St Andrews - Town and Gown walk

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St Andrews - both the location of Scotland's oldest university and the Home of Golf, also happens to be one of the most attractive medieval towns in the country. With its harbour, the ruins of its castle and cathedral, and its fine beaches and fascinating old buildings, it makes a superb place to explore for urban walkers.

Terrain

Pavements or paths throughout.

Public Transport

St Andrews bus station is next to the start.

Start

Long stay car park off A91 into town. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk is described starting from the long stay car park just off to south of the A91 on the main approach to the town. Begin the walk by heading back to the main road and turning right along it. It leads onto North Street - one of the original three medieval streets of the town, all of which converged on the Cathedral. Before reaching Rusack's Hotel turn left onto the narrow Granny Clark's Wynd. This leads through to the Old Course - perhaps the most famous golf course in the world. In front of you is the much-photographed Swilcan Bridge. Turn right alongside the course and continue past the eighteenth green.

Stage 2

Turn left at the end of the course and walk across the front of the fine stone building - this is the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, still the governing body of world golf. Turn right beyond the building, passing the British Golf Museum and then following a path uphill to the right of the bandstand to reach a tall memorial obelisk; it commemorates the Protestant Martyrs executed in the town. Patrick Hamilton promoted the works of Martin Luther, Henry Forrest owned a copy of the New Testament in English, Walter Myln advocated married clergy and George Wishart defied the Catholic church. Continue onto the Scores, a fine leafly street with magnificent buildings, many housing departments of the University.

Stage 3

Look out for a narrow walled lane on the right. This is Butts Wynd; follow it until a gateway on the left gives access to St Salvator's College Quadrangle. St Salvator's dates back to 1450 and is part of St Andrews' University - itself the oldest in Scotland - founded in 1410. Turn right from the quad and pass under the tower of the college chapel to reach North Street. As you emerge on the street, look down to find the initials PH set into the cobbles - this marks the spot where Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake for his protestant beliefs. Turn left along North Street, which like the other two original medieval streets in St Andrews leads directly towards the Cathedral.

Stage 4

After passing several University buildings turn left alongside the neoclassical Younger Hall. A lane now leads to St Salvator's Hall - a student hall of residence; follow the lane round in front of it as it curves left and then turn right to emerge on the Scores once more. Follow the Scores to the right; soon the ruins of the castle are on the left side. This is well worth a visit (charge); beneath it is a mine and counter-mine sunk underground in an attempt to breach the defences. The ramp immediately past the castle leading down on the left leads to Castle Sands - a small beach. Continue along the pavement, high above the sea on the left.

Stage 5

Soon the lane comes alongside the stone wall that bounds the edge of the Cathedral grounds; there is a gate which allows access to the ruins. The Cathedral was once the largest building in Scotland and was the country's ecclesiastical capital but it was destroyed in the reformation; you are free to wonder the grounds whilst an admission charge is made to view some of the stone carvings or to ascent St Rule's Tower for great views over the town. The walk continues between the wall and the sea-cliffs, now sloping down and passing the site of the the Church of St Mary on the Rock which once housed the relics of St Andrew. Continue down to reach the harbour and the pier.

Stage 6

It is worth walking out on the pier for the views back towards the town; doing so is part of an old tradition as students from the University have for centuries made the 'pier walk' on Sundays - often wearing their red undergraduate gowns. (Undergraduates were made to wear red gowns so they could easily be spotted going into brothels). Returning to the harbour, turn left alongside the creel pots. At the stone arch of the Mill Port - one of the town's three surviving gateways - turn right through the arch and follow the walled lane uphill. Bear right at the junction and pass through the ruins of a 14th century vaulted gatehouse called the Pends. This brings you out at the far end of South Street.

Stage 7

Turn right and admire the view of the Cathedral; St Rule's Tower is all that remains of the earlier Augustinian Priory. Then turn left onto North Street. Soon a fine old medieval house on the left is passed, now the Museum of the St Andrews' Preservation Trust. Continue and then turn left onto South Castle Street - a narrow lane, then take the next right onto Market Street - cobbled at this point. Look out for Baker Lane on the left and follow this through onto South Street. The fine building opposite is Parliament Hall - so named as the Scottish Parliament met there in the seventeenth century. Cross South Street and turn right, then go left through the archway at the far end of Parliament Hall.

Stage 8

This leads to St Mary's quadrangle, perhaps the most beautiful of the University buildings. The name relates to a visit by Mary, Queen of Scots, who is said to have planted the thorn tree next to the old college on the right - but its the massive holm oak in the centre attracts the most attention. Return to South Street and turn left to continue along it, perhaps looping around Church Street and Church Square along the way. Pass the ruins of Blackfriars Chapel which stand in front of a private school.

Stage 9

Look out on the left for the entrance to Loudon's Close - a narrow alley and one of the best preserved of St Andrews' old wynds. Continue along South Street and out through the West Port, then turn right and finally right again onto Market Street. Now take the next left onto Hope Street - filled with the elegant curves of St Andrews' finest Georgian buildings. Follow the curve round to the left to emerge on City Road; turn left and then right into the Bus Station. At the far end a walkway leads back down into the car parks at the start of the walk.

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St Andrews - Town and Gown walk

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