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St Andrews
is Scotland's oldest university town, perhaps best known as the
home of golf. It sits on a wide bay on the north-east coast of Fife.
The town is easily explored on foot. The main streets, Market Street
and South Street run from east to west and form the hub of the town.
Here a mix of university buildings are to be found alongside shops
and restaurants, much as in Oxford or Cambridge. The town is also
the terminus for the Coast to Coast Walk from Oban.
The ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once the largest and most magnificent
cathedral in the country, lies at the eastern end of North Street.
St Andrews developed as the ecclesiastical capital of the country
and became a place of pilgrimage. In 1200 a castle was built for
the bishop, part residence, part fortress. In the 1450s the young
King James II was a frequent visitor.
The association of St Andrews with golf dates to the 1400s, with
the famous Old Course being constructed in the 1500s. Today, St
Andrews boasts the Old Course plus five other public courses in
the area. It is also home to the excellent British Golf Museum.
Nearby is the St Andrews Aquarium.
Across the estuary of the River Eden from St Andrews is RAF Leuchars,
home each September to one of the UK's best airshows. This sits
alongside the attractive village of Leuchars, whose Parish Church
contains some of the finest Norman architecture in the country.
To
the south of St Andrews is the East Neuk, a region of quaint fishing
villages which include Crail, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie. Just
inland from the coast are the attractive villages of Boarhills and
Kingsbarns. A little further west are the paired villages Upper
Largo and Lower Largo.
Anstruther
is home to the Scottish Fisheries Museum. It tells the story of
the fishing industry from the earliest times to the present day
and is open all year. Only half a mile away from Anstruther is Cellardyke,
a fishing settlement once more important than Anstruther itself.
Inland lies the ancient hamlet of Kilrenny.
Inland
between Crail and Anstruther is Scotland's Secret Bunker, a site
that was to become the country's seat of government in the event
of a nuclear war. Inland from St Monans is Kellie Castle. |
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Falkland
Palace, in the village of Falkland, is a stunning example of Early
Renaissance architecture and both palace and gardens are open to
the public during the summer months.
Cupar, the capital of Fife, is a market town, which retains much
of its medieval character. It is situated at the centre of Fife's
road network and is on the railway line to Edinburgh and south,
Aberdeen and north. A little to its south is Scotstarvit Tower,
close to another attraction the Hill of Tarvit mansion house and
to the attractive village of Ceres. A must see destination is Cupar
golf course. Founded in 1855, this is believed to be the oldest
nine-hole course in the world. Lee Trevino and Eric Thomson are
among the many who have made the pilgrimage there.
Fife's north coast looks across the River Tay to Dundee. Until the
building of the Tay Rail Bridge, a railway ferry operated from Tayport,
near the northeast tip of Fife, while just along the river, Newport-on-Tay
has effectively become a cross-river suburb of Dundee. On minor
roads four miles west of Newport-on-Tay are the ruins of Balmerino
Abbey. Further east you find the ruins of Lindores Abbey, on the
edge of the town of Newburgh.
Dundee, only 20 minutes away offers a wealth of activities and interests.
There is Camperdown Park with its wild life centre, play complex
and golf course; Verdant Works bringing to life the weaving history
of Dundee; Mills Observatory, the UK’s only full time public
observatory; Scott’s ship Discovery sits on the waterfront
for you to explore and also on the waterfront is HM Frigate Unicorn
the world’s most original wooden warship. Step on board and
back in time as you explore these wonderful vessels.
Cairnie
Fruit Farm with its Mega Maze, restaurant and play area is a popular
venue for young and old and is a mere 15 minutes from Lindifferon.
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