The Town of

ST ANDREWS

FIFE.

St Andrews is famous as the home of golf, but it's coastline of rivers estuaries, sweeping bays, sandy shores and cliffs attracts a rich variety of sea birds and marine life.

Nowadays, the harbour is home to only a handful of fishing boats. Today the sea is for fun and the sailing club is very popular. Scenes for the film, Chariots of Fire, were filmed at the West Sands,one of the best beaches in Scotland. The East Sands Leisure Centre has palm lined pools, a water slide, health and fitness facilities, restaurant and bars.

Also under cover are the collections of cacti and other exotic plants in the Botanic Garden. Not far away is Kinburn Park, which has a scented garden which blind visitors particularly enjoy, there is also putting, tennis and bowling.

St Andrews became a royal burgh in 1620, but had been a market town for centuries. Many early traders, bringing supplies to the former priory, would come through the Mill Port or Sea Yett (Gate) one of three surviving gateways to St Andrews. The West Port is the only fortified gateway to survive in Scotland today and was rebuilt in 1589.

The main entrance to the Augustinian priory was the 14th century vaulted gatehouse called The Pends. You can still walk through it, nearby is what is called Queen Mary's House, Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1563.

So much of early St Andrews survives, but you have to explore the wynds and closes to find a lot of it. Louden's Close is one of the best examples of an enterance shared by several houses, each had a long rig' ( piece of land ) at the back for growing vegatables and grazing a cow.

Cows were once milked in the shed which became the Byre Theatre in 1933. Professional and amateur companies put on plays from the classic dramas to the work of modern Scots writers. The visual arts find a home at the Crawford Arts Centre.

You can learn more about the story of the town - as a historic centre and holiday resort - Kinburn House which houses the St Andrews Museum; and you'll find much of the town's commercial history displayed in the St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum.

The University is the oldest in Scotland and belongs to an era when Europe had many important centres of learning. It was founded in 1410-11 by Scottish academics who had studied abroad and received papal authorisation in 1414. You can visit the quads of two of the colleges - St Salvator's in North Street (endowed in 1450 ), and St Mary's in South Street ( 1537 ). St Leonard's (1512 ) later united with St Salvator's, but you can reach it's Chapel from The Pends - it was once a hospice for pilgrims. Many of the original university buildings have been replaced, and many more added, but a thorn tree planted by Mary, Queen of Scots, still survives in St Mary's quad. Another reminder of older days is the students Kate Kenney Procession, held in the late spring: it's a high spirited occasion which collects money for charity.

To make the most of your visit, go to the Tourist Information Centre in Market Street. It is open all year, and the telephone number is - 01334 472021.

When you come to St Andrews at busy times, it's best to park outside the town centre. A parking voucher system operates in the town centre, you can buy your voucher from places showing the symbol for the scheme.

For details of playing times of St Andrew's six golf courses, contact the Golf Infomation Centre at tel - 01334 475757.

There's a choice of guides and a choice of tours. Students will lead you round Scotland's oldest university ( summer only from St Salvator's Tower ), trained tourist guides will help you explore historic St Andrews on foot (April - September, Wednesday and Thursday, from Church Square Ceramics ), or by open-top bus ( June to mid-September from Church Street ).

If you prefer a thrilling ( and chilling ) experience, go out with a ghost on a Witches' Tour (some evenings, all year, from The Tudor Inn, North Street ). On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays sundays in July and August, the drama of St Andrews' history is re-enacted at the Castle, Bow Butts, and Church Square. Meet John Knox and other characters from the town's turbulent past. Free !!

Some other Scottish Castles