St
Andrews is a matchless blend of past and present. As a town
it has no equal in Scotland. Its ecclesiastical connections
began at least as early as 747; the burgh came into being
about 1144; the University, the first in Scotland, began in
1411. Golf was a recognized game there in 1552.
The history of St. Andrews is crowded with incidents which
punctuate the cavalcade of Scottish history, and the growth
of Scottish institutions and culture, with the names of famous
prelates, martyrs and reformers and their deeds to be found
in all quarters of the town.
St Andrews Cathedral
Of the many historical buildings of St. Andrews, first to
be noted must be the Cathedral, which founded in 1160 and
then consecrated in 1318, was by far the largest church in
Scotland before its destruction at the reformation. The adjoining
Priory was similarly the most important monastic foundation
of its time. The Castle, founded in 1200 as a fortress and
home of the Bishop of St. Andrews, possess the unusual feature
of a bottle dungeon. From the Castle, Archbishop Beaton watched
George Wishart burn at the stake, himself to perish at the
hands of an assassin soon afterwards.
The United College, principal center of University life, stands
on the site of St. Salvators College ( 1450 ) and includes
the old tower and collegiate church. The ancient thorn close
to St. Marys College is said to have been planted by Mary
Queen of Scots. The University Library building contains the
old hall in which the Parliament of Scotland met in 1645-46.
These are but a very few of the colorful links with Scotlands
brave past, and the whole is wrapped in a quiet awareness
of the age-old pride and dignity which no other town in the
country can hope to meet or beat.
St Andrews Highland Games
For more than a hundred years St. Andrews has been famed as
a holiday resort, not only on account of its golf, but also
for its history, scenery and its equable and invigorating
climate. It is almost unnecessary to say that the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club is the premier golf club in the world. All
the courses are an immense attraction to vacationers, and
it is the ambition of every golfer to play on the world famous " Old Course."
There are many putting greens in different parts of the town,
and abundant facilities for tennis, lawn bowling, swimming
and boating. Indeed it is to be doubted whether there is in
Britain a stretch of beach to equal the magnificent two-mile
stretch at the West Sands. Almost equally appealing are the
East Sands and Kinkell Braes, a stretch of rocky foreshore
much enjoyed by young and old alike.
St Andrews Harbour
St. Andrews can best be seen on foot. Start at the old harbor
and walk up to the Cathedral and Castle and the onwards to
the " Old Course " and beach. A further walk up North Street,
Market Street and South Street will provide the walker with
an opportunity to visit most of the best sites in St. Andrews.
St
Andrews is ideally located for easy trips to the East Neuk,
North Fife, Dunfermline, Culross, Perth, Edinburgh, Falkland
Palace, and all of historic Fife and Perthshire.
If
you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized
small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:
Return
to Fife
