One of Scotland’s scenic seaside towns has been crowned the third best in the UK, according to a well-known consumer champion. St Andrews, located in Fife on the east coast of Scotland is widley known as the “home of golf”.
The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle and is also home to the, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland, the University of St Andrews.
Each year, the town attracts more than 600,000 visitors, many of whom come to play golf, enjoy the beautiful scenery and food and drink on offer.
The “home of golf” founded The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1754. The Old Course of St Andrews Links is famous for being the most frequent venue for The Open Championship,which is the oldest of golf’s four major championships
Which? surveyed more than 4700 people about their experiences at coastal towns up and down the country to find the best of the best.
The watchdog said: “The survey results spotlight coastal gems from all four nations, with Bamburgh, Northumberland taking the top spot, Portmeirion, Gwynedd in second place, St Andrews, Fife in third place and Portstewart, Derry/Londonderry, the favourite Northern Irish resort, also featuring in the top 20.”
St Andrews is largely known as a univeristy town, with the uni topping the 2022 Good University Guide as the best in the UK. Each year, the students take part in the May Day Dip tradition in order to promote good luck in exams and cleanse of academic sins.
But aside from this, many Scots take to St Andrews for it’s expansive beach setting.
Discussing St Andrews, Which? said: “In third place was St Andrews, with a destination score of 82 per cent. The “wonderfully scenic” Scottish town received five-star ratings in a range of categories including tourist attractions, seafront, beaches and scenery, as well as four stars for shopping and food and drink.”
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel said: “From wild, unspoilt stretches of remote coastline to charming traditional bucket and spade resorts, the UK’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.
“While you may have your own favourite coastal spot, this year’s survey shows that it’s worth looking beyond the most famous resorts this summer, to the lesser-visited hidden gems in every corner of the UK.”