Exploring the town is all about getting to know St Andrews on a local level, exploring some of the town’s hidden gems and a chance to head a little off the beaten tourist track.

Walk barefoot along the beautiful beaches

St Andrews has three beaches that wrap around the city, stretch your legs with a walk along West Sands Beach, about 15 minutes walk from the city centre.

Famous for the opening scenes of the film Chariots of Fire, St Andrews West Sands extends for almost two miles of uninterrupted sand backed with dunes. Behind them, you’ll find the neatly kept greens of the Old Course.

East Sands is situated along the Fife Coastal Path and is just a short walk from the pier and a beautiful trail along the sea.

Explore the Ruins of St Andrews Castle

Situated on top of a cliff so it provides amazing sea views, you can also venture into the mine and counter-mine underneath the castle.

Just below the castle is a small, less busy beach called Castle Sands. When the tide is out you can climb along the rocks that begin to show and get some pretty nice photos, or have a little picnic on the beach. There are also a couple of natural swimming pools that appear.

Discover St Andrews Cathedral Ruins

Walk around one of the main attractions in the town St Andrews Cathedral. The ruins were once the largest and most important in Scotland.

Enjoy the Botanical Gardens

Just a short walk from the town centre is the Botanic Gardens. It’s a great spot to bring a picnic as you wander around the 18-acre gardens.

Explore the town’s cobbled streets

Visit the Cobbled Streets of St Andrews town, where there are plenty of shops and restaurants. After a delicious meal, there are also a lot of charming side streets lit up with fairy lights to walk along.

Time for a G&T

Edin Mill Gin has relaunched their Blendworks Gin School at the iconic Rusacks St Andrews Hotel.

The unique Blendworks experience can be enjoyed from the rooftop of The Rusacks Hotel’s new 18 Restaurant and Bar. The bar offers unrivalled views of the 18th green and iconic Old Course and West Sands.

Blendworks offers gin lovers the chance to create their own bespoke gin, unique to their own flavour palettes. The experience, which lasts for two hours, is a multi-sensory journey into the world of gin blending.

Once you have created your own gin, sit back and enjoy the first sip served as a classic G&T from the rooftop restaurant. Accompanied by a selection of canapés created by 18 Restaurant and Bar’s Executive Chef Derek Johnstone.

Experience Kingsbarns Distillery and Darnley’s Gin tours

Go on a guided tour of the distillery and sample the Kingsbarns single malts or Darnley’s Gins. Or, Become a distiller for the day as you create your one-of-a-kind bottle of gin at Darnley’s Gin School.

Visit the Balgove Larder for food lovers

Love food? Then you’ll love the Balgove Larder. At Balgove they take food very seriously and most certainly favour ‘living to eat’ over ‘eating to live, while you are there you can visit:

• Farm shop and traditional butchery to stock up your lodge fridge.
• Cafe full of freshly prepared, handmade breakfasts, lunches and indulgent treats.
• Steak Barn where the Steaks, hung for no less than 28 days, burgers and sausages made in their butchery, all cooked to order on our massive wood-fired BBQ.
• The Flower Shed is a celebration of the abundant and colourful world of flowers and greenery. We have plenty to choose from; lovely cut stems, potted plants or seeds as well as a selection of beautiful vases, pots and tools.
• The Pizza Box with its traditional wood fired ovens, creates beautifully delicious thin crust pizzas.
• Balgove Takeaway Hut features a wide array of favourites from the Cafe, Butchery and Deli, including barista prepared hot drinks, freshly baked pastries and sweets, on-the-go breakfasts and a variety of rolls, sandwiches, salads, soups and pies.