Visit to The home of Golf--St. Andrews

Even though many people probably think I'm nuts, I (Kathy) really like to watch golf matches (that's a solid 50% of this couple!).  Especially the majors.  And through the years, I've been enamored of the Scottish tradition of golf, particularly at St. Andrews.  Now St Andrews is not only a huge series of 18 hole golf courses located smack dab on the shores of the Eastern edge of Scotland.  It is also a college town of international repute, and has a lot of ancient buildings to explore including a castle and abbey. 

So we left Caroline's and drove an hour through the countryside.  The golf complex was very confusing, but we found our way to a parking lot by the driving range and got great directions and maps. We hopped on a shuttle and were whisked up to the most "Royal and Ancient" golf club of St Andrews.  We were blessed with another sunny day and really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere and watching golfers tee off who had made reservations a year in advance. The "Old Course" is sandwiched between the town and the sea.  A really stunning setting!

Such an iconic setting.

Yay, I made it!

The golf course on the sea

Kayakers and instructors

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.  Members Only

Starting the game you've waited a year for.

We strolled along watching golfers, went to the ocean and watched kayakers, dog walkers and tourists, stopped at a cafe and had a nosh and finally walked along the old course back to our car.  Wow, what a day.

Starters building.  Looking down the first hole

View from our coffee cup

Shoreline.  This faces East into the North Sea

Nice place to take a break

Hotel next to the clubhouse

Clubhouse from a distance.  So distinguished looking

On the left, the city.  On the right, the golf course.

The famous Swilkin Bridge.  Where many famous golfers have been photographed and Tom Watson said his goodbye to St. Andrews in 2015

A not at all famous golfer

Pot bunker and person enjoying a "good walk spoiled"

Watch out for golf balls and pick up your dog poop!

But we decided to drive further in to town to see more sights.  We stopped in front of the college and walked toward the ruins of the castle. 

St Andrews University is really old and filled with gorgeous buildings, arches and courtyards

This is a view down the street to the ruins of an Abbey.  The protestants and catholics had a series of battles through the ages and destroyed each others castles and religious monuments. 

These are the ruins of St. Andrew's Castle.  This has been the site of some kind of castle since the 1200's. 

Remains of the moat

Entrance

The castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. 

View of the Abbey from the castle

After having such a lovely day, it was a real anticlimax to turn around and head back to Edinburgh.  We had booked the night at an Ibis budget hotel by the airport that turned out to be in the middle of an office park (Budget it was.....It was the first time I ever saw a hotel room with the shower placed next to the bed.  Sleep walking is a real no-no when there is the possibility that you can drown).  There were no dinner possibilities except the food court at a mall.  The promised 2 minute walk turned out to be 15 and by the time we got there the mall was closing and the only choices were a noodle place and a Burger King.  We thought we chose the lesser of two evils, but we should have gone with the Whopper. 

Too tired to eat.  Thank goodness!  Would YOU eat food that color???

For giving made easy.......(?)

We laughed our way back to our tiny room and snacked on junk and packed to leave the next morning.

Jeff and I loved our trip to Scotland.  We leave knowing that we will have to come back.  There are many more lochs, castles, churches, towns, museums and parks to see and adventures to enjoy.

Inverness to Perth--A long drive rewarded

The Mercure Hotel was hardly worth the effort to find it.  We had been having good luck with our lodgings up until then but the Mercure had a hard double bed pushed up into the corner, not enough light or plug-ins and an expensive breakfast.  Every hotel bathroom has both a plugged up sink and a noisy fan, but the Mercure's sink didn't drain at all the the fan was like a jet taking off.

After a night of tossing and turning, we endured another spate of roundabouts and left town.  Inverness probably is a nice place to hang out, but we had places to go.  Namely, big on our bucket list, was to see St. Andrews, both the legendary golf course and the ancient town.  Looking at the map, I threw a dart to find a town to stay in on the way and it landed on Perth, just an hour away from St. Andrews.  We hastily booked a BnB before we left.

Luckily, the road to Perth, the A9, was easy to drive.  It was almost a freeway with actual shoulders   and passing lanes every few miles.  Part of it was even a four lane "carriageway".  It led through the Grampion Mountains and Cairngorms National park.  The scenery was stunning, with rolling hills of green and exits to numerous castles, distilleries and campgrounds.

View through the window of the scenery on the way to Perth

We got to Perth in record time and started looking for a laundromat so we could cross that item off our list before getting to the BnB.  Meanwhile we stopped downtown and found a townie cafe that served delicious Scottish food.  We inquired about a place to wash our clothes, but got no results, so decided to ask the BnB proprietor when we got there.  The Bnb was a cute house on a busy street close to downtown.

We got a warm welcome from our hostess, Caroline and were shown a wonderful room with a king size bed, lots of plug ins, a fully equipped bathroom with a sink that drained, and water, coffee and snacks available.  We really lucked out!!  When we asked about a laundromat, Caroline insisted that she would do our laundry for us, wouldn't be talked out of it and wouldn't take any money for it.  We were in total shock.  What a great relief!  Also, Caroline gave us a map of Perth with attractions and restaurants marked that were all within walking distance. 

So we gratefully gave her our laundry, and took off walking toward a castle and museum for the "Black Watch" Scottish Regiment. The Black Watch regiment has been around since the 1600's and have served bravely, honorably and with distinction.  The museum was very well done with too much to read and view.  We departed feeling like we had just left hallowed ground.

The Rose Guest House.....big and roomy

House on the walk to the Museum/castle

Black Watch castle

Memorial to the Guard

Rows memorials to fallen soldiers of the Black Watch

After the amazing display at the Black Watch museum, we walked through a huge park and athletic field complex (about the size of 15 football fields and I may be underestimating) to a path by the Tay River which flows lazily through the town.  The sun shone down on us as we walked with bikers, joggers, giggling teens, and many other walkers, with and without their dogs.  The smell of fresh mowed grass permeated the air.  We stopped at a pullout with benches and a view of the river and houses across the way.  Just when we thought the scenery could not get more scenic, and were counting our blessings to be in such an amazing place, two swans lazily swam past.  Wow!!  It was truly a delightful stroll where we could feel every one of our nerve endings relax.

Walking across the Rugby field

Looking toward town

The wonderful long walk under blue skies

The Tay

And the perfect swans

Dogs were swimming.  One reminded us so much of Freddy, it brought a tear.

The bridge over the Tay into downtown Perth

Another memorial to fallen dead during WW1

At the end of the park lay the edge of old town Perth, sparkling clean, well maintained and filled with engaging store fronts.  By happenstance, we stumbled on "The Bothy Bar", a restaurant that Caroline had recommended.  She had told us to flash her business card to enjoy a 20% off dinner.  We were not disappointed by our dinner in any way and Kathy is becoming a Scotch whiskey aficionado.

Ready to try some more scotch

Church on our way home

We strolled back through the park which was now filled with every age/sex of soccer and rugby players.  Bikes, joggers, dogs, and walkers and every possible combination were enjoying a mild autumn early evening.  Upon our return, we were beyond pleased to find all of our laundry clean and folded.

Perth was one of those stops where you don't know what to expect, only to find any expectations completely surpassed.

Our wonderful hostess Caroline