Walking Routes in and Around the St Andrews Area

There are plenty of walking tours in St Andrews, which take you around the Old Course and to some of the town’s finest food outlets but if you want to explore the surrounding forests, beaches and wildlife, we suggest heading on one of the walking routes featured below…

Fife Coastal Path Walks

One of the best ways to experience Fife’s stunning beaches and beautiful villages is to take a walk along the Fife Coastal Path. You can either start in St Andrews and walk north towards the Tay Bridge if you want to experience the forests, beaches and wildlife or head south from Fife, in the direction of East Neuk, to experience fresh seafood and local art along your journey.

St Andrews to Tay Bridge

The St Andrews to Tay Bridge walk will take you between four and six hours. You will start at St Andrews Aquarium (Grid Ref: NO50561719) and finish up at Tay Bridge (Grid Ref NO42692876). The total distance is 18 miles over a mixture of both flat and also rough terrain with a mixture of paths and non-paved areas.

Fife Ness to St Andrews

Another lovely coastal walk stretches from Fife Ness to St Andrews. Start at Fife Ness Coastal Path car park (Grid Ref: NO63040885) and finish at St Andrews Aquarium (FGrid Ref: NO50561719). It is a 12 mile walk which will incorporate tidal and remote rough terrain. It should take you around four to six hours to complete.

St Andrews Links and West Sands, St Andrews

This walk gives you the opportunity to stretch your legs on the famous sands featured in the film ‘Chariots of Fire’ before passing through Eden Estuary nature reserve. You will then end up on a track that goes between the famous golf courses, with great views of St Andrews’ iconic medieval buildings.

The terrain on this walk varies from sandy beach to narrow dunes and surfaced paths. It’s a great walk but you need to be careful not to get cut off by the tide on the end of West Sands.

The distance is 4.5 miles, which will take you around two to two and a half hours to complete. Start at Grid Ref: NO501168.

The Rock and Spindle, from St Andrews

A slightly more challenging walk stretches from St Andrews, across interesting cliffs and rock stacks to the large formation, best known as the Rock and Spindle. From here you will witness great views back to St Andrews and along the coast. The return involves taking the same route back (2.75 mile walk) and should take you around one and a half to two hours in total. Start at Grid Ref: NO518159.

St Andrews Town and Gown Walk

St Andrews offers plenty to see, from Scotland’s oldest university and the Old Course to some of the most fascinating medieval buildings in the country. It is the perfect place for urban walkers to explore.

The St Andrews Town and Gown Walk is a fairly easy walk that consists of mainly pavements and paths. It is 3.25 miles long (around one and a half to two hours) and ideal for those who want to explore more of the town on foot. Start at Grid Ref: NO501168.

More walks in St Andrews

These are just some of the most popular walking routes in and around the St Andrews area. Most of them are suitable for people of all walking abilities but if in any doubt, you can always check with the local tourism office. They should also be able to supply you with maps and details of other walks in the area, as well as any group walks that are taking place during your stay in St Andrews.

If you are interested in holidaying in St Andrews, please get in touch about booking our luxury self catered accommodation. Contact us at St Andrews Coachhouses 01334 477593  www.standrewscoachhouses.co.uk

Image credits: jk_scotland and olaf141