St Andrews is a lovely seaside town on the east coast of Scotland. Situated between Edinburgh and Dundee, it’s known as the home of golf, but has much more to offer.

Any of us could be forgiven for thinking that the town of St Andrews was all about golf, and not a lot more. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. There’s so much going on here that a day trip could easily become a weekend, or even a whole week.

St Andrews: What To See And Do

Beach lovers won’t be disappointed with the long stretch of sandy beach, complete with a designated area for beach sports, including Land Yachting, Beach Kayaking, Traction Kiting and Zap Catting. For the rest of us, a lazy day sunbathing is just fine.

MORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES….

A selection of some of what is on offer: Guided Walking Tours, Horse and Pony Riding, Skydiving, Cycling, Swimming, Surfing, Putting, Nature and Wildlife Spotting.

ATTRACTIONS….

There’s no shortage of attractions to be found in St Andrews and surrounding area, including:

The Aquarium, the Byre Theatre, the Scottish Deer Centre, Scotland’s Secret Bunker, Kellie Castle and guided walks of the Old Course.
And if that’s not enough, there’s a lot more….
There are two whisky distilleries nearby, if you fancy a tour, and maybe a wee sample.

Kids will like the Botanic Garden, with a glasshouse fun learning centre, and Craigtoun Park, with acres of grass, adventure play areas, miniature train, boating and crazy golf.

SHOPPING….

You can have a unique shopping experience in the town:

Making a welcome change from department stores and shopping malls, the town has a selection of independent shops offering clothes & shoes, books, food and drink, gift shops, galleries of artwork, and of course, (who would ever have guessed) golf shops.

FOOD AND DRINK….

You won’t go hungry, that’s for sure. With over 60 outlets, including takeaways, coffee shops, fish & chips, pubs & bars, hotels and restaurants offering the best in traditional and fine food, plus the usual international fare of Italian, Chinese, Indian and Thai.

MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL BUILDINGS….

You can visit the British Golf Museum (again, no surprise there) The Scottish Fisheries Museum, St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum, and the University Museum.

There are a few historical ruins in the town, including St Andrews Cathedral (Pictured below) West Port, Blackfriars Chapel, Martyrs Monument and St Andrews Castle.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS….

The town hosts many festivals and events throughout the year, perhaps most notably, the Highland Games, worth seeing if you’re here late July. As I mentioned earlier, a day trip may not be enough, depending on what exactly it is you want to see and do.

It’s also worth noting that this is an ideal base on the east coast, considering it’s only 10 miles (16 km) from the city of Dundee, and 30 miles (50 km) from the city of Edinburgh.

So, if you’re planning to, or thinking of spending a weekend or longer here, take a look at the Visit St Andrews website for more detailed information about the town.

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St Andrew is our patron saint, and His day is celebrated each year on November 30th.

SOME HISTORY: Find out why He became our patron saint, why the town is called after Him, and why St Andrews cross (the Saltire) became our national flag. Here’s the story

MORE SCOTLAND DAY TRIPS….

A Largs day trip is just perfect for relaxing, lazy days on the seafront, eating ice cream, or fish & chips. This busy little town sits in an ideal location, on the Firth of Clyde.

LARGS DAY TRIP: A GREAT DAY OUT

I consider myself very fortunate to be living so close to this charming town. I live just a thirty minute drive away, and this is a favourite haunt of mine when the weather is good and I have a whole day to spare (to relax on the front and eat for Scotland).

On occasions I have taken the car ferry to *Millport, (which used to be) another nice town. It’s just ten minutes across the Firth of Clyde, but on most occasions, Largs has more than enough going for it to keep me happily occupied for the whole day.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN LARGS?

Along the front there are a good number of eating places, including The Bean & Leaf, The Green Shutter, Room, and The Bagel Basket. There are coffee shops, ice cream vendors, an award winning fish & chip shop, and hundreds of seats, and grass areas where you can sit and admire the fabulous views across to Cumbrae and Arran.

Combine this with pubs, putting greens, water sports, kiddies rides and amusement arcades to keep the children occupied. It’s easy to see why people travel here from all over the west of Scotland, and why our English neighbours come up for a holiday.

At the North end of the Promenade is the award winning VIKINGAR, an exhibition describing the Battle of Largs, when defeat of the Vikings ended Norse sovereignty in the Western Isles. Just leaving the Southside, you can see Pencil Point, the memorial built in remembrance of the famous battle, which took place in the year 1263.

To celebrate the Scots victory, Largs has an annual Viking Festival, usually in August or September, and it attracts visitors in large numbers. Facilities in the Vikingar include a swimming pool, putting green, cinema, cafe and gift shop. BY THE WAY….

The award winning fish & chip shop I mentioned earlier is called “THE VIKING”.

Also on the Southside is the impressive Kelburn Castle and Country Centre, a great family day out with lots of activities, mainly for the kids. There’s the castle, adventure playground, walled garden, horse riding, marine assault course, and woodland walks.

Largs is ideal for a cheap day trip, with a Marina, sailing and watersports, and three golf courses, two bowling clubs, and Inverclyde Sports Centre. Although most Scots just go for a Largs day trip, the town is very popular as a holiday destination with visitors from other parts of the UK, and from abroad. There are plenty of good guest houses and B & Bs in the town, and it’s also a good base for exploring the surrounding area.

GO FOR A SAIL….

Ferries leave for Cumbrae every 15 minutes in summer. A 10 minute crossing gets you to the Isle of Cumbrae, where buses meet the ferry for the four mile trip to Millport.

In the summer months The Waverley, the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer calls in at Largs, before sailing to the islands of Arran, Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute.

And with trains and buses running to Glasgow every hour, plus hourly buses to Ayr, Ardrossan and Irvine, it’s quick and easy to get around west and central Scotland.

Or hop aboard with Cumbrae Voyages, for a marine adventure on a 12 seat rigid inflatable boat, spotting marine and wildlife as you go round the Cumbraes or Bute.

I really like Largs. This little town has always been a particular favourite of mine, and it’s not just because I live nearby. On hot sunny days, Largs is the first place that comes to mind for a really relaxing and enjoyable day out. It literally has something for everyone, so the next time you’re thinking of a day trip in Scotland you should give Largs a try.

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*Update* Went back to Millport in May 2014 (this was my first visit back here in a few years) and I was really disappointed. The main street doesn’t have much to offer, and I struggled to find a decent coffee shop. The public toilets by the bus terminal are a disgrace, so needless to say, I don’t envisage returning to Millport any time soon.

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Culross Village – Have you ever arrived somewhere you didn’t intend going to and thought, “I’m so glad I brought my camera?” That’s what happened to me in 2010.

That was my first thought when I found myself in this lovely village, in the Kingdom of Fife. I was supposed to be on a group woodland walking trip, (I used to go on country and woodland walks with a Renfrewshire college) and for some reason that day, the plans were changed at the last minute, so we ended up here.

I can tell you though, not one of us complained.

The village of Culross (pronounced Coo-Ross) is an enchanting little place that gives you the feeling of having been transported back in time. Transported back as far as the 16th century in fact. This effect is largely due to the magnificent work done by the National Trust for Scotland over the years, particularly in the painstaking restoring and caring for Culross Palace, the Town House, and the remains of old Culross Abbey.

The Village of Culross…..

Having said that, many of the narrow cobbled streets, walls and houses are still, thankfully, in their original form, which helps add to the feel, and the authentic flavour of the place.

This former Royal Burgh was once a busy seaport on the Firth of Forth, exporting salt and coal until the 18th century, and it is thought to have been the birthplace of St Mungo.

A walk through the village streets will have your mind going for a wander as you try to imagine life as it might have been here around three or four hundred years ago. It’s an eerie, but pleasant feeling.

THE TOWN HOUSE….

As you enter Culross village, one of the first, and interesting buildings you will come to, which dates back to 1626, is the old Town House. The clock tower structure was added much later, possibly round about the early 1780s.

The Town House was once the home of local government and it was also used as a prison. It is believed that suspected witches were held prisoner in the attic.

Talk about first impressions! You’ve only just entered the village and already you’re gripped with the history, and a sense of having a cheeky, uninvited peek at a past life, not unlike the feeling you get with a dream that you’ve just had, and you’re struggling to remember the details. Luckily, I remember the details.

THE ABBEY….

We stopped to have our packed lunch, and we couldn’t have chosen a more peaceful spot, among the fascinating ruins of the old Culross Abbey.

I say fascinating, because after the steep climb leading to the Abbey you come to a display board showing the ground plans of the original building, which does not resemble what you see now.

This is explained in part because the original Abbey was built in the 13th century, but was restored in the early 19th and 20th centuries, when many of the original features were removed.

The Chapels were reinstated though, and they are now open to the public for worship and wedding ceremonies. One of Scotland’s greatest naval heroes, Admiral Thomas Cochrane, who was born near Hamilton, spent his childhood in Abbey House, until he joined the Royal Navy in 1793. His memorial is in the centre of Culross Village.

THE PALACE AND GARDEN….

Although we had a packed lunch, Culross has the Red Lion Inn, serving food from 12 noon til 9pm daily. I didn’t get to sample the food, but it was highly recommended by our group leader, who has. Then our wonderful tour of Culross Village continued after lunch when we moved on to see Culross Palace, which has been beautifully restored to its original distinctive yellowish colour with a red tiled roof, and shuttered windows.

Building started on the Palace at the end of the 16th century, and was completed in 1611, for Sir George Bruce, an industrialist and Laird of Carnock, who promoted industry in the Burgh of Culross.

The interior of the “Palace” has pine panelled walls, ceiling paintings of biblical scenes, and 18th century furniture. Beside the Palace you’ll find Bessie Bar Hall, which has a tearoom, should you fancy a tea or coffee, and it’s open until 5pm.

Although the “Palace” was not a royal residence, it was visited by James VI in 1617. I found the ground behind the building to be much more interesting, with the model 17th century garden, which was restored by the National Trust for Scotland.

The garden was more like the woodland walk that we should have been on, with its winding paths taking you through fruit trees, herbs and vegetable plots that would most probably have been found here in the 17th century. Now, I must confess…..

I sampled a plum along the way, and it definitely was not past its sell-by date.

Seriously though, Culross is great for a day trip. When you look to the east from the shore of the village you can see the Grangemouth Oil Refinery and Longannet Power Station, which makes you wonder if Culross had just been placed there randomly.

VISITOR INFORMATION….

The village of Culross is located 7 miles west of Dunfermline just off the A985, and there’s plenty of brown tourist information signs to guide you there.

On arrival at the Village, you’ll find a car park just outside, with toilet facilities. Visitors with a walking disability may find access to both the Abbey and the Palace Garden difficult, as there is a steep climb.

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So, how much would you be prepared to pay for a house in Culross?

To be honest, I don’t think you’ll ever see one appear on the market, the people tend to stay there. Now that I know a little more about Culross Village I feel that I have to go back there. It’s always better when you know some of the history surrounding a place.

MORE DAY TRIPS….

For solitude and tranquility, the Isle of Kerrera takes some beating. Relaxation is the key, in company with goats, sheep and otters, and away from shops, cars and people.

If you’re looking for a good day trip, just to get away from everything to relax and unwind, then you can do no better than go here. What the Island lacks in excitement, it more than makes up for with the feeling of peace you will experience here.

It could be described as an awakening of the spirit, that almost feels like you have stepped back in time to an undiscovered land. This was how I felt on my visit here, and when I returned home I felt contented and refreshed, and I had this ‘feeling’ that the world was a really nice place.

A pleasant five minute ferry trip across Oban Bay takes you to Kerrera.

The island is just six miles long, it’s almost entirely free of cars, there are very few people, but it is an excellent location for wildlife, and wonderful views of Oban.

There are no shops, although there is a tea garden near Gylen Castle, built by the Clan MacDougall in 1587. The castle is a ruin, but is open to the public following a ten year restoration. From the tower, you have great views across to Jura, Colonsay and Mull.

Gylen castle was attacked in 1647 by General Leslie’s army during the Covenanting of Wars. Everyone resident in the castle was killed, even the ones who surrendered, and the castle was burned. In 1660, Gylen Castle was returned to the MacDougall Clan Chief. The castle is open to the public all year round and there is no entrance fee.

The Isle is also home to the monument in memory of David Hutcheson, the man who founded steamer services to the isles, including the one known as MacBrayne‘s.

Only around 50 people live here, making the island an ideal unspoilt location for day trippers to enjoy walking, cycling or total relaxation. There isn’t much more I can say about Kerrera, other than rambling on about the peace and quiet, but if you find yourself in the Oban area, you should make a trip to see the peaceful Isle of Kerrera.

If solitude is your thing, you’re guaranteed to get it here.

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