St Andrews
St Andrews Castle · Photo: Son of Groucho from Scotland
St Andrews Castle has a clifftop ruin and an underground mine and counter-mine for brave explorers. Fuel up with gelato in town, then drive out to Craigtoun Country Park for a picnic, play areas and, in season, its family attractions.
Castle · 10:00–11:30 (1h30m)
Explore the ruin and crawl through the mine tunnels.
Clifftop castle ruin on the St Andrews seafront, once home to the town's bishops, with a deep bottle dungeon and an exhibition. The medieval siege mine and countermine tunnels and the Bishop's Apartments are currently closed.
Photo: Son of Groucho from Scotland
Food stop · 11:45–12:15 (30m)
Ice cream stop on South Street.
Long-running gelato shop on South Street in St Andrews with a large range of handmade gelato and sorbet flavours, plus coffee. A treat stop after the castle or beach rather than a full meal.
Photo: Stanley Howe
Park · 12:45–15:30 (2h45m)
Picnic, playgrounds and seasonal attractions; café on site.
An outdoor park in St Andrews.
Photo: John Haynes
ScotlandEdinburgh (Corstorphine)
Edinburgh Zoo fills most of the day, with its hillside paths leading from penguins near the bottom to big cats and views near the top. Finish with a gentle wander and picnic in the free grounds of Lauriston Castle, which run down towards the Forth.
Edinburgh Zoo → Lauriston Castle
ScotlandFalkirk
Start at The Helix park, where the giant horse-head Kelpies sculptures tower over the canal and there's a big play area. In the afternoon, take a boat into the air on the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift.
The Helix → The Helix Visitor Centre cafe → Falkirk Wheel
ScotlandBanchory
On a running day, take a short heritage train ride along the River Dee from Milton of Crathes, then eat at the brasserie by the station. In the afternoon, head a mile down the road to Crathes Castle for the gardens, woodland trails and the adventure play area.
Royal Deeside Railway → Crathes Castle Garden and Estate
