Best Weekend in St. Andrews by a UNI Student's Mom

A great way to start any morning is to be near the seaside. St. Andrews straddles the North Sea and has two stretches of sandy beach, aptly named East and West Sands. For the record, it doesn’t have to be hot to enjoy these beaches. They have a beauty about them in any weather. The North Sea is hardly ever warm anyway, but a cold dip can wake anyone up. For the less adventurous, start with a coffee and a “toasties” at the idyllic Cheesy Toast Shack at the East Sands. West Sands offers a vast beach for a nice long walk. If it looks somewhat familiar, it’s the site of the opening scene in the movie, “Chariots of Fire”.

After a visit to the beach, head back to center of town, and take in the University.

The University of St. Andrews is the third-oldest university in the English-speaking language. Only Oxford and Cambridge are older. To put things in perspective, the University of St. Andrews was established pre-dating the apostrophe. Yes, I haven’t been making a typo. Take in the same streets that many renowned students, which include the likes of Prince William and Princess Kate, walked. Visit the famous St. Salvatore’s quad and St. Mary’s lawn, and take in the scholarly vibe among the walls of this ancient and popular center of learning.

Within the city center, there are some churches with historical significance worth giving a look. One of which is the Holy Trinity Church, known to be the cradle of the Reformation in Scotland. There are lovely little shops and bookstores to visit as well. A bookstore worth a look is Topping & Co., where they serve tea and coffee in a cozy environment.

At this point, you’re going to want lunch. There are Three main streets that make up the center of St. Andrews (North, South and Market Streets) all of which offer many wonderful places in which to have a good lunch. Personal favorites include Tailend for great fish. Remember, you’re near the North Sea, so the seafood is delicious.

Other notable places to have lunch

• Mitchell’s

• Cromars

• St. Sizzle

After filling the belly a bit, walk along a thoroughfare named “The Scores” and visit the ruins of the old cathedral. St. Andrews, before it became a university town, was a famous pilgrimage site. You can delve into ancient history when visiting the museum within the Cathedral grounds. After a little culture, just get lost in the beauty of this ancient, yet very contemporary town.

This should bring you to the part of the day when a bit of a pub crawl is in order. If you don’t imbibe, just have a soft drink or a coffee and experience the local and student culture meeting under one roof. You can’t go wrong with any of the pubs, but the Criterion and the Keys Bar are a favorite.

After a rest in your hotel room, it’s dinner time.

Best places to eat:

• The Adamson

• Rogue

• Haar

Upon waking up, take a cab or long walk to Balgrove Larder, a bit out of the center of town. It’s a wonderful farm shop. There’s a fantastic cafe there to have breakfast. If you wake up a bit later and can make it to noon, the steak barn might be the way to start your day.

Other breakfast choices in town

• Northpoint Cafe, where Prince William and Princess Kate met for coffee!

• Bothy's

• Bibi's

After

No visit to St. Andrews is complete without visiting the famed Old Course. The undisputed Center of the golfing world. This is the reason most people come to St. Andrews, and whether you are a fan of the sport or sport in general, it is impressive. There are gold shops that line the course, and if you want to know more about the game and the history of the course, there is the Golf Museum. While there, visit the famous Russacks Hotel and maybe catch a lunch or drink at the 18 restaurant while overlooking the course. There’s even a small putting area on the terrace outside the bar. Inside is also a wonderful Italian restaurant named The Bridge, which also overlooks the course.

On a Sunday, the course is open for the public to walk. This is your chance to get that phot of you on the same bridge the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods walked on during their many championship seasons.

Other places to have a bite and a drink is the Old Course Hotel, where they serve afternoon tea.

From the golf course, walk towards the beach once again and walk along the paths that lead to the fishing villages of St. Andrews. Between the golf course and all that surrounds it and getting lost in the fishing villages, that is quite a full day, and time for another pub crawl. The Dunvegan is a famous haunt for golfers, as is the One Under at the Russacks. However, I like The Saint, as it feels very local. Not up for a drink, visit Jannettas for some fantastic Gelato.

After a rest, walk the town at night, and maybe catch the Northern Lights at the Scores. Work up an appetite for some great dinner.

• Forgan’s

• Seafood Ristorante

• Dune

St. Andrews is the perfect destination for those looking to add to their trip to Scotland and the UK in general. Few towns or cities are more diverse. It’s an ancient town with Nordic legends and stories of pilgrimages. It’s the birthplace of Golf. It’s an expansive seaside town with beautiful fisherman villages. It, of course, is a university town — where the energy is always lively.