Around the World With Uncle Moose: St. Andrews and Another Day in Edinburgh

After arriving back in Edinburgh, we overnighted and headed out on a day trip to St. Andrews. St. Andrews is on the east coast of Scotland and getting there takes an hour and a half, either by bus or by a combination of bus and train. We took the train/bus on our way out.

View of Calton Hill in Edinburgh

Crossing the Firth of Forth on our way out of Edinburgh.

Suburban housing across the Firth from Edinburgh

Some farmland on the way to St. Andrews

St. Andrews is a wonderful little town. Not only is it the location of the Royal St. Andrews golf course, it is the home of St. Andrews University, which is the 3rd oldest university in Great Britain. There are also very interesting ruins of a castle and cathedral.

Stalked by SAS wherever we go

On the streets of St. Andrews--the house is probably from about the 14th century.

Ruins of St. Andrews Castle, dating from about 1400.

Graveyard and ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, dating from the 1100's.

Another view of the Cathedral ruins

St. Andrews University. They clearly ripped off Duke.

As we were walking through the University of St. Andrews, there was a sign pointing to a private garden, so we took a detour. We were rewarded by a wonderful garden, right on the coast, with spectacular views.

A view of the garden

Another view of the garden

View from the garden across a North Sea inlet. The beach is where the opening scene of Chariots of Fire was filmed. The green area just behind the beach is the Royal St. Andrews Golf Club.

View from the garden in the other direction--St. Andrews Castle.

Another view of the Chariots of Fire Beach (officially known as West Sands), on our way to St. Andrews golf course.

Even though I am not a golfer, the Royal St. Andrews Golf Club was a must see. It turns out that the club consists of about 7 courses, with the "Old Course" being the most famous, and where the British Open is often played. The courses are actually open to the public, and you can walk on the cart paths. You can't go in the main club house, but there is a second club house that is accessible to the public, and we had afternoon tea there.

Clubhouse (on the left) and first fairway of the Old Course at Royal St. Andrews Golf Club.

The new club house. The hilly area is a putting practice area called the Himalayas.

Part of the Old Course as viewed from the new club house

Another view of the West Sands

18th green of the Old Course and the old club house

The old club house and part of central St. Andrews. The course is right on the edge of the center of town.

Hope Park Parish Church in St. Andrews

The Firth of Forth Rail Bridge, which was built in 1890

Back in Edinburgh. This is part of the New Town, built in the 1700's and 1800's

A building at the University of Edinburgh

The next day was devoted to seeing the sights in Edinburgh that we missed on the first day, which was basically everything that wasn't on the upper part of the Royal Mile. Our first stop was the Scottish Parliament building, which was completed in 2004. The building looks like it was designed by an architect on LSD.

The back of the Parliament building

Front of the Parliament building

The Parliament building is just across from the Holyrood Park, which is a very large hill at the end of the Royal Mile. At the bottom of Holyrood Park is Holyrood Palace, which is where the Queen stays while she is in Edinburgh. (Not to be confused with Hollywood Palace, which I was forced to watch on Saturday nights when I was a kid.) Most of the palace was built in the 16th and 17th centuries, but the abbey (on the right side of the picture below), dates from the 12th century.