About the Area

St. Andrews is probably best known as The Home of Golf but believe me when I say that there is so much more to St. Andrews than just Golf.

It is host to Scotland's oldest University, which has lots of fine buildings through out the town. There is a Castle and Cathedral dating from medieval times, climb St Rules Tower in the grounds of the Cathedral and be rewarded by magnificent views, a Harbour and Pier on which in term time you can witness the students walk in their red gowns after church service, a Leisure Centre, award winning beaches which have activities for you to try like Para kart, surfing and flying kites.

Several Museums including The Preservation Trust, with it's wonderful hidden garden, fascinating displays and reconstructions of St. Andrews's past, admission into this is free of charge as is The St. Andrews Museum in Kinburn Park which explores the heritage of the ancient town from medieval to modern times.

The British Golf Museum across from the World famous Royal And Ancient Golf Club is a must for golfers and non-golfers alike - how did those ladies play in those skirts!! Nearby the St. Andrews Aquarium offers a fascinating range of sea life for you to look at or be lucky enough to be around when it is time to feed the seals.

And what is often referred to, as the hidden gem of St. Andrews The Botanic Garden is just a 2-minute walk away from Birchlea Bed and Breakfast this 18 acre garden has a wide variety of plants and trees, ponds and several glasshouses housing cacti, tropical plants and alpines.

Take in the new Byre Theatre which offers year round entertainment from drama, concerts, opera or comedy there is something for everyone and all of these are easily accessible from Birchlea Bed and Breakfast, you will be surprised at how compact the town of St. Andrews is.

St. Andrews is an ideal base for exploring other parts of Fife and Angus and with Scotland's capital Edinburgh along with the Fair city of Perth only an hours drive away this opens up a wide range of things to see and do, far too many to mention while basing yourself here.

What better way to explore and discover the pleasures of the Kingdom of Fife than by cycling your away around, stopping when you see some breathtaking view or what ever catches your eye. The Kingdom has 300 miles of a signed cycle network. Maps are available from Tourist Information centres.
Another great way to enjoy the scenery and awake your senses is to walk The Fife Coastal Path this stretches from North Queensferry to Tayport or if you like from The Forth to The Tay a total of 81 miles.

A real must when in the area is to visit the East Neuk with its quaint fishing villages- its like stepping back in time, you can so easily imagine how life must have been. The colourful and whitewashed cottages with their red pantile roofs and crow stepped gable ends of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St.Monans and Elie all offer you something that is a bit different.

In Crail you can visit the Museum for an insight on how life used to be, there is also a working pottery in Crail, which I never seem to come out off empty handed. Very close by you will find Scotland's Secret Bunker a relic of the Cold War.

Anstruther is the largest of the fishing villages with its harbour, and The Scottish Fisheries Museum that looks at fishing life from the past to the present day. Or hop on board a boat that will take you out to the Isle of May to see a colony of grey seals and large colonies of birds including puffins.

Pittenweem has a working harbour where they still land and sell the fish most weekdays this you would have to be up very early for. Over the years the Arts Festival held in August has brought in artist's to exhibit at it and today you will find Pittenweem has several good galleries usually featuring local pictures and prints.
Another mile further on you will find St. Monans where you can see the Windmill Tower, which lies on the Fife Coastal Path; it is part of the St. Monans Salt Pans industrial complex and dates from the 18th century. Or pay a visit to the Auld Kirk on the hill, which dates from the 14th century.

One step on in Elie you will find award winning beaches and all types of water pursuits.

A ½ hour drive from St. Andrews will take you across to Dundee, City of Discovery, while crossing the Silvery Tay by the road bridge you can clearly make out the remains of the old railway bridge, and sometimes witness seals basking on the sand at low tide. In Dundee visit Discovery Point, which has an amazing Visitors Centre, and then why not visit the Verdant Works this takes you back to Old Dundee, showing how life was 100 years ago and telling you the story of the Jute industry. From there travel 12 miles to visit Glamis Castle the childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

St. Andrews is an excellent base for visiting National Trust Properties whether they are Houses or Gardens with Falkland Palace, Hill of Travit and Kellie Castle all a short drive away, further a field there is House of Dun, Branklyn Gardens, Dunkeld and the Hermitage and Killiecrankie. St. Andrews and area are not short on things to do in fact there is too much to mention you will just have to come and see for yourself the delights we have to offer.