West Sands, St Andrews

Summary

Stretch your legs on the spectacular and vast sandy beach made famous in the film, 'Chariots of Fire'. The route then passes through Eden Estuary nature reserve before a track leads between the famous golf courses with good views over fine buildings of St Andrews.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Sandy beach, narrow and rough path through dunes, surfaced path between golf courses.

Getting there

Start

St Andrews.

Public Transport

St Andrews bus station is next to the start.

Start Grid Ref

NO501168

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 7.25km / 4.5 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 17m (Profile)

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Explorer 371 - St Andrews

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

There is free long-stay parking (marked as Park & Ride on recent OS maps) just off the A917 near university buildings on the way into St Andrews from the north. From here walk down to the main road, cross over and head right. After passing a junction look out for Grannie Clark's Wynd on the left and follow this to reach the road at the edge of the Old Course. Turn right along this, and then left at t-junction at the end to follow a walkway between the famous course and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, where the rules of golf are still decided.

Stage 2

Follow the pavement to the left, crossing the road to reach the sea wall. There is an alternative car park on the right here - but with charges. Keep left by the sea, and after a bridge take the ramp to the right to reach the sands and follow the edge of the dunes north. There are great views back of St Andrews.

Stage 3

The West Sands are a large expanse of shore, popular with walkers, joggers, metal detectors and hardy sunbathers. The beach featured as a training run in the 1981 film, 'Chariots of Fire', about Olympic athletes Eric Liddell and Harald Abrahams.

Stage 4

Take great care not to venture out over the sands at low tide as many visitors have become trapped by the incoming tide. Keep following the beach almost until the dunes start to turn slightly inland. Here there is a yellow warning sign and a track leading up to the tarmac road running behind the beach. Turn right along this, passing a metal barrier. and follow the tarred lane until it ends at a turning area and wooden viewing platform overlooking the Eden Estuary nature reserve (though there are better views atop the dunes). Ignore the main path ahead here, and instead follow the path that starts through a gap in the fence just to the right of the view platform. Follow the faint path with the golf course on your left and the dunes on your right.

Stage 5

Continue along the path, which eventually reaches the top of the dunes. Here the main path descends to the estuary, but ignore this and keep ahead along the right edge of a tee, then climbing up beside the bench. Now keep along the edge of the golf course, marked by the out of bounds marker posts - there is a faint path. Take care not to disturb the play of golfers and to stay out of the way of any stray balls. Soon the narrow path reaches a surfaced track.

Stage 6

Follow this road for a short distance next to the water and then continue on it as it curves left to head inland. The road separates the Eden Course and the Old Course. When the pink toilet block is reached continue ahead - ignoring the track to the right. Soon a junction is reached. Continue to the left heading for the large, more modern building which is the Old Course Hotel.

Stage 7

Pass driving ranges on the right and then follow the path directly in front of the Old Course Hotel, which has a fine view over the most difficult hole on the course - the notorious Road Hole. Turn left after the hotel to follow the road alongside the last tee and the famous stone bridge. Continue around the edge of the golf course to reach the start of the walk.

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