St Andrews: Golf, Coast and Living History

St Andrews combines medieval history, golfing tradition and a distinctive coastal landscape. Anyone planning a trip to St Andrews can choose between cultural discoveries, days at West Sands, museum visits and walks. This combination makes the town a versatile base for finding a suitable holiday apartment.

Cathedral, Castle and Pilgrimage History

The ensemble comprising St Andrews Cathedral, the Priory and the adjoining ecclesiastical remains is among Scotland’s earliest Christian foundations. The cathedral was once Scotland’s largest cathedral and grandest church. St Andrews was also one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe for 400 years. Anyone wishing to explore this historical focus in greater depth can follow the 64-mile Fife Pilgrim Way, a long-distance walking route that follows a route used by numerous pilgrims to a religious centre of Scotland.

A striking feature of the cathedral is St Rule’s Tower, which is 33 metres high. St Andrews Castle, meanwhile, served as a bishop’s palace, fortress and state prison during its 450-year history. Visitors to St Andrews Castle can look into the notorious bottle dungeon. For a culture-focused trip, a holiday apartment in St Andrews therefore offers the opportunity to get to know the town through its buildings, religious past and unusual historical details.

Golf History and Museums

Golf is inseparable from the character of St Andrews. The R&A World Golf Museum presents more than 400 years of golf history through a sports-historical collection rooted in St Andrews. Its immersive galleries explore the past, present and future of golf. The museum also offers a Learning Room and a putting green. This is an interesting choice for a day when the family wants to learn more about the development of the sport while discovering different ways to spend their time.

The museums of the University of St Andrews also focus on different themes. The Wardlaw Museum has four thematic galleries covering the pioneering research and global impact of the University of St Andrews. Its displays include art, history, science and natural history collections. The museum is located on the Fife Coastal Path, making it easy to include in an itinerary that combines culture and activity. The Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History explores living creatures and fossils from around the world, including extinct species, rare specimens and prehistoric animals. For visitors who are not university staff or students, it is open on weekdays during the Fife school holidays in April, July, August and October from 1 pm to 5 pm. St Andrews Museum permanently displays objects and artefacts relating to the history of St Andrews.

West Sands and the Botanic Garden

St Andrews West Sands is a 1.8-kilometre-long beach bordered by sand dunes. The dunes form the boundary with the St Andrews Links Jubilee golf course and are part of the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Special Area for Conservation. Walking, running and swimming are popular at West Sands. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you want to combine your trip primarily with days on the coast, impressions of golfing history or cultural sightseeing.

The St Andrews Botanic Garden offers a different perspective. It covers 18 acres in the heart of St Andrews and is easily accessible by car, bicycle and on foot. The visitor centre, car park and bicycle stands are located on Canongate; from there, it is a ten-minute walk to St Andrews bus station. The garden also has an approximately 1.2-kilometre wheelchair-accessible circular route. This provides a practical way to complement a stay with a quieter garden and nature experience.

Further Places for Your Travel Itinerary

If you would like to include other places in your itinerary alongside St Andrews, you can explore Dysart, Leven, Elie, Pitlessie, Pittenweem, Ceres, Aberdour and Leslie. This allows you to combine your search for accommodation with your own interests in history, golf, the coast and nature.

For the higher-level travel overview: Fife.