ST. ANDREWS REVEALED

St. Andrews, a seaside town northeast of Edinburgh, is best known as the "Home of Golf." It is the largest European public golf complex - with seven golf courses, the most famous being the Old Course, purchased by the town council in 1894.

In 1895, Thomas Hamilton, a businessman whose membership in the Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse was denied, built and originally opened the Grand Hotel overlooking the 18th hole. It was the first hotel in St. Andrews to have a pneumatic elevator and running hot and cold water in every room.



The Hamilton Grand with a glimpse 
of the Old Course in the foreground.

  
My first birdie on hole #1.


Paul battles the brutal and noisy wind.


Our fearsome foursome.


Architectural highlights of our walking tour.


The Cathedral ruins (above and below).





Blackfriars Chapel ruins (above and below).



St. Andrews Castle ruins.


Clock Tower inside St. Mary's School of Divinity Quadrant. 


St. Andrews Cathedral.


The University of St. Andrews building 
which housed students Kate Middleton and Prince William.









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scotland Revealed

Image
Myths and Legends Abound. Scotland Revealed.   Inside the  University of Scotland Green. What do you think Scotland is like? Bagpipes? kilts? Tartan? Shortbread? Whisky? Enchanting castles? The Loch Ness monster? Outlander? Braveheart? Haggis and other gross food? Golf? Constant rain? Sheep causing traffic jams? Redheads?  Factoids: Scots do not wear kilts all the time. We never asked if men wore anything under their kilts, but we did learn when kilts interfered with battle charges, they were shed and revealed the family jewels in all their glory - sights that the British troops would never be able to unsee.  Scots don’t eat haggis or deep-fried Mars bars every day They speak English, but unraveling their accent takes a few days. (Gaelic is another matter - even to Scots.) The country is filled with midges (tiny biting flies that will drive you insane within seconds). Okay, this is true in Iona.  GLASGOW REVEALED Scottish architecture is a blend of influences,  including Celtic, Romane
Read more
Image
  Old Packhorse Bridge in  Carrbridge, a historic landmark dating back to 1717, has been an important crossing point over the River Dulnain on the old main road north through the Highlands. It was built with low parapets, allowing pannier-laden horses to cross without hitting the sides.  Its fragile appearance is due to the damage incurred by the great flood of 1829. Amazingly, the remaining sliver of stone has survived two centuries of flood events. Walking on the arch is discouraged, but many crossings are available to gain access on the south bank.   Paul challenged us to see who could take the clearest photo  of a faraway farmhouse through the hole in this rock.  I couldn't use my zoom lens because it kept hitting the rock,  so I had to settle for this photo. But Lowell was the clear winner with this one. We continued our drive through the lush landscapes of Cairngorms to reach Ballater, a picturesque Victorian Village at the base of Cairngorms National Park. Lunch was on our o
Read more
Image
  ROBERT BURNS REVEALED We drove to Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway to learn about his life as one of Scotland's national treasures. He was a beloved poet and author celebrated for works like Auld Lang Syne, the famous song sung worldwide when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. Scots even have an annual holiday, Burns Night, on January 25, dedicated to him. Friends and families gather to read Burns's poetry and share a meal of haggis. The Burns Cottage, where Burns was born and raised, has been converted into a museum with handwritten manuscripts and historic artifacts - the most amazing one being the original Burns's children nightgowns. The village along Poet's Path to Auld Kirk,  where Burns's parents are buried. Wicker Effigy of Tam O’Shanter on horseback. Robert Burns's epic poem, "Tam O'Shanter," published in 1750, reflected his love for supernatural stories and his hero Tam. Ten weather vanes along the 1.5-mile Allo
Read more