2014 has been an enormous year for Scotland, being the host of several internationally recognised events including The Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Edinburgh Festival, The Gleneagles Ryder Cup and not to forget, the unforgettable Independence Referendum - all of which have heightened what was an already deep love for our wonderful country. As a small island with a population smaller than some American states, what was titled a 'mammoth task' was pulled off and I believe perfectly executed by the ever passionate, proud and patriotic Scottish people. I was fortunate enough to be at the heart of these events and experience the sheer electric atmosphere that engulfed the country and this is something I will always value. I believe it has made me more eager to explore Scotland and the breathtaking scenery it has to offer which is why I will begin my first instalment of Scottish travel blog posts with my recent trip to St Andrews.
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| St Andrews pier and the cathedral. |
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Some of my earliest and fondest memories which I will always treasure were spent in St Andrews at my Grandparent's caravan, situated on a sea view cliff which looked onto the historic town and famous cathedral. My Grandparent's were keen travellers and my Dad tells me that from a young age, they were always seize their weekends to go out and about to explore the seaside, venture up the coast and on a few occasions, they even took the long drive over the sea to Spain. My family would frequent at the caravan about 4 times a year and it was always such a happy and exciting occasion, catching up on old times and sharing valuable moments with the children who were growing up so quickly. My sister and I were taken out during the day, maybe to the aquarium, or the cinema or a walk along to the world famous St Andrews Old Course. However, after my Grandpa passed away, maintaining the caravan became very laborious for my Granny who was expected to keep it running and cover the expensive annual site and maintenance fees. So it was much to the family's delight and surprise that my Dad decided to buy his own caravan which was the perfect compromise as the pressure was taken off my Granny but we still had a place to visit and catch up with family - just like the old times. This caravan is based a little further up the coast in a small town called Crail, situated just near Pittenweem and Anstruther.  |
Last week my friend and I decided to take a road trip up to St Andrews to visit our good friend Stacey who is studying a masters in marketing up there. Prior to moving into her accommodation, Stacey had never visited St Andrews so I was keen to explore the town with someone with a fresh pair of eyes. We had lunch at the famous Jannettas- a gellato ice cream parlour which offers almost any flavour you can imagine. I ordered a 3 scoop tub with snickers, white chocolate raspberry and pistachio. We then took a walk to see some of the old historic university buildings, some of which have been standing for over 500 years and then followed on to take a stroll along the chilly pier.
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| Jannettas' elaborate ice cream selection. |
As a 23 year old adult, I no longer view St Andrews as a place equipped with play parks, sand castles and colouring books but as someone who especially enjoys sampling new restaurants, cafes and bars, and appreciates fresh local food, St Andrews has become a hub for all of these things. Over the last 3 or 4 years a wealth of new places have opened up which offer a contemporary feel to a very historic town which I imagine pleases the thousands of students and visitors who reside and pass through here. The world famous golf course and cathedral are also worth a visit - ideal for the history buff and additionally there are 2 beautiful beaches; East Sands and West Sands - both of which are scenic and perfect for a brisk walk.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit up to an old favourite town and I plan to continue exercising the habit to re-visit St Andrews when I get the chance.
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