St. Andrews Overview
By Rachel Newcombe
The small town of St. Andrews is located in Fife, on the eastern coast of Scotland. Regarded by many as the golfing capital of Europe, it attracts thousands of golf fans each year. But whether you’re into golf or not, the town is a fascinating place to visit and can easily be explored on foot.
St. Andrews gets it name from the fact that a monk called St. Regulus or St Rule brought the relics of the disciple St. Andrew to the area, from Constantinople, in the 8th century. Religion has been key here for centuries, and it was a religious centre for pilgrims in the Middle Ages. The now ruined cathedral was one of the largest in the country and is open to visitors. You can walk around the ruins and there’s a visitors centre located in the undercroft, to the south of the cloister.
The Links at St Andrews has been home to golf playing since about 1400 AD. Since the 19th century, it’s been well and truly a part of life and the Old Course has a worldwide reputation as the place to play golf in Scotland. In fact, it’s now the largest golfing complex in Europe and, to have a chance of playing on one of the 18 hole golf courses, you generally have to book in advance.
Founded in 1411, St. Andrews University is the oldest in Scotland and the third oldest in the UK. The old ivy-clad buildings and quadrangles have seen a host of graduates pass through its doors, including famous names such as Prince William. Go!
