St. Andrews. The home of golf and a 500 year-old university. You’re on a budget, but you want to see the town and stay busy. Here are some great ways to while away the hours in St. Andrews. Be sure to stop by the Tourism Shop, located on the East end of Market Street, for maps and more information.
1.Walk around St. Andrew’s Cathedral ruins.
St. Andrew’s Cathedral, located at the East end of North Street and South Street, is extremely old and also quite peaceful. With parts dating to the 12th century, walking around the cathedral will not just be a relaxing if slightly morbid afternoon, it’s will also be a great history lesson. Exploring the graveyard and reading the plaques dedicated to the history of the cathedral is a great way to spend a few hours. Visiting the cathedral grounds is completely free, but you can also pay a small fee (about £3) to see some older tombs on display inside (next to the gift shop). A token to climb St. Rule’s tower is also provided with this fee; St. Rule’s tower offers spectacular views, but is not for the faint of heart or claustrophobic!
2. Play Minigolf at the Himalayas.
If you aren’t much of a golfer or don’t want to spend the money to play golf in St. Andrews (which is quite pricey!), there is another option: minigolf. The Himalayas, located on part of the Old Course, is a small minigolf ideal for families and non-golfers alike. The fee is only £1.50, and a club and ball is provided.
3. Spend a day on the beach.
When visiting Scotland, most people’s first thought is not beautiful beaches. However, St. Andrews proves this assumption wrong. East Sands expands from the Rock pier, paralleling Abbey Road. West Sands frames the border of the Old Course, running off of the Scores (the Scores, the northernmost road in St. Andrews is also quite a beautiful walk with its university buildings, trees, and ocean views). Castle Sands, aptly named, is just under the castle and is reachable by a ramp, though it is much smaller than East or West Sands. Though St. Andrews’ weather is unpredictable, there are a number of sunny days-you just have to be sure take advantage of them while they are there! But be prepared for the weather to change; wearing layers is a good idea, as the wind is often fierce even in the summer.
4. Swim in the North Sea at Castle Sands.
If the weather is nice, a quick swim in the ocean can be an adventure for the brave soul. The water comes off of the North Sea, so it never warms up much, even in summer. However, Castle Sands has a small swimming area built into the rocks, just the thing for a quick dip. A swim in the North Sea would definitely give you bragging rights, though those not hardy enough for a full swim may just want to dip their feet in.
5. Eat haggis and try some whisky (and visit local pubs).
Of course, to be truly experience Scottish culture, you must spend some time at a local pub, kicking back with one of Scotland’s brews. The three things to try: haggis, whisky, and beer. While not free, you do need to eat! Haggis is a dish that developed out of need; it uses up parts of the sheep that wouldn’t normally be used. Basically, it is parts of sheep mixed with barley and boiled for a bit. It has the constancy of ground beef or corn beef hash and tastes mostly like a sausage. Haggis is a tasty, solid food, excellent for those blustery winter days, and even for a rainy summer day. Most pubs serve some variation of haggis, neeps (a cousin to mashed turnips), and tatties (mashed potatoes). A perfect compliment is scotch whisky. With a smoky flavour and any number of variations on blends and sweetness, there’s a scotch whisky out there to fit most people’s taste buds. Just don’t ask to mix a single-malt with something else; you might get more than just a raised eyebrow. However, if you don’t know which one to try, just ask the bartender. If a brew is more your style, pick any number of Scottish beers and ales to try-again, if you don’t know which to choose, just ask
6. Tour St. Andrews Museum.
St. Andrews Museum is free and offers exhibitions exploring St. Andrew’s history. Open 10-5 daily and located off of Doubledykes Road, the museum offers a perfect solution for those rainy days. Similarly, the St. Andrew’s Preservation Trust Museum recreates old shops from St. Andrews. This museum is located on North Street near the Cathedral and is open from 2-5 pm daily during the summer months. Both museums are free of charge.
7. See a play or local musicians at the Byre Theatre.
The Byre Theatre is a small, local theatre that hosts a wide variety of events including poetry festivals, musical groups, high school thespian groups, and local and national plays. They also feature a lovely café and bar, and every Thursday night, they present an (free!) open mic jazz night. They feature free live music on Friday night from local musicians. A list of their events can be found on their websites, and tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.
8. Take a hike on a Fife Coastal Path.
For the more adventurous vacationer, Fife Coastal Paths offer a beautiful and invigorating way to spend a day. The path runs all along the coastline from Newport-on-Tay all the way around to Inverkeithing. From St. Andrews, a walk to Crail is a feasible path to do in a day for strong walkers-about 12 miles. (Afterwards, you can take the bus back if you’d like). However, a less adventurous hiker might just like to go a mile or two and come back. Either way, the views are spectacular.
9. Read (very) old books in the university’s library special collections.
If you are bibliophile, then the Rare Books at the University of St. Andrews is for you. The holdings include any number of old books, including a 12th century Psalter, a first edition Gutenberg bible, and first editions of Jane Austen’s works just to name a very select few, as well as some excellent facsimiles, such as one of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Anybody can be a reader, though you have to sign up for a Special Collections card (located in the basement of the main library) with a form of ID. The university’s catalogue has records for about half the books, and the rest are in a print catalogue. Also, the staff are extremely helpful and can help you find what you are looking for or related books. You should have some idea of what you are looking for, though, before you go in. You can only bring a pencil in, and you must leave your bags in a (free) locker to go into the reading room. If you don’t feel like going to all that trouble, some of the collection is on display on the main floor of the library (to the right as you come in the entrance). The library is located off of North Street, and Rare Books is open from 8-5 everyday.
10. Watch the Harbour Wall processional.
The Harbour Wall is located at the end of East Sands or behind the Cathedral. During the year, undergraduates wear the traditional red graduation robes every Sunday and walk along the pier. It is quite a beautiful sight and one not to be missed.
Of course, this is just a start to what St. Andrews has to offer. So get out there and explore!
