St Andrews: cathedral, castle and the West Sands
From the ruined cathedral past the castle and the Old Course to the long beach of the West Sands.
- Distance
- 6.7 km
- Ascent
- 30 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 h
- Grade
- Easy
- Route
- Out and back
- High point
- 24 m
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Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
St Andrews: cathedral, castle and the West Sands is an easy 6.7 km out-and-back walk with 30 m of ascent, taking 1.5 to 2 hours. It starts at St Andrews Cathedral (grid reference NO 513 166). The start can be reached by public transport.
St Andrews was once the religious capital of Scotland, and the ruins of its great medieval cathedral still stand on the headland. From the cathedral, the walk follows the clifftop path past the ruined castle and along The Scores.
It passes the Royal and Ancient clubhouse at the end of the Old Course and continues onto the West Sands, a long, wide beach, before returning the same way.
Route
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1
The castle
Walk from the cathedral along the clifftop to the castle.
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2
The Scores
Follow The Scores past the end of the Old Course.
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3
The West Sands
Walk out along the beach and return the same way.
Summit
On the way
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St Andrews CastleCastle · on the route
Questions about this walk
- How long does St Andrews: cathedral, castle and the West Sands take?
- Most walkers take 1.5–2 hours for the 6.7 km route, which has 30 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at St Andrews Cathedral (grid reference NO 513 166). Pay car parks in St Andrews.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Buses from Leuchars station and Dundee. Check times on Traveline Scotland.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded easy. Pavements and clifftop paths, then firm sand.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Keep them on a lead near livestock.
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