Discover St Andrews, Scotland

St Andrews,Scotland, is a BEAUTIFUL, historic city and an absolute must if you're traveling to Scotland, and especially if you're traveling to Fife.

Although small, St Andrews is home to an interesting culture as university students, residents, and typically wealthy golfers collide. The town is centuries old, and in many ways not much has changed, despite the slow crumbling of the Castle and Cathedral. The buildings are beautifully maintained and an incredible contrast to anything you'd find in America.

The game of golf began on St Andrew's gorgeous, natural golf course, The Old Course (appropriately named). For any golf enthusiast, the old course and it's five connecting "Links" courses are a must see--and a must play! (And the British Golf Museum is definitely worth checking out!)

But for those of you not obsessed with the Royal and Ancient game, St Andrews has so much more to offer.

Three beaches coexist in this very small town--one made famous by the Chariots of Fire running on the beach scene! The West Sands is very long, very flat, and one of the most picturesque walks I've ever taken. The beach stretches on for miles with the water slowly washing over the sand. Look to your right and you see a perfect silhouette of St Andrews, look to your left and it stretches on forever, lying beside the grassy banks of the Old Course.

The East Sands is nice because it's directly beside the pier and also more conducive to watersports. (Pictured right, at dawn).

My personal favorite, however, is Castle Sands, the small, rocky beach beneath the cliff of the crumbling castle. With long jetties of rock lurking beneath the water, all but the marked off "swimming area" is dangerous for a swim, but vividly picturesque in very harsh, Gothic way--which, in reality, is the true sense of wild beauty that you seen embodied in Scotland.

St Andrews has a really wide, varied array of food choices--and nearly all of them are spectacular.

If you're trying to pack it all in one day, I highly recommend purchasing a wrap from Butler and Co on Church St. They have a delightful menu of interesting ingredients to combine to make a really one of a kind, gourmet sandwich on the cheap. It's strictly take out, so grab it and head up to the Cathedral. Eat while exploring the ruins, or grab a spot to sit and enjoy!

1 Golf Place is a great place to sit and eat if you have the time. To this day my mother still talks about the lunch we had there three years ago! It's fairly reasonable and always has an interesting menu.

The Seafood Restaurant is St Andrews' culinary star, garnering many different awards and having an unusual atmosphere--entirely walled in glass, it sits overhanging the ocean. Though expensive, it's a truly wonderful example of fine cooking.

The Doll's House is another fine choice, fairly expensive but truly delicious, also sister to the slightly funkier Glass House and far cheaper Grill House. Looking for a quick bite of greasy food? Look no further than standard student spot Empire--and try the chips and cheese!

Historically speaking, I've already mentioned the Cathedral, but don't forget the Castle--it contains tunnels dug in by invading forces and dug out to head off the invaders, a truly interesting piece of Scottish history!

St Andrews is a gorgeous town for walking. Try the Scores for old houses and wave-crashing drama, Lade Braes for leafy overgrowth and herons alongside the Kinnessburn, and of course don't forget to walk the Old Course and the beach!

Because of the student population, there's also a really interesting theater culture--something is almost always going on at the Byre Theater on South St, it's cheap and worth checking out!

And don't forget the pub life--St Andrews is home to the most pubs per square mile anywhere in the UK!

Visit Stay in St Andrews for a complete guide to lodging, and this great guide on how to get there!