We skirt the northern coast of the firth of Forth, passing some small and picturesque fishing villages: Lower Largo home of Robinson Crusoe, St Monans with its motto claims “Mare Vivimus”, Pittenweem, where the Irish Saint Fillan lived as a hermit, and Anstruther, home to the Scottish Fisheries Museum.
We arrive in St Andrews, a beautiful small and cosmopolitan town. The home to the third oldest University in the English speaking world, established in 1413, and the oldest in Scotland, the Alma Mater of Prince William and his wife Katherine Middleton. Well known as the home of golf, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club is the sport’s ruling body and stands proud next to the 18th hole of the Old Course. This course is a must play for any lover of the game – a place of sporting pilgrimage.
In medieval times St Andrews was a place of religious pilgrimage because of the relics of St Andrew the Apostle, and Scotland’s patron saint. View the romantic ruins of the imposing cathedral and the remains of the 12th century Bishop’s castle next to the North Sea.
The magnificent West Sands beach, made famous in the opening scenes of the Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire can be breathtaking. The simple mentioning of the name no doubt will bring to your head the music of the film composed by Vangelis.
We return to Edinburgh through the heart of the “Ancient Kingdom”, as Fife is described and you’ll be able to see why it can be described as the bread basket of Scotland. Seeped in history and with glorious views it is now also the backdrop to the some scenes in the television series “Outlander”.