We’ve updated the furnishings a bit in the flat this year, so we’ve got a full new set of images on the website to match!
To see the full set of images, head over to The Apartment page!
Revised Apartment images for 2020
V&A Dundee Design Museum
In our previous Days Out from St Andrews post on Dundee we mentioned that the V&A Dundee design museum was under construction, so we thought we’d post a few images of the new building now that it is fully open!
Designed by award winning japanese architect Kengo Kuma as “a living room for the city” it’s a wonderful space to just go an sit and relax, or to visit an exhibition. The building is free entry, as are the Scottish Design Galleries on permanent display (some of the temporary exhibitions have a charge).
V&A Dundee is right next door to Discovery Point and the RRS Discovery museum ship, making this part of the Dundee Waterfront well worth a visit on your next stay in St Andrews!
Find out more about V&A Dundee at www.vam.ac.uk/dundee.
New Apartment Images
There have been a few changes at the flat recently, so we’ve updated all the interior images on the website! There’s a new table and lovely new blinds at the living room window…
…and there’s a comfy new sofa in the living room too, along with some extra images of St Andrews by landscape photographer Mark Sunderland. We’ve also upgraded the broadband hub to the latest model so you have superfast wi-fi available in the flat.
There are more pictures of St Andrews along the hall and in the bedrooms, where you’ll find some nice fluffy bedspreads for the winter months as well!
See more images of the flat on the Apartment page.
Fife Coastal Path – St Monans to Crail
Zig Zag Breakwater at Sunset, St Monans
In our second post on the Fife Coastal Path we’re having a look at the section from St Monans along to Crail, which is nice easy walking and takes in some of the prettiest East Neuk fishing villages. A day bus ticket from St Andrews will allow you to start at St Monans and then pick up a return bus from Crail, or at an earlier point along the route if you wish.
At St Monans it’s worth heading west along the coast path towards Elie first to take a look at the lovely Auld Kirk perched on the clifftop, before heading back into the village and starting the walk proper. You may spot the amazing zig-zag breakwater side-on walking back from the church, but the view above can be had at the harbour, from the top of the sea wall (not recommended in bad weather!). Heading west along the coast path, passing an old windmill – once used as a pump for salt pans (the remains of which can be seen by the path) you’ll soon arrive in the colourful village of Pittenweem.
Colourful Cottages at Pittenweem
As well as the pretty cottages at the harbour, it’s worth a left turn up the path to St Fillan’s Cave and beyond to another fine church before returning to the path and heading along the coast to Anstruther, the largest of the villages on the walk being the conglomeration of Anstruther Wester and Easter along with Cellardyke.
Sailing Boats in the Harbour at Anstruther
There are pubs and cafes along the seafront by the harbour to stop for a drink and the Anstruther Fish Bar if you’re in need of fish and chips! Further along the seafront before reaching Cellardyke is the interesting Scottish Fisheries Museum. Beyond Cellardyke the path heads out into countryside and hugs the coast all the way to Crail – look out for the lovely view over the stone-walled harbour from the cliff as you approach the village.
Incoming tide at Crail Harbour
Head up to the High Street for the bus service back to St Andrews.
Map: OS Explorer 371 or Landranger 59.
Distance: About 12km/7.5m.
Terrain: Easy and well signposted path.
For a shorter walk, you can finish at Pittenweem or Anstruther, or start at one of these villages and continue to Crail. All of the villages are served by the coastal bus from St Andrews.
The Fife Coastal path extends for 117m from the Forth Estuary to the Tay Estuary. For more details visit www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk. Photographs supplied by Mark Sunderland Photography.
Days Out from St Andrews – Dundee
The McManus Art Gallery and Museum at Dusk in Dundee, Scotland
Kicking off our Days Out from St Andrews posts we’re having a look at Dundee. Although it’s across the Tay and so outside the Kingdom of Fife, it’s the nearest big city and just a short bus ride away. There’s plenty to look at for a day visit, plus it’s handy enough for an evening trip to a theatre or concert.
One of the must-sees is the McManus Art Gallery and Museum. Situated in Albert Square in the centre of town, this splendid Victorian Gothic revival building is an architectural gem, inside and out. It also houses a great collection of paintings and sculpture and interesting local history exhibits.
For more history, visit the RRS Discovery, Captain Scott’s ship on the voyage to the Antarctic, moored at Discovery Point on the River Tay, not far from the city centre. Also on the waterfront, near to Discovery Point, the new V&A Museum of Design is currently under construction (for details see www.vandadundee.org).
Fountains in City Square and Coloured Lights on Caird Hall at Dusk
Back in the city centre, City Square is a nice open space off the High Street. The main tourist information office can be found here next to the City Chambers. Also in the square is Caird Hall, a concert hall which is illuminated by coloured lights at dusk. To find out what’s on here and at other theatres in the city, try www.leisureandculturedundee.com. There’s plenty of shopping to do in this part of town too with high street shops and modern shopping centres intermingled with other interesting old buildings, such as the nearby Steeple Church.
Statue of DC Thomson Comic Character Oor Wullie in Albert Square
Dotted around the city centre are statues of some of the most famous comic characters by the famous DC Thomson (publishers of the Beano and Dandy, and still resident in the city). On the High Street you’ll find Minnie the Minx and Desperate Dan and near the McManus in Albert Square Oor Wullie sits on a wall next to his scrawled poem Tae Rabbie Burns, close to the somewhat older statue of the great poet himself!
For more ideas, visit the Dundee and Angus page on the Visit Scotland website.
Fife Coastal Path – Kingsbarns to St Andrews
Rock and Spindle on the Fife Coast path near St Andrews
We’re adding a couple of new categories to our blog with some great ideas of things to do during your stay in the flat. We’ll have suggestions for Days Out from St Andrews and also walks along the Fife Coastal Path, starting with the walk from Kingsbarns to St Andrews.
The bus service hugging the coast around the East Neuk of Fife makes linear walks along sections of the coastal path nice and easy – you can either get a day ticket from St Andrews, or drive to the start of your walk and get the bus back. In this case, it’s just a short bus ride to Kingsbarns and then walk straight back to the flat along the coast!
Sand Patterns on the Beach at Airbow Point near Kingsbarns on the Fife Coast
At Kingsbarns, walk down the lane to the lovely Cambo Sands and head North along the coast from the car park. The path is eroded near Airbow Point so there’s a stretch walking along the sands before regaining solid ground and continuing to the mouth of Kenly Water, where the path turns inland through woodland before crossing the burn at Burnside Farm.
Buddo Rock on the Fife Coastal Path near Boarhills Fife Scotland
The path then crosses fields, skirting the edge of Boarhills village before rejoining the coast near Buddo Rock, a dramatic sandstone formation at the top of the beach. Continuing along the coast, the path occasionally zig-zags up the cliff and descends back to sea-level with some very muddy areas where cattle are grazed and some flights of stone steps, notably around The Rock and Spindle, an interesting sea stack formation (see photo, top).
Sunny Morning at St Andrews Harbour St Andrews Fife Scotland
After the Rock and Spindle the path climbs to the cliff top for the last leg with fine views of St Andrews in the distance before descending to the East Sands and along the seafront to the harbour. From the harbour, it’s just a short walk up to the castle and along The Scores back to the flat.
Map: OS Explorer 371 or Landranger 59.
Distance: About 13.5km/8.5m.
Terrain: Can be rough and muddy in places, with some steep sections of steps, so good walking boots required! As this is a tidal route, check tide times to make sure it is safe to walk.
For a shorter walk, you can start at Boarhills instead or if you’re feeling fit, get the bus to Crail for a full day’s walk back to St Andrews (about 20km).
The Fife Coastal path extends for 117m from the Forth Estuary to the Tay Estuary. For more details visit www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk. Photographs supplied by Mark Sunderland Photography.
The New Kitchen!
The New Kitchen
We’re delighted to announce that the new kitchen has now been installed. We’re very pleased with the stylish new cupboards and worktops, and the oven and hob are great to use.
We’ve even now got a dishwasher in the flat for the first time!
Kitchen with fitted under worktop dishwasher to the right
To see all the pictures of the interior of the flat have a look at The Apartment page.
Digital Additions and other improvements
Living Room with new Smart TV
Last year we introduced WiFi and a new SMART TV, which means that our guests now have access to the internet from within flat; and features such as catch-up TV with iPlayer and the like.
As part of our continous improvement plan, the kitchen will be re-refurbished this February with new units and appliances; and for the first time the flat will also have a dishwasher.
More improvements are planned for later this year. We’ll keep you posted.
The Home of Golf
Golfer playing a putt on the Old Course 17th Hole, St Andrews
Renowned as the home of golf, the St Andrews now boasts 5 golf courses in addition to the famous “Old Course”. There are a further 8 Championship courses in the North Fife area.
St Andrews is the base for the R&A, the organiser of The Open Championship, golf’s oldest major. The R&A takes its name from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which had responsibility for the game up until 2004, though the two are now distinct organisations.
To find out more about playing St Andrews’ golf courses, take a look at the St Andrews Links website which has course details and information on bookings.
St Andrews Photographs
Walking on the Pier at Sunset, St Andrews Harbour
All of the St Andrews photographs on our website, and the prints hanging on the wall in the apartment were produced by our friend landscape photographer Mark Sunderland, who has stayed at the flat when exploring the Fife coast. You can see more of Mark’s landscape photography in the portfolio section on his website.
St Andrews Castle at Sunrise
St Salvators College Chapel Tower from Butts Wynd at Dusk, St Andrews
If you’re interested in purchasing one of Mark’s prints or licensing an image from him then please get in touch with him directly – full details can be found on his website contact page.
The images in this post are three of the prints hanging on the wall in the flat.