30th September
We piled into the car this morning to head off to St Andrews. After a few moments of panic because the GPS thought we were driving in the Firth of Forth instead of the brand new M9 bridge, we found our way to the A92/A91 and made to St Andrews.
Not yet making it as far as the sea side, we wandered the main town and shopping area (we like shopping! Have you guessed!?). We passed the ruins of the Dominican friary of St Mary or Blackfriars as it is known today. Blackfriars Chapel was built in the 1520s as an addition to the church of the Dominican Friars, built about 10 years earlier. It didn’t last long, though – in 1559, Protestant reformers ‘violently expelled’ the friars ‘from their destroyed place’. Soon this chapel was all that remained of the friary. It now stands on a busy shopping street in St Andrews.
Not yet making it as far as the sea side, we wandered the main town and shopping area (we like shopping! Have you guessed!?). We passed the ruins of the Dominican friary of St Mary or Blackfriars as it is known today. Blackfriars Chapel was built in the 1520s as an addition to the church of the Dominican Friars, built about 10 years earlier. It didn’t last long, though – in 1559, Protestant reformers ‘violently expelled’ the friars ‘from their destroyed place’. Soon this chapel was all that remained of the friary. It now stands on a busy shopping street in St Andrews.
Whilst wandering up and down the main street a lady handed Mum a flyer for free tea and coffee at the Town Hall. So who can say no to that!? Off we went in search of the Town Hall and when we found it we were not disappointed. A beautifully set up table with hot cups of tea and a cake stall!
Finally making it to the coastline, we explored the remaining ruins of Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church; St Andrew's Cathedral. Even in its ruinous state, the cathedral remains a prominent landmark highly visible from the sea. It was built in 1158 and became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland as the seat of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and the Bishops and Archbishops of St Andrews. It fell into disuse and ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during the 16th-century Scottish Reformation.
Just down the hill and around the corner we found St Andrew's Castle. The castle sits on a rocky perch overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger (1189-1202), son of the Earl of Leicester. It housed the burgh’s wealthy and powerful bishops while St Andrews served as the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland during the years before the Protestant Reformation.
Finishing up in St Andrew's we headed out along the Fife's Coastal Tourist Route (basically the coastal road) through many little towns and picturesque villages. It was quite entertaining to drive through one village and then all of a sudden finding that the village ends and you are out in the middle of a field. But don't despair... because there is another village just over the hill!
We stopped off for lunch at Anstruther, a quaint little fishing village along our route. Stopping at the Anstruther Fish Bar, a local fish and chip shop or 'chippie', we lined up to order our fish and chips. We happened to have come on the two days this month that they were also serving Gluten free fish and chips - so Nanny could eat them without getting sick! Whilst lining up, we also found out that this fish and chip shop was quite famous, having won lots of awards and lots of famous people including the Duchess of Cornwall had eaten there!
We finished up eating and continued on our way down the coast, driving through more cute little towns before re-entering the M90. We decided to make a quick stop at the Nike factory outlet in Loanhead before heading home. Once home a nice cup of tea was in order before Mum and I set out for a brisk walk around Edinburgh at night time. It was beautiful to see the Castle and buildings lit up at night time!
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| Blackfriars |
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| Tea at the Town Hall |
Whilst wandering up and down the main street a lady handed Mum a flyer for free tea and coffee at the Town Hall. So who can say no to that!? Off we went in search of the Town Hall and when we found it we were not disappointed. A beautifully set up table with hot cups of tea and a cake stall!
Finally making it to the coastline, we explored the remaining ruins of Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church; St Andrew's Cathedral. Even in its ruinous state, the cathedral remains a prominent landmark highly visible from the sea. It was built in 1158 and became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland as the seat of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and the Bishops and Archbishops of St Andrews. It fell into disuse and ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during the 16th-century Scottish Reformation.
Just down the hill and around the corner we found St Andrew's Castle. The castle sits on a rocky perch overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. There has been a castle standing at the site since the times of Bishop Roger (1189-1202), son of the Earl of Leicester. It housed the burgh’s wealthy and powerful bishops while St Andrews served as the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland during the years before the Protestant Reformation.
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| Kelpie's at St Andrews |
Finishing up in St Andrew's we headed out along the Fife's Coastal Tourist Route (basically the coastal road) through many little towns and picturesque villages. It was quite entertaining to drive through one village and then all of a sudden finding that the village ends and you are out in the middle of a field. But don't despair... because there is another village just over the hill!
We stopped off for lunch at Anstruther, a quaint little fishing village along our route. Stopping at the Anstruther Fish Bar, a local fish and chip shop or 'chippie', we lined up to order our fish and chips. We happened to have come on the two days this month that they were also serving Gluten free fish and chips - so Nanny could eat them without getting sick! Whilst lining up, we also found out that this fish and chip shop was quite famous, having won lots of awards and lots of famous people including the Duchess of Cornwall had eaten there!
We finished up eating and continued on our way down the coast, driving through more cute little towns before re-entering the M90. We decided to make a quick stop at the Nike factory outlet in Loanhead before heading home. Once home a nice cup of tea was in order before Mum and I set out for a brisk walk around Edinburgh at night time. It was beautiful to see the Castle and buildings lit up at night time!
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