heart of St Andrews that won’t break the bank.
Rusacks Hotel – One of St Andrews’ fanciest hotels in a historic location, worth splashing out on!
The Old Course Hotel – An iconic, 5* Hotel overlooking the Old Course, complete with a spa and well stocked whisky bar!
Ready For The Perfect Day In St Andrews?
So let me know if I’ve convinced you to spend a day in St Andrews! Have you tried out anything from my list before? Are there any things to do that I’ve missed but definitely belongs here?
As a side note, did you know that St Andrews also shares its name with Scotland’s National Day?
If you’d like to visit St Andrews, then how about going on a Scotland’s Stories Tour?
Just click this link to make an enquiry and book your private driving tour today!
1 Comment
Wendy S. · July 16, 2022 at 10:59 pm
A resounding ‘Yessss’ from me …on my next ‘magical encounter with Auld Reekie’ it’s got to be a visit to St Andrews … especially as it’s not too far from the city !!!… with some of my very favourite sort places to visit this is top of my ‘will do ‘list …your explanatory text is , as usual , providing us with so much that we need to know , which makes a visit compulsory … bravo Graeme – you’ve sold it to me ❤️🏴 !!!