Public Transport from Edinburgh Airport to St. Andrews
Oct 15th, 2013, 10:59 AM
#1
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Public Transport from Edinburgh Airport to St. Andrews
We will be arriving at Edinburgh Airport on a Wednesday in May, 2014 and traveling to St. Andrews via public transportation. Upon looking at Traveline Scotland, I have found a couple different suggested routes. 1. Bus #747( Stagecoach Fife) to Inverkeithing , then change to Bus #X59 directly to St. Andrews Bus Station OR 2. Bus #100 (Lothian Buses) to Haymarket Rail Station, then Scotrail to Leuchars Rail Station and Bus #99A
to St. Andrews.
Both trips are listed as taking 1 hour and 58 minutes. It seems that the first option might be less hassle since there is only one connection (from bus to bus) instead of option two which would be bus to train to bus. We will both have suitcases on wheels, plus my husband will have golf clubs. Am I missing some important difference between the two journeys? Thanks in advance for your advise......
to St. Andrews.
Both trips are listed as taking 1 hour and 58 minutes. It seems that the first option might be less hassle since there is only one connection (from bus to bus) instead of option two which would be bus to train to bus. We will both have suitcases on wheels, plus my husband will have golf clubs. Am I missing some important difference between the two journeys? Thanks in advance for your advise......
Oct 15th, 2013, 11:18 AM
#2
Must you use public transport? The trip is an easy drive (though not recommended after a sleepless overnight flight)
But if it must be car-less - choose the all coach option. A train and two buses isn't easy (hefting bags and golf clubs on to the train is difficult)
Curious - What will you be doing sans a car after you leave St Andrews?
But if it must be car-less - choose the all coach option. A train and two buses isn't easy (hefting bags and golf clubs on to the train is difficult)
Curious - What will you be doing sans a car after you leave St Andrews?
Oct 15th, 2013, 11:53 AM
#3
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We're staying at St. Andrews for 8 nights, then Edinburgh for 2 nights before taking the train to London for another week. The St. Andrews portion is all about golf for my husband. We thought about renting a car but it seems foolish to rent a car and just have it sit most of the time. He has a reserved tee time on the Old Course and will play the Jubilee on another day. We were thinking he could just take a cab to Crail and other close places to play. Actually trying to decide whether to rent a car or not has been hardest decision of the entire trip.
The whole coach option is the one I was leaning toward - thanks for the confirmation!
The whole coach option is the one I was leaning toward - thanks for the confirmation!
Oct 15th, 2013, 12:13 PM
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Ckiskie - That should be fun for him Ckiskie, as the Open is back at St Andrews in 2015. He will appreciate the course on TV so much more after he has played it. If he is a good golfer I hope he has thought of playing at Carnoustie, which is a 40 minute drive away. Wonderful course but a little on the challenging side.
Oct 15th, 2013, 02:09 PM
#7
>>The St. Andrews portion is all about golf for my husband. We thought about renting a car but it seems foolish to rent a car and just have it sit most of the time.<<
That is fine -- but what on earth will you be doing while he spends every day playing golf. Rent a car. St Andrews is a nice town but after 1.5 or 2 days you will have seen/done it all.
• Drop him at Crail and tour the fishing villages
• Drop him at Carnoustie and you go to Glamis Castle
• Leave him at the Old Course and you go to Falkland Palace.
• etc etc etc
You won't need/want a car in Edinburgh so I'd collect one at EDI, drive to St Andrews then after your 8 days drop the car back at EDI and go into the city centre by airport bus or taxi.
That is fine -- but what on earth will you be doing while he spends every day playing golf. Rent a car. St Andrews is a nice town but after 1.5 or 2 days you will have seen/done it all.
• Drop him at Crail and tour the fishing villages
• Drop him at Carnoustie and you go to Glamis Castle
• Leave him at the Old Course and you go to Falkland Palace.
• etc etc etc
You won't need/want a car in Edinburgh so I'd collect one at EDI, drive to St Andrews then after your 8 days drop the car back at EDI and go into the city centre by airport bus or taxi.
Oct 16th, 2013, 12:26 AM
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What Janisj says.
St. Andrews is not of sufficient interest to occupy a non-golfer for six days.
You do not want to have a car in Edinburgh. Even people who live there think hard before driving anywhere near the Center, which is where visitors want to be.
St. Andrews is not of sufficient interest to occupy a non-golfer for six days.
You do not want to have a car in Edinburgh. Even people who live there think hard before driving anywhere near the Center, which is where visitors want to be.
Oct 16th, 2013, 06:03 AM
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colduphere - he is very excited about playing the courses at St. Andrews after watching many rounds there on TV. He is considering Carnoustie as well, especially if we decide to rent a car.
janisj & Ackislander - Thank you for your insight. We originally were going to rent a car, but after reading how hard it was to find parking, etc. in St. Andrews and thinking about the car just sitting there and not being used every day we thought we might go without. However, your comments have made me re-think that. I have been thinking more about what he would be doing than what I would do while he is golfing. It's hard to know just how much there is at St. Andrews to keep me busy unless I get the advise of experts. Thanks for that.
Another question - since we're off to London for a week after St. Andrews and Edinburgh, does anyone have experience in shipping golf clubs back to the US so we don't have to tote them along?
janisj & Ackislander - Thank you for your insight. We originally were going to rent a car, but after reading how hard it was to find parking, etc. in St. Andrews and thinking about the car just sitting there and not being used every day we thought we might go without. However, your comments have made me re-think that. I have been thinking more about what he would be doing than what I would do while he is golfing. It's hard to know just how much there is at St. Andrews to keep me busy unless I get the advise of experts. Thanks for that.
Another question - since we're off to London for a week after St. Andrews and Edinburgh, does anyone have experience in shipping golf clubs back to the US so we don't have to tote them along?
Oct 16th, 2013, 06:13 AM
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While I am spending your money 
he should also look at Kingsbarns. It is only 7 miles up the road from St Andrews and is probably the most beautiful course I have ever played. There are many other courses that are much less expensive.
he should also look at Kingsbarns. It is only 7 miles up the road from St Andrews and is probably the most beautiful course I have ever played. There are many other courses that are much less expensive.
Oct 16th, 2013, 07:19 AM
#11
Re the clubs. It will be expensive to ship them home. If you are flying down to London - leave them in Left Luggage at the airport for the week and collect them before flying home.
If you are taking the train to London -- leave them in Left Luggage at the train station (likely Kings Cross) for the week and collect them before heading to the airport.
Left Luggage at LHR is £9 per day - not cheap but less than shipping charges.
Re St Andrews - it is a lovely town and there is the Castle/Cathedral/some terrific beaches. But you can see/do just about everything in one full day - two if you dawdle. I last stayed in the area for a week in April and took my first-timer cousin to St Andrews for one day. We visited the Castle, Cathedral, walked the 1, 2 16, 17, 18 holes on the Old Course, and a LOT of shopping for golf-related gifts, and had afternoon tea - then drove out to the end of the west sands (was too wet/cold/blustery to do the walk)
We were staying near Anstruther and only went to St Andrews the one day and she saw pretty much everything except the golf museum and sea life center.. You'll be IN the town so can spread that over two days but then you've about covered things.
If you are taking the train to London -- leave them in Left Luggage at the train station (likely Kings Cross) for the week and collect them before heading to the airport.
Left Luggage at LHR is £9 per day - not cheap but less than shipping charges.
Re St Andrews - it is a lovely town and there is the Castle/Cathedral/some terrific beaches. But you can see/do just about everything in one full day - two if you dawdle. I last stayed in the area for a week in April and took my first-timer cousin to St Andrews for one day. We visited the Castle, Cathedral, walked the 1, 2 16, 17, 18 holes on the Old Course, and a LOT of shopping for golf-related gifts, and had afternoon tea - then drove out to the end of the west sands (was too wet/cold/blustery to do the walk)
We were staying near Anstruther and only went to St Andrews the one day and she saw pretty much everything except the golf museum and sea life center.. You'll be IN the town so can spread that over two days but then you've about covered things.
Oct 16th, 2013, 09:02 AM
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Get the car for St. Andrews.
Parking in St. Andrews shouldn't be that much of an issue. It's not that big, so even something on the outskirts wouldn't be that bad (and you can probably do better).
We spent 4 nights in Crail -- see if my TR helps at all:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-and-more.cfm
Parking in St. Andrews shouldn't be that much of an issue. It's not that big, so even something on the outskirts wouldn't be that bad (and you can probably do better).
We spent 4 nights in Crail -- see if my TR helps at all:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-and-more.cfm
Oct 16th, 2013, 12:54 PM
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I would echo what others have said and recommend you get a hire car. They needn't be expensive - Arnold Clark (a local Scottish rental company) is often significantly cheaper than the international chains:- http://www.arnoldclarkrental.com/.
If you really don't want to drive, there are several airport taxi companies (what some round here call "car services") operating to/from St Andrews, many of which cater for returning overseas students at the University, as well as golfers:-
http://www.standrewsshuttle.com/
http://www.univercitytransfers.co.uk/
Personally, I could easily find plently to do in and around St Andrews for a week or so, those who are claiming you can see/do it all in one day are selling it short I'm afraid. It really is one of the most attractive and interesting small towns (though technically a city) in Scotland.
I've no idea where the "difficult" parking story comes from. Apart from when there's a major golfing championship in town, there are no significant parking problems - there are plenty of car parks and you can park for free on many streets, especially in the evening.
If you really don't want to drive, there are several airport taxi companies (what some round here call "car services") operating to/from St Andrews, many of which cater for returning overseas students at the University, as well as golfers:-
http://www.standrewsshuttle.com/
http://www.univercitytransfers.co.uk/
Personally, I could easily find plently to do in and around St Andrews for a week or so, those who are claiming you can see/do it all in one day are selling it short I'm afraid. It really is one of the most attractive and interesting small towns (though technically a city) in Scotland.
I've no idea where the "difficult" parking story comes from. Apart from when there's a major golfing championship in town, there are no significant parking problems - there are plenty of car parks and you can park for free on many streets, especially in the evening.
Oct 16th, 2013, 02:14 PM
#14
Gordon: >>I could easily find plently to do in and around St Andrews for a week or so<<
The operative words are >>. . . and around St Andrews<<
To get around Fife, a car is soooooo much easier than public transport. And I think a couple of days IN St Andrews would be great but IMO it would be a shame to spend a whole week there cooling my heels while hubby played golf.
The operative words are >>. . . and around St Andrews<<
To get around Fife, a car is soooooo much easier than public transport. And I think a couple of days IN St Andrews would be great but IMO it would be a shame to spend a whole week there cooling my heels while hubby played golf.
Oct 17th, 2013, 05:33 AM
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Thanks to all for your replies, that's why I posted the questions. I knew I would get some insight. I will look into a rental and we will then decide our plan.
colduphere - I don't think we're going to need any help spending our $ - Kingsbarns is on his list as well!
colduphere - I don't think we're going to need any help spending our $ - Kingsbarns is on his list as well!
Oct 17th, 2013, 10:23 AM
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By the time you get here Edinburgh is hoping its new trams are up and running so that might provide another option.
You can get the train to Leuchars from Haymarket (instead of Waverley).
The hotel you are staying at might do a shuttle to and from Leuchars, worth asking anyway.
There is a company that provides tours from St. Andrews: http://www.scotlandheritagetours.co.uk/tours.php
Never used them myself so can´t comment but just to show you there is life in Fife without a car.
You can get the train to Leuchars from Haymarket (instead of Waverley).
The hotel you are staying at might do a shuttle to and from Leuchars, worth asking anyway.
There is a company that provides tours from St. Andrews: http://www.scotlandheritagetours.co.uk/tours.php
Never used them myself so can´t comment but just to show you there is life in Fife without a car.
