Beautiful Lavish Property With World Class FacilitiesN°001
St Andrews & Fife, United Kingdom
From $1,489 per night
Photo by Valentine KulikovLinks golf, sea light and Scotland's oldest university town
St Andrews is the home of golf and the seat of Scotland's oldest university, set on a windswept headland where medieval ruins meet the North Sea. Around it, the Kingdom of Fife unfolds into golden farmland, the fishing villages of the East Neuk and a coastline threaded by the Fife Coastal Path. A private house or estate here gives golfers and families a spacious base with room to gather after a day on the links.
- The Old Course at St Andrews, the most famous links in golf, plus Kingsbarns and Carnoustie nearby
- The East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther and Elie, with harbours, beaches and seafood
- St Andrews' medieval cathedral and castle ruins above West Sands beach
- The Fife Coastal Path, 117 miles of cliff, dune and harbour walking
- Country houses and estates with space for golfing groups and multi-generational stays
Known forThe Old Course and championship links golf, St Andrews University, cathedral and castle ruins, East Neuk fishing villages, the Fife Coastal Path
Best time to visitMay to September for long daylight and prime golfing weather; early October for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Nearest airportEdinburgh (EDI), around an hour and a quarter by car across the Forth
Ideal forGolfing parties, families, couples and groups touring Scotland's east coast
Lavish and Classic Retreat in St. AndrewsN°002
St Andrews & Fife, United Kingdom
From $1,489 per night
Stylish Countryside Escape With Hydro SpaN°003
St Andrews & Fife, United Kingdom
Spa
From $1,236 per night
3homes available
5–5bedrooms
up to 10guests
St Andrews & Fife in pictures
Events not to miss in St Andrews & Fife
- March
StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival
St Andrews hosts Scotland's principal poetry festival each spring, filling the town's historic venues with readings, performances and exhibitions. A cultured excuse for an early-season stay.
- Late June to early July
East Neuk Festival
World-class chamber music performed in kirks, halls and harbourside spaces across the East Neuk fishing villages. Intimate venues and coastal settings make it one of Scotland's most distinctive festivals.
- Late July
St Andrews Highland Games
A traditional games day of caber tossing, piping and Highland dancing held on the coast at St Andrews. An easy, family-friendly afternoon of Scottish spectacle.
- Early August
Lammas Market
One of Scotland's oldest surviving medieval street markets takes over St Andrews' Market Street and South Street each August with stalls and fairground rides. The town at its liveliest.
- Early October
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Professionals partner celebrities and amateurs across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in this autumn fixture of the DP World Tour. The best week of the year to watch golf at St Andrews.
St Andrews & Fife through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Quiet links and coastal walks
The courses reopen in full condition, the Fife Coastal Path is at its freshest and the town hums with university term. Tee times and tables are easier to come by.
- Summer (June – August)
Long daylight and harbour life
Evenings stay light past ten, West Sands invites beach walks and the East Neuk villages are at their busiest and prettiest. Puffin season on the Isle of May peaks in early summer.
- Autumn (September – November)
Dunhill golf and golden farmland
The Dunhill Links Championship brings world golf to town in early October, while the Howe of Fife turns gold. Crisp, clear days reward walkers and photographers.
- Winter (December – February)
Firesides and storm-watching seas
Short days bring dramatic North Sea light, empty beaches and cosy pubs. A country house with log fires makes a fine base for whisky tastings and bracing walks.
The Area and Where to Stay
St Andrews itself is compact and walkable: three medieval streets, the university quads, the cathedral ruins and the Old Course all sit within a few minutes of one another, with West Sands beach stretching north of the first tee. Luxury rentals here range from townhouses near the links to country houses in the surrounding farmland, where privacy and parking come easily. Inland, the market town of Cupar makes a well-connected base at the centre of the Kingdom, close to Falkland and its Renaissance palace. Along the East Neuk coast, Crail, Anstruther and Elie offer harbourside charm and sandy bays within a twenty-minute drive of the first tee. A private house gives golfing parties and families a shared kitchen, drying room and drawing-room fire, with concierge support for tee times and touring.
Things to Do
Golf leads, inevitably. The St Andrews Links comprise seven public courses including the Old Course, and Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie and Carnoustie lie within easy reach; your concierge can advise on ballots and bookings. Beyond the fairways, walk the cathedral precinct and climb St Rule's Tower for a view over town and sea, then follow a stretch of the Fife Coastal Path between the East Neuk harbours. Anstruther is the launch point for boat trips to the Isle of May, a National Nature Reserve alive with puffins in early summer. Inland, Falkland Palace was a favoured retreat of the Stuart monarchs, and the Lomond Hills give gentle summit walks. Edinburgh, with its castle, galleries and festivals, is a day trip across the Forth.
Food and Local Flavour
Fife's food is anchored in the sea. The East Neuk lands langoustines, crab and lobster daily, and Anstruther's fish and chips are celebrated across Scotland; the village of St Monans and the harbours around it hold some of the region's most admired seafood kitchens. St Andrews itself has a lively dining scene sharpened by the university and golf crowds, from smart seafood rooms to convivial pubs. Farm shops and the fertile Howe of Fife supply soft fruit, beef and game, while nearby distilleries, including Kingsbarns just along the coast, pour Lowland single malts. A private chef at your house turns the day's catch into dinner, and the concierge can arrange tastings and restaurant bookings.
When to Visit
May to September is the prime season, with long northern daylight, the courses in full condition and the coast at its brightest; midsummer evenings stay light until after ten. Early October brings the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, when professionals and celebrities play the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Spring and autumn are quieter and often crisp and clear, well suited to coastal walks and easier tee-time ballots. Winter is short on daylight but atmospheric, with storm-watching seas, log fires and uncrowded streets. Sea winds are a constant companion in every season, so pack layers; a warm private house with a drying room earns its keep year-round.
Getting There
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the main gateway, around an hour and a quarter from St Andrews by car across the Queensferry Crossing, with direct flights from across Europe and North America. Rail travellers can take the East Coast Main Line to Leuchars, ten minutes from St Andrews by taxi. A car is the easiest way to reach the East Neuk villages, Falkland and the region's courses, and the concierge can arrange private transfers, chauffeurs and helicopter arrivals for golfing parties. Edinburgh city centre lies about ninety minutes away, close enough for a day trip yet far enough that Fife keeps its unhurried pace.