St Andrews & Falkland Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

Explore St Andrews and the ancient Kingdom of Fife on a day tour from Edinburgh. Travel along Fife’s famous ‘Coastal Road’ and pass through several of the area’s most stunning fishing villages. Visit the famous St. Andrews, the village of Falkland, and the Royal and Ancient Golf Museum.

From Edinburgh, make your way across the Forth Road Bridge. From the road bridge, see one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, the Forth Bridge. An astonishing piece of 19th-century engineering, it is one of the world’s longest cantilever bridges. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 2015 due to its outstanding universal value.

In Fife, follow the famous coastal route that passes through many beautiful and historic fishing villages. Some of these villages date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Journey through Elie, St Monan’s, and Pittenweem to Anstruther.

Anstruther, pronounced locally as Ainster, is the largest and liveliest of the fishing villages. Have time to explore the scenic harbor and take a wander through the narrow, cobbled streets. It may be that you just prefer to sit, have a coffee, and watch the world go by.

At St. Andrew’s, have just under three hours of free time to explore one of Scotland’s most beautiful medieval towns. Renowned worldwide as “the home of golf,” people played golf here as far back as the 15th century. The Old Course is the best-known golf course in the world. At the 18th hole, find another famous landmark, Swilcan Bridge. Originally built over 700 years ago to allow shepherds to take their flock across Swilcan Burn.

Visit the Royal and Ancient Golf Museum. This 5-star visitor attraction has many fascinating objects dating back 400 years. Step outside and you are within touching distance of the 1st tee of the old course at St Andrews. The University of St Andrews is the oldest in Scotland and was the meeting place of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Visit the ruins of the castle of the Archbishops of St Andrews, dating in part from the 13th century. Look into the bottle dungeon which was one of medieval Britain’s most infamous castle prisons.

In the charming village of Falkland lies Falkland Palace. This was the country residence of the Stuart Kings and Queens. Its most famous resident was Mary Queen of Scots. The palace is one of the finest examples of Renaissance Architecture in Scotland.

Explore the palace gardens, orchard, and wildflower meadow and enjoy the colors and scents of its Physic Garden.  The village of Falkland stood in for Inverness in the Outlander TV series. Enjoy a refreshment at the Covenanters Hotel – or Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse where Claire and Frank enjoy their second honeymoon. The Squares Bruce Fountain is the haunting spot where Frank sees Jamie’s ghost watching Claire at the window.

From Falkland, return to Edinburgh where the tour ends.

Not suitable for

• Children under 5 years
• Wheelchair users

Know before you go

• Bring a camera to capture the scenic views
• Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately
• Consider bringing some cash for personal expenses, as not all places may accept credit cards
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking