St Andrews, best known perhaps to golfers the world over, is a beautiful, peaceful place for a holiday. I was lucky enough to go there for two weeks every Summer all through my childhood, since my grandparents lived there; their house was large and accommodated our family easily, giving a ... Read review
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - One of the most famous golf hotels in the world. ... more
Virtually within a sand wedge of the 18th hole on the world-renowned Old Course, Rusacks combines luxurious accommodation in the heart of St Andrews. Magnificent views out to sea take in St Andrews' West Sands, immortalised in the opening scenes of the Oscar winning film, Chariots of Fire.Unquestionably, Scotland's greatest golfing hotel location.
On a 520-acre estate, this 5-star luxury hotel has a magnificent cliff-top setting with ... more
stunning panoramic views over the hotels own championship golf courses and the bay of St Andrews.The premier leisure destination in Scotland, Fairmont St Andrews has breathtaking panoramic views of the Eden estuary and the medieval skyline of St Andrews.Voted 18th in the World's Top 100 Golf Resorts in the Condι Nast Traveller readers' poll, the resort is home to 2 renowned world-championship golf courses, the Torrance and the Devlin.The hotel has recently undergone a GBP 10 million renovation, further enhancing its impressive global reputation for leisure, golf, spa and conference facilities.The Fairmont Spa offers a range of relaxing and therapeutic spa treatments and the newly refurbished health club includes state-of-the-art fitness equipment with personal televisions, a 16-metre swimming pool, a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and a designated studio for yoga and spinning.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Dating from 1795, this traditional, elegant Georgian terraced house hotel rests in the ... more
heart of historic St Andrews. The hotel is ideally located for exploring the castle and cathedral, the picturesque university buildings scattered throughout town and the quaint shops of centre. The famous Old Course is within easy walking distance.Enjoy a continental or full Scottish cooked breakfast in the pleasant restaurant, which has patio doors opening out onto a delightful landscaped garden and patio. The cosy residents bar and lounge has an inviting log fire, lots of books to browse and a wide choice of malt whiskies, aperitifs and liqueurs. The attractive beer garden and patio are ideal for relaxing in fine weather.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Fairmont St Andrews is delighted to announce the completion of its major refurbishment ... more
programme Voted in the Conde Nast Traveler readers' poll as 18th in the World's Top 100 Golf Resorts this £13m renovation further enhances Fairmont St Andrews five star global reputation for leisure golf spa and conference facilitiesSet on a 520 acre estate with a unique coastal setting our 209 bedroom hotel is the perfect location to turn your stay into a treasured memory Experience the ultimate sense of arrival with our elegant newly designed reception area consisting of warm colours striking paintings inviting fireplace and plush carpets All public areas including the lobby Atrium and Squire Restaurant have been impressively refurbishedWe have unveiled 115 sumptuous elegantly furnished bedrooms and luxury suites featuring warm colour palates and local design features Kittocks Den our seductive and relaxing lobby bar has been refurbished with stylish sofas and rich interior furnishings a perfect place to lounge in This complements our recently opened lively sports themed bar The Rock and Spindle with pool table darts and LCD televisionsWe are also delighted to announce the launch of our signature Fairmont Spa the essence of total tranquillity
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Its location, spectacular views, stylish comfort, personal service and true Scottish ... more
hospitality combined with cuisine to die for make this a hotel to surpass your expectations.With 22 beautifully stylish rooms, St Andrews Golf Hotel is a perfect size for the discerning guest. It is large enough to provide excellent service and hospitality, but small enough to really care. It is only a short distance from the famous Old Course golf course.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
ST ANDREWS GUESTHOUSE IS QUALITY ACCREDIDATED BY VISIT BRITAINCATERING FOR COUPLES AND ... more
FAMILIES ONLY ALL ROOMS ARE ENSUITE AND VARY IN SIZESITUATED IN CENTRAL BLACKPOOL A TEN MINUTE WALK WILL TAKE YOU TO MANY PLACES OF INTEREST INCLUDING THE TOWER WINTER GARDENS GRAND THEATRE OPERA HOUSE AND THE CENTRAL PIERST ANDREWS OFFER FREE LIMITED CAR PARKING A SEPARATE TV LOUNGE AND A LICENSED BAR
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Centrally situated in St Andrews the Home of Golf and only a short stroll to the famous ... more
Old Course and The Royal and Ancient 19 modern ensuite bedrooms many can be arranged with additional beds if required for familiesor you may just want to arrange a Superior room for that added comfort Popular with University and GolfersExcellent value Scottish restaurant using the best fresh local foods Cosy Bar
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Peacefully situated in the heart of historic St Andrews this elegant Georgian terraced ... more
house dates from 1795 We are close to Castle Cathedral the University cinema Byre Theatre shops restaurants and a stones throw from the famous Golf courses 22 Comfortable ensuite rooms cosy lounge
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
St Andrews is well located within the city being close to quayside and Marsh Barton ... more
Trading Estate It is also close to StThomas train station a 15 minute walk to Exeter Cathedral and the new Princesshay shopping precinct Exeter offers a wealth of activities within the city a short drive finds the guest in beautiful Devon countryside the coast is approx16 miles and Dartmoor approx12 milesWe are located on a regular and frequent bus route Exeter airport is a 15 minute drive The range of accommodation is available in single double twin triple and family rooms All have en suite shower and toilet and 8 channel colour TV hairdryer clock radio and hospitality tray Free WiFi internet access available in all areas The dining room is well appointed and offers a full english or continental breakfast The property is non smoking We have large on site car park at rear of property
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Catering for couples and families only, this guest house in central Blackpool is 10 ... more
minutes walk from the central promenade, the Golden Mile, Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens, and superb entertainment.Blackpool and the surrounding areas offer 9 golf courses, Stanley Park Golf being only a few minutes away and the nearest course to St Andrews.You will also find the famous Pleasure Beach, the roller coaster capital of the world, nearby for a day of entertainment. The city also has excellent shows, open all season. In the evenings you can sample a range of cuisine in the local restaurants, all of which can be found near St Andrews.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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Advantages: Refreshing, friendly, plenty to do for all the family Disadvantages: Often cold and wet, some activities very expensive
St Andrews, best known perhaps to golfers the world over, is a beautiful, peaceful place for a holiday. I was lucky enough to go there for two weeks every Summer all through my childhood, since my grandparents lived there; their house was large and accommodated our family easily, giving a great base for trips out to the beach, shopping, explorations, and many other activities.
Climate
Situated in a bay on the East ... ...are other golf courses in St Andrews, although in high season they can all be popular too and it's important to book in advance via the tourist office, or one of the many web-sites advertising golf.
Cathedral, castle and pier
For anyone even remotely interested in history, St Andrews has a superb ruined cathedral right on the coast. The immense size of the foundations of the original building never fail to leave ... more
St Andrews, best known perhaps to golfers the world over, is a beautiful, peaceful place for a holiday. I was lucky enough to go there for two weeks every Summer all through my childhood, since my grandparents lived there; their house was large and accommodated our family easily, giving a great base for trips out to the beach, shopping, explorations, and many other activities.
Climate
Situated in a bay on the East coast of Scotland, St Andrews has some of the loveliest stretches of beach in the country. The West Sands were the scene of the opening shots of the film 'Chariots of Fire', with coastline stretching for miles, the water clear and inviting, the sand perfect for children to make sandcastles and channels to the sea. Being on the coast, the weather is temperate - it rarely freezes in winter, but equally the warmest summer days are cooled by a breeze, and the air can be bracing. It is not the place to go to guarantee a suntan, but during July and August there will probably be at least a few days when you can lie on the beach and relax.
Passing reference to golf
Despite my grandparents' best intentions, I'm no golfer. Perhaps just as well, since this is not a cheap hobby! Casual visitors may be shocked by the price of a round of golf at the famous 'Old Course', although I'm told it's the equivalent to Mecca for a serious golfer. Bookings are already being taken for 2005. There are other golf courses in St Andrews, although in high season they can all be popular too and it's important to book in advance via the tourist office, or one of the many web-sites advertising golf.
Cathedral, castle and pier
For anyone even remotely interested in history, St Andrews has a superb ruined cathedral right on the coast. The immense size of the foundations of the original building never fail to leave me speechless for a few minutes, imagining the effort and dedication involved in creating such a monument, back in the 12th century long before the advent of modern weight-moving equipment. The castle, just up the road from the cathedral, charges admission but has rather more remains, and frequently hosts summer entertainment. There is a gift shop and an interesting display explaining some of the history of the sites.
Next to the cathedral, the harbour is small but usually full of a wide variety of boats. Fishermen can be seen at all times of day and even a novice can usually catch something! Many children scramble over the rocks to collect mussels as bait, and sit, precariously balanced, waiting for their first bite. The pier is unspoilt, with no entertainment other than a pleasant walk providing excellent views of the beaches and the town.
Scottish country dancing
Scottish country dancers, from complete beginners to experienced teachers, can have an energetic holiday at the St Andrews International Summer school, which usually takes place for two weeks in July. This is something I joined in as a non-resident (staying with my grandparents) for three or four years during my late teens.
The University provides halls of residence, since people come from all over the world to this; classes are taught every morning in Church halls around the town. In the evenings there are social dances, and once a week there is a Ceilidh, with entertainment provided by the teachers and some of the students. Miss Jean Milligan, founder of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, presided over the Summer Schools for many years until her death. During Summer School weeks, people of all nationalities can be found in the streets of St Andrews, the men attired in kilts, no matter what the weather.
Craigtoun park
As a place for a family holiday, St Andrews offers plenty of entertainment for children. Apart from the excellent beaches, there is a park called Craigtoun Country Park a few miles out, which has a steam train, rowing boats, crazy golf, a bouncing castle and an adventure playground. There's an admission fee in high season, but it's not high, and - like expensive theme parks - entrance to Craigtoun includes almost everything inside.
As an afternoon's entertainment for children of any age it is excellent value. We used to clamour to go every year, and when I took my own children to stay in St Andrews a few years ago, they too were enchanted with this park. See http://www.visit-standrews.co.uk/pages/craigtoun.htm
Sea-life centre
The sea-life centre - or St Andrews aquarium, as it's now known - is a bit more expensive, but well worth a family visit on a wet day. For two adults and two children, expect to pay about £16.50. £5.50 for one adult, less for a child, concessions available. Exhibits show sea creatures from the local coastline, with an outdoor pool for seals. It looks out over the East Sands. The display in the entrance shows the length of a huge sea-snake once discovered on the beaches of St Andrews; fortunately such a discovery is not common! See http://www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk
Shopping
No visit to St Andrews is complete without at least one morning spent shopping. Even as children we enjoyed this. Exploring the town is straightforward - maps are easily available, but even someone as geographically challenged as me cannot easily get lost. There are three main streets which run parallel from East to West: North Street, Market Street and South Street. Several smaller roads link them. There are charity shops galore, supermarkets and well-known stores such as Woolworths, as well as old-fashioned hardware shops, and a plethora of tourist shops.
The town manages to retain its old-world feel, with modern shops in old stone settings. The second-hand bookshops are particularly enjoyable, and there are many stores selling tartans, although none to beat the Woollen Mill, which has a coffee shop as well as every imaginable colour and size of knitted and tartan clothes.
My favourite shop was always the 'St Andrews Citizen', not unlike WH Smiths in what it sells (such as stationery, magazines, games, and books), but with a wonderful sense of history, and plenty of time to browse without anyone minding. When the weather is good, it's also vital to visit Janetta's, possibly the best ice-cream shop in the world, with more flavours than more people could eat in a month.
Hotels and guest houses
While hotels can be expensive, particularly during the summer season, there are plenty of guest houses with friendly Scottish hospitality and home-cooked food. See http://www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/st-andrews.html or contact the St Andrews tourist board for further details - they will be delighted to help. They can let you know prices, and also times when the place will not be swarming with other tourists!
Conclusion
Whatever your interest, you should be able to find something to enjoy at St Andrews. The pace of life is somehow slower than that in much of the rest of the UK. While the weather isn't anything like the Mediterranean, the hospitality and relaxed atmosphere is reminiscent of small resorts in Greek islands.
Even if it's pouring with rain, there are cinemas and theatres as well as the shops to enjoy. Nobody goes to St Andrews for the weather, after all, but many people go back, year after year, for a break in the middle of their busy lives. I don't know if it's the sea air, or the pace of life, or simply something that's unique to this town - but somehow every time I've been there, I return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Sites with up-to-date information and prices
As with many tourist resorts, prices of hotels and various attractions do vary somewhat from season to season. It's always worth checking one of the online local information sites before making any plans. For instance:
http://www.standrews.com/ - St Andrews net portal http://www.standrews.co.uk/ - Kingdom of Fife official tourist site http://www.saint-andrews.co.uk/
(Note that some of the required selections below aren't really relevant - daily budget depends on where you stay and what you do!)
Advantages: Golf, historic friendly town Disadvantages: Golf, can be pricey
St. Andrews is probably second only to Edinburgh as the most visited town in Scotland. Most come to visit The Home of Golf as the town is the headquarters of the sport's governing body and the site of the world's most famous course, the Old Course. There is much more to the town than golf, however. Here you'll find Scotland's oldest university (1412) and it was once also the ecclesiastical capital of the nation. In addition, it's a popular seaside ... ...coast of Fife, around 12 miles south of Dundee and 50-odd miles north of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the nearest train station is at Leuchars, 5 miles distant, but there are regular bus services from Stirling, Dundee and Edinburgh. The Cathedral was founded in 1160 and was the largest religious building ever built in Scotland, and the second largest in Britain. As with a great number of Scotland's medieval ecclesiastical buildings, it's now a ruin ...
proxam 05.08.2002 (06.08.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Andrews (Scotland)
Advantages: Scenery, Golfing Pedigree, Clean Beech Disadvantages: No Rail Station
St Andrews is about a 70 mile drive from Edinburgh but lies in almost another world - The Kingdom of Fife. Fife has miles of beautiful beeches, unspoilt countryside and picturesque fishing villages, its no wonder Fife is one of the UK's most popular places to live. But that's enough of plugging Fife, this is a review concentrating on the town of St Andrews situated by coast and the world home of Golf.
When you think of St Andrews you probably think ... ...within the immediate vicinity of St Andrews.
If your planning to Golf at St Andrews its worth finding out about these other courses, because besides the cost of playing on the Old Course its not at all easy to book a tee time especially during the summer season. I have played on these five other courses and all offer a thoroughly enjoyable round of Golf. One of the courses is a shorter 9-hole which is excellent for the beginner.
The courses themselves ...
ali007 13.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Andrews (Scotland)
Advantages: Friendly. Cheap. This applies double if you're a student. Disadvantages: Hard to get to (and leave) unless you have a car.
...is small. The heart of St Andrews is really just a few shopping streets that weave in and around old churches and University buildings. The atmosphere is always rather pleasant. As a matter of fact, if you’re used to rush and tumble of big cities then you might find yourself surprised at such wonderful things as Zebra Crossings at which cars wait patiently. I’ve seen ducks who have strayed from the nearby stream, waddled up to the main ... ...rest of St Andrews has the habit of sprawling outwards in a deceptively similar set of suburbs. It is very possible to find yourself living in a house that really is a good distance from anywhere else. It is also possible to get lost - but only for a while, since all roads really do lead back to the heart of the town.
There is a fairly wide range of shops. A mix between the centre of town essentials like the small supermarket, the chip shop, the ...
Manx 29.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Andrews (Scotland)
Advantages: Very attractive, plenty to do Disadvantages: Small, very studenty - except in the holidays, where it's a bit of a ghost town in comparison
...university next year. St Andrews is an attractive town, and close to the sea. This coupled with the reputation of the university is one of the main reasons why so many people flock to St Andrews to study, holiday, work and live. The university itself is very well known, being the oldest in Scotland, and the third oldest in the UK. Student life is thriving, and although there are many old traditions and high educational standards, the students seem ... ...in Scotland, which meant that St Andrews was a religious centre in Scotland at the time when it was in use. You can still climb up one of the remaining towers to get a grand view of the town and beyond. Unfortunately, this has also been the site of more than one suspected suicide by students, who climbed up after a night on the swally and fell/jumped/flew off. It is because of these and similar incidents which have given St Andrews a name for having ...
avitallly 29.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Andrews (Scotland)
Advantages: variety of things to do - historical places to visit, variety of walks to go on Disadvantages: weather sometimes
...mind when you think of St Andrews is golf. After all, we had the Open 2000 here last year, and have several other minor golfing tournaments throughout the year which are played on the infamous golf course. This of course brings a lot of revenue into the town, particularly in the summer when the students are out of town. Although I am a student here, I live here all year round so have seen the town both in the depths of winter and at the height of ... ...what else is there in St Andrews apart from the golf and the university, which I have dealt with in another, specific, opinion.
Well, there is the history for a start. There has been a settlement on the site of the city from at least 6th century A.D and for religious reasons (the cult of St Andrew) it was a particularly important centre in the middle ages. The buildings around the town give you excellent visual evidence of St Andrew's turbulent ...
weebagpuss 02.03.2001
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Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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I recently spent the weekend in StAndrews, and having trawled the web for somewhere to stay; trying to find somewhere affordable and without needing to remortgage the house, just to pay for the weekend, I eventually came across the Old Station Bed and Breakfast in Strathivie.
I did not want to pay the earth for a room, but at the same time, I wanted somewhere that was comfortable and bordering on luxurious. It is for this reason that i picked this 4 star B and B, over a cheaper hotel in the centre of town.
Strathivie, is just two miles out of stAndrews, and it is therefore very accessible. Driving down takes about five minutes, alternatively a cab was about £5.
Our room cost £66 per night. The B and B won an award for the best B and B in Scotland last year. It has only been open a couple of years.
As the name suggests ...
Advantages: The atmosphere and feeling. Disadvantages: None whatsoever
Hi well well well. Here we are a the home of golf herself, St.Andrews. In the east of Scotland, Fife there lies a 8 18 hole golf resort with a five shar hotel. Well does it get much better than this, well yes. Its all good talking about this resort but you cant judge a place without going there. When you walk over the magical bridge on the 18th on the old course there isnt much of a better feeling than that.The course is always in tip top condition and thats all 8 courses. The hotel aint bad either. 5 star luxery is what you recieve here and you definatly wont be dissapointed. For none golfer there is also a spar to keep ou busy. So take a nice holiday to scotland and go to the fabolous st.Andrews! ...
Advantages: Lots of Yummy food Disadvantages: Too far to visit on a regular basis!
restaurant is one to try in the future.
**Where to find The Doll?s House Restaurant**
The Doll's House Restaurant,
3 Church Square,
StAndrews
Fife
Scotland
Telephone (01334 477422)
Website: http://www.dolls-house.co.uk ...
