Possible to see St. Andrews?

[GrammySpo]

We are cruising the British Isles this month and wondering if it's possible to see St. Andrews from Edinburgh. I tried booking what was called a shore excursion with Timberbrush but they don't leave from the port but rather a place about 30 minutes away. Opted out of it but would still like to go if possible.

 

 

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[Trevor Fountain]

Yes, here's how;

Bus 747 from South Queensferry to Inverkeithing

Departs Queensferry, Slip Road (Forth Road Bridges) every 10 minutes (£1 - £3)

journey takes 13 min. (Bus stops right outside Train Station at Inverkeithing)

Train (Scotrail) from Inverkeithing to Leuchers Every 20 past the hour, journey takes 44 minutes. (£8 - £13)

Taxi from Leuchers to St. Andrews 10 minutes £6 approx.

 

 

However better than messing with three modes of transport,

 

 

Uber Edinburgh. Will pick you up at the Ship (or nearest accessible point) and take you in 53 minutes to St Andrews. One way fare is between £55 and £80.

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/cities/edinburgh/

 

 

Alternatively, you could contact any of the reputable companies below for a quote, taxi or minivan.

 

 

 

Edinburgh Cars +44 131 555 1772

Central Taxis Ltd +44 131 229 2468

City Cabs Ltd.+44 131 228 1211

[TMLAalum]

We are cruising the British Isles this month and wondering if it's possible to see St. Andrews from Edinburgh. I tried booking what was called a shore excursion with Timberbrush but they don't leave from the port but rather a place about 30 minutes away. Opted out of it but would still like to go if possible.

 

 

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We used Timberbush for a private tour (not to St Andrew's though since we'd been there on a land trip and got to walk the course on a Sunday afternoon). Perhaps there would be a few roll call members who'd like to participate in a tour there with you?

 

Depending on your time in Ediinburgh, you could easily taxi to the meeting spot for the Timberbush tour. I highly recommend this company based on our tour with them- our driver/guide was flexible and knowledgeable about our chosen itinerary to the Trossachs and Stiriling Castle.

[tartanexile81]

Timberbush definitely picks up at the port as I was chatting to one of their guides on Tuesday and they had quite a big party. Assume it just applies to their tour of St Andrews? If you want to DIY I personally wouldn't walk up to the slip road at the Forth Bridge to catch the bus as suggested by Trevor. (sorry Trevor!!!) It's a fair trek and up a really steep hill. There's also so many roadworks going on up there it's a bit hairy for pedestrians. But that's me!

 

There's a direct train on a Sunday from Dalmeny to Leuchars which cruisers on 9th July will be able to take.You're not on that one by any chance? However it does also involve a walk to start with. All trains connect with a bus which will take you from Leuchars which is the nearest station to St Andrews or as Trevor says pick up another taxi.

 

If it's not a Sunday the best bet would be to get taxi across the river to Inverkeithing station and again follow Trevor's instructions. There's a taxi rank directly across from the port gates or maybe you could ring one of the numbers given above and book a taxi once you're on the tender. I also use 0130-555-5555 and 0131-777-7777 who are cheaper than the black cabs and are equally reliable IMO.

 

However it's all a bit complicated and the fact is Princess offers an afternoon tour to St Andrews so my advice would be to take that and enjoy a leisurely morning in the pretty village of South Queensferry. St Andrews is not a big town and you would certainly get an impression of it in a couple of hours.

[GrammySpo]

Timberbush definitely picks up at the port as I was chatting to one of their guides on Tuesday and they had quite a big party. Assume it just applies to their tour of St Andrews? If you want to DIY I personally wouldn't walk up to the slip road at the Forth Bridge to catch the bus as suggested by Trevor. (sorry Trevor!!!) It's a fair trek and up a really steep hill. There's also so many roadworks going on up there it's a bit hairy for pedestrians. But that's me!

 

 

 

There's a direct train on a Sunday from Dalmeny to Leuchars which cruisers on 9th July will be able to take.You're not on that one by any chance? However it does also involve a walk to start with. All trains connect with a bus which will take you from Leuchars which is the nearest station to St Andrews or as Trevor says pick up another taxi.

 

 

 

If it's not a Sunday the best bet would be to get taxi across the river to Inverkeithing station and again follow Trevor's instructions. There's a taxi rank directly across from the port gates or maybe you could ring one of the numbers given above and book a taxi once you're on the tender. I also use 0130-555-5555 and 0131-777-7777 who are cheaper than the black cabs and are equally reliable IMO.

 

 

 

However it's all a bit complicated and the fact is Princess offers an afternoon tour to St Andrews so my advice would be to take that and enjoy a leisurely morning in the pretty village of South Queensferry. St Andrews is not a big town and you would certainly get an impression of it in a couple of hours.

 

 

 

They responded that they didn't pick up from the port so that is confusing. I did see the Princess excursion but wanted to do a morning tour not afternoon. They don't return to the ship til 615.

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

They responded that they didn't pick up from the port so that is confusing. I did see the Princess excursion but wanted to do a morning tour not afternoon. They don't return to the ship til 615.

 

 

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if you're still keen to go to St Andrews, then I could suggest the phone numbers of local taxi-drivers who might offer you a cheaper price but of course they couldn't give a commentary or guided tour. The option of going by train would be the second viable option

 

taxi to Inverkeithing- taxi rank opposite port gates

Train from Inverkeithing to Leuchars at 9:20 or 10:20 and it takes 45 mins to to get there. You'd change to a taxi or bus once you get to Leuchars and that would be another 10-15 mins

 

Coming back

taxi or bus to Leuchars

 

train leaves Leuchars at 2:45, 3:45 or 4:22 (which is a faster train). There are always taxis at Inverkeithing to take you back to Hawes Pier at South Queensferry

[GrammySpo]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I was able t find an alternate option so it should work out.

 

 

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[WeeCountyMan]

If you have time in South Queensferry - try a pint and a bar meal in The Hawes Inn (under the rail bridge) - according to local folklore, R.L.Stevenson got ideas for some of his novels there.

[Trevor Fountain]

If you have time in South Queensferry - try a pint and a bar meal in The Hawes Inn (under the rail bridge) - according to local folklore, R.L.Stevenson got ideas for some of his novels there.

 

He actually wrote part of "Kidnapped" there, and in fact Hawes Inn gets a mention in the book.

[BPCruiser]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I was able t find an alternate option so it should work out.

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Do you mind sharing your alternate option? We will be a traveling group of 6 adults with 1 cruise port day in Edinburgh on 8/1/2018. We are also interested in a tour that would pick us up at the cruise port terminal and take us to see St. Andrews. We will only be in Port 6A-4P. Any suggestions for private small group tours to St. Andrews for 6-8 people?

 

Thanks

[Got2Cruise]

Look up Rabbies Tours in Edinburgh. They offer small group tours to St Andrews. Perhaps you can arrange for them to pick you up at port. We used them on our recent land vacation in Edinburgh.

 

 

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[BPCruiser]

Look up Rabbies Tours in Edinburgh. They offer small group tours to St Andrews. Perhaps you can arrange for them to pick you up at port. We used them on our recent land vacation in Edinburgh.

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Thank You, I have e-mailed them for information.

[GrammySpo]

Do you mind sharing your alternate option? We will be a traveling group of 6 adults with 1 cruise port day in Edinburgh on 8/1/2018. We are also interested in a tour that would pick us up at the cruise port terminal and take us to see St. Andrews. We will only be in Port 6A-4P. Any suggestions for private small group tours to St. Andrews for 6-8 people?

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

We used G and S tours. It's a tender port so you need to get off promptly. We stopped at a distillery, had time for lunch in St. Andrews, and a 1-hour tour of St. Andrews and time to walk around. It was an all-day tour and really enjoyed it.

 

 

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[BPCruiser]

Thank You for the reference. Was all your time spent in St Andrews or did you have any time to see sights in Edinburgh?

 

 

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[GrammySpo]

Thank You for the reference. Was all your time spent in St Andrews or did you have any time to see sights in Edinburgh?

 

 

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No time for Edinburgh. That would be the downside because I heard Edinburgh was very nice.

 

 

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[tartanexile81]

You can't do St Andrews and Edinburgh on the same day BPcruiser. Edinburgh is Scotland's Capital and its most popular tourist destination. You can spend a few days there quite easily. If you went from SQ to Edinburgh then drove to St Andrews you'd only end up in a car with no time to see anything.

 

There are numerous tour companies who serve the ports of Edinburgh and I know lots of cruisers coming in to SQ use TripAdvisor for recommendations. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Products-g186525-zfc11941-zfg11882-Edinburgh_Scotland.html

 

Our volunteer website also has the name of some tour guides whom we know and trust. It's http://www.cruiseforth.com

 

I was on Crystal Symphony today running an information desk and I was able to arrange a tour to St Andrews in a local taxi for a group of 4 with 3 hours in St Andrews. The cost was £170.

[Thejuggler]

Unless golf is your game and you have the handicap, time and money to tackle the Old Course there really is nothing in St Andrews to justify missing Edinburgh!

[tartanexile81]

Unless golf is your game and you have the handicap, time and money to tackle the Old Course there really is nothing in St Andrews to justify missing Edinburgh!

 

 

I don't agree. I think St Andrews is a very picturesque town with a great atmosphere and lots of interesting sights- the Castle, Cathedral, various parts of the university dating back 300 years, the beautiful beach, golf courses and the Golf Museum, the harbour, great shops, cafes and bars.... Some people are over-awed by visiting a city with so much to offer as Edinburgh has, so for them the world-famous St Andrews is a huge draw. All the cruise lines offer tours there and they are always popular. most of them offering a drive through the East Neuk of Fife which is a stunningly uncommercialised area, often combined with Falkland and/or Dunfermline both historic Scottish towns