janisj

>>I am just wondering how easy it would be to go from the train station to the sights.<<

There is no train station in St Andrews. You would take a train to Leuchars (about 6 or 7 miles from St Andrews) and then a local bus or taxi to St Andrews. It is very easy. But if you don't want to deal w/ that Rabbies tour would be a good option.

janisj

meant to add -- once you are IN St Andrews, everything is w/i walking distance A bit of a hike from the Old Course/West Sands to the Cathedral ruins/Castle but it is all flat.

(The West Sands which runs parallel to the first few holes of the front nine of the Old Course is where they filmed the famous running scenes from Chariots of Fire)

ileen

Janisj--you are such a great source!

Thanks again, I will study more.

Your reply is very helpful, I need to learn more details as I am still just browsing and figuring what would be best to do with such limited time.

I am truly thankful for sharing details. I want to be totally prepared when I choose so there are no surprises or problems.

Have a beautifully day in sunny California!

PalenQ

Rabies type tours - there are several all about the same as far as I can gather but Rabbies seems to be the favorite of many here so that is a good recommendation - but you do not need or even want IMO tours for single city destinations where your time is all structured for you - part of the joy of a St Andrews is to just wander around this pleasant ancient town - dining at someplace that strikes your fancy and does not give incentives for tour groups, etc.

Rabbies type tours are great for rural areas like the Highlands where public transport is less than adequate often - about the only way in a day or two you could cover such ground, etc but for cities to me at least you have a better experience exploring on your own and setting your own pace - read up on the place beforehand and be your own tour guide.

stirling's train station is a short enough walk from the castle and a nice stroll thru town.

historytraveler

Having been on the Rabbies tour of St. Andrews, I will say that the tours allow you plenty of free time. In fact, the driver/ guide will provide pertinent information such as the best places to eat, shop, the best spots to visit as well as the history of wherever you're visiting. I had several hours on my own while in St. Andrews. I visited the castle ruins, the cathedral ( only fragments remain but still worth a look ) St. Rule's Tower, had a quick look at the golf club, wandered down several interesting streets and alleys including Butte Wynde , had lunch and did a little bit of shopping at the wonderfully named "Bonkers". I liked the idea that someone more informed than I was provided me with the essential information, but I was allowed to do the actual touring on my own.

janisj

>> but you do not need or even want IMO tours for single city destinations where your time is all structured for you - part of the joy of a St Andrews is to just wander around this pleasant ancient town - dining at someplace that strikes your fancy and does not give incentives for tour groups, etc.<<

Obviously you have not taken a Rabbies tour.

They are not structured like the big coach tours. Meals are not taken all together, time is not regimented . . . basically nothing like what you imply.

SusieQQ

And on overnight Rabbie tours you are given a choice of various priced accommodations. You pay for which ever one you pick directly to the hotel or guest house.

Meals are not included and you can eat where ever you want.

I am really not a tour travel person but in Scotland it can be very hard to get to some locations by public transportation so I did Rabbies Isle of Skye trip. It was a small group and the guide was excellent.

For Edinburg and St. Andrews I didn't use a tour company.

And BTW I am an elderly solo traveler.

ileen

Historytravel and Susie--Good to know you liked Rabbies to go to St. Andrews. I am considering Rabbies from Edinburgh to St. Andrews.

Like Janis said they are not structured and I think that sounds pretty good as we can do what we want at the stops.

Still figuring out a one-day train trip from Glasgow to Ft. William/Mallaig/Skye.

Thanks again to Janis and PQ or their input.



Thanks for your help.

PalenQ

They are not structured like the big coach tours. Meals are not taken all together, time is not regimented . . . basically nothing like what you imply.>

then why not just go on your own? At a fraction of the cost - oh well my bias towards on your own travels and interacting on my own with a place not be carted around - that said I understand not so veteran travelers bent to gravitate to a tour and a tour can add insight I guess - but again Stirling and St Andrews are so easy to do on your own - take a tour for other reasons than just being simple.

I have never taken a Rabies tour nor any group tour but I understand the need for some to do so - and again like going to the remote Highland a Rabbies type tour is on a short time frame the best way to do it.

Oh well each to their own - that's my two cents or pence!

SusieQQ

I would not recommend Rabbies for St. Andrews. It is so easy to reach and do on your own. I did it.

I do recommend them for areas not easily reached by public transportation such as the Isle of Skye trip I took.

jane1144

Hi ileen,
In response to your question, we happened to be driving. We stopped at St.Andrew's on the way into town, I think, and then we basically parked the car and walked around to the various sites.

Mimar

I chose to go on a Timberbush small group tour from Edinburgh to St. Andrews because it went along the East Neuk coast and stopped in one of the villages. I was eager to see something of the coast, and it looked too complicated to do both St. Andrews (train from Edinburgh then bus) and a bus trip to and from the coast by ourselves. Plus I was afraid I'd get wrapped up in St. Andrews and not get any farther. (We weren't driving on this trip to Scotland.)

I chose Timberbush because it made one less stop than Rabbies and I figured that made for more time in St. Andrews. Don't know if that was really true. We did have a good amount of time in St. Andrews, eating lunch on our own. Timberbush is also a recommended small group tour company.

historytraveler

Do note that the Rabbies tour to St. Andrews also includes a stop at the fishing village of Ansthruther along the East Neuk coast as Mirmar mentioned. We also stopped at the Firth Bridge to take pictures and at Falklands village home of James V's palace where the "Outlander " was filmed.

Yes, the train is easy and cheaper and offers yet another option. This forum should not be a platform for argument as to which is better but a place where those with relevant information can provide the poster with all the possibilities and, then, allow them to select which works best for them. Hopefully we have done that.

janisj

>>then why not just go on your own? At a fraction of the cost -<<

Mimar hits it precisely! yes, the train to Leuchars/bus to St Andrews is easy peasy (as all of us have said) . . . the big advantage to Rabbies (or Timberbush) is you also get to see Crail, Anstruther etc.

Crail: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...uest-house.jpg

Anstruther: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...anstruther.jpg

And Rabbies St Andrews tour costs less than £35 so not hugely expensive

PalenQ

<This forum should not be a platform for argument as to which is better but a place where those with relevant information can provide the poster with all the possibilities and, then, allow them to select which works best for them. Hopefully we have done that>

hey hey yes yes - options and choices not telling someone how it must be done and yes this thread has provided lots of options so the OP can decide on a Rabies tour or to go on their own and Rabbies is not the only tour company in Edinburgh either - check them all out to see what remote seaside spots they may stop at and decide on that - not on only being recommended Rabbies here IMO - take a look at them all and see what stops suit your fancy the best.

uruabam

"why not stay somewhere in a smaller let's say more Scotish town than Glasgow for a night."

More Scottish than Glasgow? What on earth does that even mean?

PalenQ

Well Glsgow is of course Scottish but on my walks around there there was also a sizable Indian neighborhood and other ethnic groups - which yes is now very Scottish - but like any large city like Paris or London or Amsterdam to me the more 'real' meaning typically French or English or Dutch or Scottish towns are those purely Scottish and much different than a cosmopolitan city like Glasgow - not to sound rcaist - I actually love Glasgow type cities more than smaller towns but I think in say Mallaig for instance you get more of the Scottish look and feel your mind's eye may be looking for - quaint is the word that Brits hate but quain to many is beautiful and I'd hardly call Glasgow quaint.

uruabam

Ah the shortbread tin stereotype of the limited "mind's eye". I hear Brigadoon is lovely this time of year.

Mimar

This year, uruabam?

PalenQ

How about 'more traditionally Scottish looking' than Glasgow to a foreigner with pictures of Scotland in their mind's eye?

As for Brigadoon - yeh that's the picture:

https://www.google.com/search?q=brig...=1600&bih=1075