The picturesque seaside town is named for Scotland’s patron saint as, legend has it, it once harboured the relics of St. Andrew. Located on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, the former royal burgh was the centre of the Scottish Church throughout the middle ages. As the seat of the premier bishop, St Andrews became very wealthy and highly influential. The town’s great cathedral dominated and the buildings around it were erected on a scale unequalled elsewhere in Scotland.
Some of the most important events in Scotland took place in St Andrews and the town has retained its iconic status for almost a thousand years. In the 15th century it became the location of Scotland’s first university and home to the oldest golf course in the world. Today, St Andrews is most well-known for being ‘the world’s home of golf’ and a noted university town with a unique cultural heritage.
St Andrews, which is considered to be one of Europe’s finest towns, is home to only 17,000 permanent residents making it one of the smallest places that is so well-known around the world. The town centre, which is only 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) in diameter, is also the location of an abundance of shops, restaurants and cafes, which are unrivalled in terms of quality. The world-famous Old Course has now become a place of pilgrimage for golfers around the world. The town also hosts many events throughout the year, including the Chariots of Fire beach race, the Highland Games and the Kate Kennedy procession.
St Andrews can be reached by bus from Leuchars train station.
SOURCES:
- The Official Souvenir Guide: St Andrews Castle, Cathedral and Historic Burgh
- ww.visitstandrews.com
- Explore: St Andrews and East Fife
- https://www.saint-andrews.info
- https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/St-Andrews/
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/cities/3351339/City-spotlight-St-Andrews.html
