This is Scotland’s top seaside town you need to visit

This coastal town is famous for its stunning historic setting and its world-class golf course.

One of Scotland’s most charming seaside towns has been ranked the third best in the UK by a respected consumer group.

This hidden gem, found in Fife on Scotland’s east coast, is celebrated worldwide as the “home of golf.”

The town takes its name from Saint Andrew the Apostle and is also home to the University of St Andrews, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland.

Photo © John McLeish (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Every year, St Andrews welcomes more than 600,000 visitors. Many come for the golf, but others are drawn by the town’s beautiful scenery, sandy beaches and vibrant food scene.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews was founded here in 1754, and the Old Course remains the most famous venue for The Open Championship, golf’s oldest and most prestigious major tournament.

To find the UK’s top seaside spots, Which? surveyed over 4,700 people about their experiences in coastal towns across the country.

The survey highlighted coastal treasures across all four nations. Bamburgh in Northumberland took first place, Portmeirion in Wales came second, St Andrews in Fife was third, and Portstewart in Northern Ireland also made the top 20 list.

Photo © Rob Farrow (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Andrews is well known as a university town, with its university topping the Good University Guide in 2022.

Students famously take part in the May Day Dip each year, plunging into the cold North Sea to bring luck in exams and wash away their “academic sins.”

Beyond the university, locals and visitors alike love St Andrews for its long, golden beach and sweeping views along the coast.

Which? said: “In third place was St Andrews, with a destination score of 82 per cent. The wonderfully scenic town earned five-star ratings for its tourist attractions, beaches, seafront and scenery, and four stars for shopping and food and drink.”

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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