A Lot to Love About St Andrews
Lovely Seaside Retreat or Day Trip
Ten years ago I spent several days in St Andrews while visiting a friend from undergrad that was working on their master's degree at the university there. My travel buddy and I, both in our mid-late twenties, had never been abroad previously and St Andrews was our first stop of several in the United Kingdom.
St Andrews is exactly what comes to my mind when I imagine “old world charm,” but with just enough modern amenity to keep it comfortable, but is there to do in such a small place? Depending on who you talk to, St Andrews might be known for one of several different things:
The Old Course - The worlds first golf course
The University of St Andrews - Founded in 1413 and attended by royalty, is the most romantic setting for higher learning that I've ever laid eyes on.
The ruins of St Andrews Castle & Cathedral
In addition to the above, extra “cool points” must be awarded for the general vibe of this quaint village when visiting during the school term, when a youthful energy is added to an otherwise quiet (but friendly) setting.
Getting to St Andrews from Edinburgh
Simply put, the best way to get from central Edinburgh to St Andrews is by train. That said, typically when I’m traveling to a new place, I’m looking for transportation that is door to door without needing to make any changes in between. However, the train doesn’t go all the way to St Andrews, but instead requires a connecting bus.
Ordinarily, I would see the need for a further connection as a negative, however, I’ve now taken this particular train/bus combo to/from St Andrews a few times and I want to put your mind at ease by saying that it couldn’t be easier.
Starting out from Edinburgh
You’ll arrive at the train station on the day you want to travel, and just purchase your round-trip ticket right then and there.
*For an extra fee, you may also be able to purchase your connecting bus pass as well, so I would just ask at the ticket window.
Next, you'll just hop on the train bound for St Andrews by way of “Leuchars Station,” while en route, you’ll cross a bridge called the “Forth Bridge,” which crosses the Firth of Forth (you have to love Scotland).
When you arrive at Leuchars station (just 4 miles outside of St Andrews), you’ll be surprised to see that it’s just a tiny little station with a parking lot and waiting area. You’ll just get off of the train and walk to the waiting area by the parking lot, and every few minutes a city bus will come to pick up train passengers. These busses are comfortable and you’ll just need to purchase your ticket when you board the bus (remember to bring cash). Stay on the bus until you reach the bus depot, and from here you’ll have a very easy walk to wherever your heart leads you to go first in St Andrews.
A Day Trip to St Andrews
If you’re looking for a place to spend a few days relaxing, this is the place for you, but if you’re more ambitious in your desire to see and do stuff, I would suggest seeing St Andrews as a day trip instead.
We were here at the end of May, and most of the university students had already left, so the town had a somewhat “empty” feeling, as the permanent residents hadn’t quite gotten into a normal (sans students) routine yet. However, all the shops were open, the weather was beautiful, and golfers were out in force.
As I mentioned above, we arrived in the morning and spent several hours shopping here, as well as paying a visit to the edge of the Old Course, walking through parts of the University campus (it’s beautiful), touring the seaside ruins of the cathedral (both the castle and cathedral overlook the ocean), and walking along the harbor. We proceeded to have a lengthy, hearty lunch at a little pub in the city square, where I introduced my family to Sticky Toffee Pudding (yummy), and then we began making our way back to the train station to go back to Edinburgh.
Memory Lane
As we began our walk back to the bus station, I spotted the hostel which my friend and I had stayed at ten years prior. Being the nerd that I am, I had to take a picture under the sign. If you ever need a super inexpensive place to stay, you should consider a youth hostel, and I had a positive experience at St Andrews Tourist Hostel.
It was a truly wonderful day and an awesome walk down memory lane, but for now it’s time to head back to Edinburgh.