St Andrews Self-Guided Audio Tour: Cathedral, Castle & Old Course

3.7 (3 reviews) St. Andrews, Scotland
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Duration1h 50m - 2h 10m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Mary Queen of Scots, Prince William and Alice in Wonderland all left their mark on St Andrews. On this self-guided audio walk, you past the town's best-known sights and tells the stories most visitors never hear: why Prince William was almost turned down for his first flat, where the last relics of St Andrew ended up, and why locals raised £5,000 for a statue of a cat. Expect an irreverent local's take, not a polite guidebook.
The VoiceMap app plays 49 short stories automatically as you reach each spot, with turn-by-turn directions, from the Cathedral ruins past the Castle and university quads to the Old Course and West Sands. It works offline. Start whenever you arrive, pause for coffee, and pick up where you left off.

Highlights
• Hear the stories behind the Cathedral, the Castle, the university and the Old Course
• 49 GPS-triggered stops over 4 km, about 2 hours at an easy pace
• Start any time that suits you, with no group and no schedule
• Works offline, so no roaming data needed

What's included

  • VoiceMap Application
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Lifetime access to Rebels, Romance & Raisins tour
  • Smartphone
  • Transportation
  • Food/Drink
  • Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

What to expect

  1. St Andrews Cathedral
    Pass by
    Start among the ruins of what was once Scotland's largest church, where medieval pilgrims came for the relics of St Andrew. Hear how a saint's bones ended up in Fife, how the Reformation left the cathedral a shell, and why today's pilgrims come to worship golf instead.
  2. Pass by
    On the headland above the harbour lie the foundations of St Mary on the Rock, one of Scotland's earliest churches. Discover the community of monks who worshipped here long before the cathedral rose next door, and why only its outline survives today.
  3. Pass by
    Walk down past the harbour to East Sands, the beach where students plunge into the North Sea at dawn every May Day. Learn about the town's quirkier student traditions, from the May Dip to the red-gowned Pier Walk along the harbour wall after Sunday chapel.
  4. St Andrews Castle
    Pass by
    Perched above the sea, the bishop's castle is where the rebels of the title made their stand. Hear how Protestant reformers murdered Cardinal Beaton here in 1546 and held the castle under siege for over a year, and peer towards the grim bottle dungeon carved into the rock.
  5. Pass by
    Outside the gates of St Salvator's, founded in 1450, look down for the initials PH set into the cobbles. They mark where the reformer Patrick Hamilton was burned in 1528. Find out why students refuse to step on them, and what is said to happen to anyone who does before exams.
  6. Pass by
    Step into the quiet quad of St Mary's College, founded in 1538 and still home to the university's divinity school. Its gnarled thorn tree is said to have been planted by Mary Queen of Scots, who loved St Andrews. Note: the college is closed to visitors on Sundays.
  7. Hamish McHamish Statue
    Pass by
    Hamish the cat was a popular figure around town – so much so that a statue was erected in 2014, after they had raised £5,000. Sadly, that same year Hamish passed away.
  8. Pass by
    rince William's Old Flat, 13a Hope Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16. Prince William arrived at St Andrews in 2001 and met Catherine Middleton as a student here. Stop outside 13a Hope Street, the Victorian terrace flat they shared in their second year, and hear why he was almost turned down for it, plus how a small town lived with a royal romance.
  9. Pass by
    R&A Clubhouse and the Old Course. Reach the home of golf. Stand before the Royal & Ancient clubhouse and look out over the Old Course, where golf has been played for over 600 years. Learn how a seaside links became golf's most famous course, and why on Sundays the course is closed to play and open to walkers.
  10. Pass by
    The tour ends at West Sands, two miles of beach made famous by the running scene in Chariots of Fire. Take in the view back over the Old Course and the town, then reflect on the stories you have heard. The tour start point is about 1 km back along the seafront.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Start on North Street, across from the main entrance to St Andrews' Cathedral. There is a cobbled section with some flower boxes and benches. Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on the confirmation.
St Andrews bus station is about 10 minutes walk away.

End point

The end point is around 1km (625 yards) from the starting point.

Additional information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

3.7 (3)
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