St. Andrews
St
Andrews has a special place in Scottish history and legend.
It takes its name from the saint whose relics were brought to
the town. It played a important role in Scotland’s affairs,
its cathedral was the largest building in Scotland and the centre
of the country’s religious life. It has the oldest University
in Scotland (where Prince William is currently studying) and
of course has been a pilgrimage to golfers wishing to play on
the Links where golf was first played. The historic town is
easily and best explored on foot where the shops, many interesting
buildings, museums, bars and restaurants are all easily accessible.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
St.Andrews
Cathedral — Enjoy the dramatic setting of the
ruins. The Cathedral was destroyed by a mob roused by the preaching
of John Knox in the town during the Reformation - and the sense
of history which attaches to what was once one of the most important
religious sites in Europe. Owing to the presence of the relics
of St Andrew, it was a place of pilgrimage for many thousands
during the medieval period. The view from the top of St Rule's
Tower is breathtaking, and the visitor centre contains a number
of artifacts and helps to set the history of the site into context.
Golfers can pay a visit to the grave of Old Tom Morris and his
son young Tom, who are buried in the Cathedral Grounds.
Local
Coastal Villages — Visit the quaint coastal fishing
villages and Royal Burgh’s of Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem
with their distinctive buildings and picturesque harbours. The
area was notorious for smuggling with wine, tobacco, cloth and
sugar being smuggled in, and linen and coal smuggled out. The
East Neuk was the capital of the Scottish Herring industry,
until the shoals deserted the Forth during the Second World
War. Today the boats which sail out from Crail and Anstruther
mainly bring in shellfish, while Pittenweem remains the centre
of the areas fishing industry where early in the morning the
catches are sold at the new Fish Market. Fife Coastal
Path — You may enjoy walking a stretch of the
Fife Coastal Path from Crail to St.Monans. Visit the many picturesque
towns with their narrow cobbled lanes leading to picturesque
harbors.
Kellie
Castle & Garden — Located near Anstruther
a 20mins drive from St.Andrews, it contains magnificent plaster
ceilings, painted panelling and furniture. The Gardens contain
a fine layout of the organic walled garden is 17th-century with
late Victorian additions and contains a fine collection of old-fashioned
roses, fruit trees and herbaceous plants. Display in summer-house
on history of walled garden.
Scottish
Fisheries Museum, Anstruther — This award-winning
National Museum tells the story of the Scottish fishing industry
from the earliest times to the present. With many model and
actual boats, fishing gear, photographs, paintings and tableaux
on display, as well as a new 'Zulu' gallery just open, a visit
to the Museum makes for worthwhile visit.
St.Andrews
Shopping — St Andrews is a town to explore and
is refreshingly free of national outlets and chain stores. Instead,
the town centre offers an excellent range of independent, family-run
shops and businesses, where you are guaranteed to find a unique
range of goods matched by personal service. Shopping in St Andrews
is always a rewarding experience. The main shopping areas concentrated
in Market Street and South Street, with Bell Street and Church
Street connecting the two principal streets. There are Golf
Stores throughout the town with the main stores of Auchterlonies,
Old Tom Morris and Golf Scotland all located close to the 18th
Green of the Old Course.
Falkland
Palace — Falkland has been a royal palace since
the days of the Stewarts. King James IV completed the main structure
and King James V also added to the buildings there, transforming
it into a sophisticated Renaissance palace. He was also responsible
for adding the royal tennis court in 1539, which has survived
to this day. James V died at Falkland Palace on December 14,
1542. His daughter, Mary Queen of Scots was a frequent visitor,
enjoying the peace and tranquility of Falkland, away from the
intrigues and politics of Edinburgh.
St.Andrews
Castle — The Castle was the former Bishops' Palace,
the residence of the Archbishops of St Andrews. The first castle
on this site probably dates from around 1200. Over the centuries,
the Castle has witnessed many conflicts and deeds of infamy,
among them the martyrdom of George Wishart and the murder of
Cardinal Beaton. It was also besieged many times. Eventually
destroyed during the Reformation, the Castle is now in ruins.
A modern visitor centre houses exhibits about the Castle, and
visitors can also explore the mines and the infamous bottle
dungeon.
Carnoustie
Carnoustie has long held a reputation throughout the world
as one of the great golfing locations. Ever since the British
Open was first played at Carnoustie in 1931, the course has
represented a magnetic challenge for golfers of all standards.
The Open Championship has been contested over the Carnoustie
course on five previous occasions. The return of the championship
in 1999 brought an end to the Open's twenty-four year absence
from the Carnoustie Links. Carnoustie has for many years been
a popular holiday town with views across the Tay estuary to
the Kingdom of Fife. Fetes and special events are featured throughout
the summer, with Carnoustie Gala week being the high point.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
Glamis
Castle — The family home of the Earls of Strathmore
and Kinghorne and has been a royal residence since 1372. It
was the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,
the birthplace of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret and
the legendary setting of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth".
Though the Castle is open to visitors it remains a family home,
lived in and loved by the Strathmore family. It has Magnificent
rooms on view with a wide range of historic paintings, furniture,
porcelain and tapestries. (1 hour drive from St.Andrews)
Arbroath
Abbey — Arbroath Abbey is situated in the centre
of Arbroath. Founded in 1178 by William the Lion and dedicated
to St Thomas of Canterbury, it was from here that the famous
Declaration of Arbroath, asserting Scottish Independences, was
issued in 1320. Important remains of the church survive; these
include one of the most complete examples of an abbot's residence.
Discovery
Point — Follow in the footsteps of Captain Scott
and Ernest Shackleton to the south Pole at Discovery Point,
the award-winning attraction and museum that tells the story
of the RRS Discovery. The exhibitions are a mix of state of
the art audio-visual and computer based multimedia, alongside
displays of actual artefacts that belonged to Scott and the
brave crew who sailed with him.
Broughty
Ferry — Between Carnoustie and Dundee is the
delightful seaside suburb of Broughty Ferry . Once the “richest
square mile in Europe”, this was were the wealthy jute
barons of Dundee built their mansions. The town was originally
a cluster of fisherman’s cottages around the harbour whichis
overlooked by Broughty Castle. Today the castle is a fascinating
museum.
Tours to take of the Surrounding Area
House
of Dun — This Georgian house overlooking the
Montrose Basin, designed and built by William Adam in 1730 for
David Erskine, Lord Dun. Superb contemporary plasterwork by
Joseph Enzer. Lady Augusta Kennedy-Erskine was the daughter
of William IV and Mrs Jordan, and the house contains royal mementos
of that period and many examples of Lady Augusta’s woolwork
and embroidery. Family collection of portraits, furniture and
porcelain.
Scone
Palace — Only 30 minutes from Dundee, Scone Palace
is the one-time crowning place of Scottish Kings, and home of
the Earls of Mansfield. Palace, magnifcent collections of objets
d'art, hundred acres of garden with woodland walks, shops, restaurants,
unique Murray Star maze and pinetum.
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