Did you know it took 4,500 workers to build the Forth rail bridge? Were you aware that the Forth road bridge was the longest of bridge of its kind outside the US when it was built? The Forth Bridges have been famous landmarks on the Firth of Forth for many years. Now rising out of the water like a white angel is the new Queensferry Crossing. Joining the family of the famous duo, each bridge has its own story to tell. Of all the places to visit in Fife, this location is iconic and absolutely worth a visit.

Telling the story of three bridges

Travellers would cross from Lothian to Fife in the area well before the invention of trains and cars. As methods of transport evolved so did the need for alternative ways of crossing this expanse of water.

Through remarkable feats of engineering, these bridges rose out of the water thanks to hundreds of workers, many of whom risked their lives to build them. The rail bridge came first and was completed in 1890. It had a total length of 2,467. and its highest point is 110m above water level. It is still in regular use to this day, and you can easily buy tickets and take a train ride across and back.

The Forth Road Bridge came next, completed in in 1964. It’s over 2.5km long. Until relatively recently was still used daily by motorists. Today, it has been semi-retired. The bridge is now for exclusive use by pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation vehicles.

Finally, in 2017, the Queensferry Crossing opened. For exclusive use by motorway traffic (you cannot walk across it), it is s the longest 3-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world. at 2.7km. It’s absolutely worth a drive over to admire it’s beautiful design, and also the breathtaking views of the other two bridges spanning the Forth.

Perfect family day out in Fife

The bridges are a little under an hours drive south from Elderburn, and are worth a day trip to see. For many, it’s a bucket-list achievement. Take a trip over and stop for something to eat in South Queensferry. Also, don’t miss an opportunity to take a boat ride onto the water and see the bridges from a whole new perspective!

Build Bridges and visit us in Fife!

Our self-catering accommodation is near St Andrews, here in Fife and a beautiful drive from the bridges. Check out our special offers to choose the best time of year to visit. Find out more by getting in touch today. Call us on 07840 801 114 or email us here. So come along and discover more places to visit in Fife!

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The Open and St Andrews

St Andrews hosted its first Open in 1873. Since then, its famous Old Course has set the stage for some of the most memorable moments in golf history. To date, St Andrews has hosted The Open a record 30 times, more than any other location. It has also hosted The Women’s Open on three occasions. St Andrews currently hosts the men’s Open every 5 years, with the last time being in 2022.

Attending The Open in 2027

If you’re interested in attending this prestigious golfing competition as a spectator, you can register your interest for tickets here. Tickets are usually allocated through a ballot system due to high demand, and more information will be released closer to the time.

Even if you don’t manage to secure a ticket, St Andrews is an exciting place to be during the tournament. The streets are packed with golf fans, creating a festival-like atmosphere with pop-up bars, big screens broadcasting the action and live entertainment. Local pubs and restaurants are filled with fans discussing every shot, while golf shops and stalls sell memorabilia.

Booking St Andrews accommodation

St Andrews becomes extremely busy during The Open, and you’ll need to book early to secure your accommodation. Our holiday lodges are the perfect location, just a 10-minute taxi to the Old Course itself. Our online booking calendar isn’t yet open for 2027, so please contact us directly to enquire about availability and prices.

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St Andrew’s day celebrations take place every year in Scotland (and across the world) on the 30th November. What better place to celebrate the patron saint of Scotland than in the town which bears his name? Here in St Andrews and our surroundings, we have many events to choose from to mark the day. Once you decide on how to spend the day, don’t forget to book your break with us.

So what exactly is St Andrew’s Day all about?

First off, for the grammar purists, let’s be clear on one thing – the apostrophe. St Andrew’s Day has an apostrophe because it is his day we are celebrating. The town of St Andrews doesn’t have an apostrophe because, well…we think the town predates the use of them in the English language. It certainly makes proofreading blogs about St Andrew’s Day in St Andrews interesting!

But for those of you who are new to St Andrew’s Day we thought it a good idea to give you a brief summary of who he was and why the day is so important to us Scots!

About St Andrew

St Andrew was a Galilean fisherman before he became a disciple of Jesus. Many believe he was crucified on 30th November, 60AD, on an X shaped cross (remember this part, it’s important later) and his relics were kept safe. Exactly how the name and relics of St Andrews spread to Scotland and to Fife is up for debate, but it is thought that in AD 732 they were brought here by Bishop Acca as he looked for asylum with the Pictish king having been kicked out from his own diocese. These relics were originally held in Kilrymont, and it was this town which was later renamed St Andrews.

Then, one hundred years later in AD 832, the Battle of Athelstaneford  in East Lothian raged. King Angus led an army of Scots and Picts against the Saxons, but he feared defeat. He looked to the sky and say a large white X, and vowed that should he win the battle, he will name St Andrew as the patron saint of Scotland. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The relics originally brought to shore included a tooth, a knee-cap an arm and finger bones. Sadly in the Scottish Reformation these relics were destroyed. But, in 1879, Archbishop Amalfi gifted Andrew’s shoulder blade and Pope Paul VI gifted further relics in 1969 to Scotland. These can be seen at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Why we celebrate

St Andrews day is the feast day of Scotland’s patron saint, St Andrew. Many Scots mark this day every year on 30th November and celebrate our Scottish culture, food and dance. The day also marks the beginning of Scotland’s winter festivals and has been an official bank holiday here since 2006.

So what is on in St Andrews?

The Big Hoolie

A big hoolie in Scotland is a big party, and there’s one happening on St Andrew’s Day! Piping, fireworks, dancing – everything is free and will be happening to make for a memorable day. Join locals and visitors alike and spend the day celebrating. Start your day at the community market on South Street from 11am. Find out more about the Big Hoolie here.

St Andrews Day Weekend at the R & A World Golf Museum

Golf lovers simply must spend some time at this golf museum which takes you back to the origins of our favourite game. And over the weekend of the 30th November and 1st December, you can enjoy family crafts and activities in their galleries.

Need somewhere to stay?

If this has got you warmed up and ready to celebrate and you are looking for accommodation near St Andrews, for St Andrew’s Day celebrations then check out our fabulous luxury lodges in Fife. We offer beautiful lodges surrounded by rolling countryside that are also ideal for accessible holidays. What’s more, we are only 3 miles from St Andrews! If you want to find out more then please call us on 07840 801114 or email us here. Join in the St Andrews day celebrations!

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Do you love Outlander and want to see where the romance between Claire and Jamie blossomed? On a stay with us at Elderburn Lodges in Fife, you are in the perfect place to visit some key Outlander filming locations. Here, we can step back in time, be it to WWII or the 18th century. So let’s look more closely into some of the locations you can visit while here in the Kingdom of Fife…

Find the fountain in Falkland

Firstly, Falkland is where it all starts. Remember the famous scene of post-war Claire dreamily gazing through the shop window? It’s here in Falkland that you can recreate the scene of 1940s Inverness. Look for the fountain where the ghost of Jamie stood as he watched Claire in Mrs Baird’s B&B, shortly before she was transported back in time. Falkland is a place with a rich history and buildings going as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries, so you can submerge yourself in true Scottish history, making for a very interesting visit.

Clamber the cobbled streets of Culross

Culross (pronounced coo-russ) is a place well worth a visit. Whether you are a fan of Outlander or not it is a great place to be. This quaint town gives a good representation of how a Burgh in the 17th and 18th centuries would have looked. With charming colourful cottages, each with its own unusual name, and narrow cobbled streets you can easily imagine turning the corner and bumping into Jamie or Claire. What’s more, it is here that the fictional Cranesmuir was set. The Mercat Cross is probably the most recognisable place. However, you can also wander to Culross Palace, where you can see the superb garden at the rear. This was the setting for Claire’s herb garden. Also, Culross was also used as the location of the ‘Black Kirk’ in a ruin known as West Kirk.

Amble the aged Aberdour Castle

Aberdour Castle dates back to the 12th century. It is the oldest standing stone castle in Scotland. It was here that Jamie was nursed back to health in the monastery and the castle kitchens and the long gallery were also used for filming. Today you can visit the castle and also tour its network of structures and grounds.

Discover the dramatic Dysart Harbour

Dysart Harbour in Fife doubled for the French port of Le Havre in Outlander. Jamie and Claire sailed into France at this port. Here you can visit the Harbourmasters House on the quay and stare out over the picturesque port.

Reach the restored Reaper boat

And speaking of Jamie and Claire’s visit to France, the boat that took them there is also found in Fife. The Reaper, which is a restored Fifie Sailing Herring Drifter boat, became The Christabel for Outlander filming. The Reaper is now on display at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. This fascinating museum tells the story of Scottish fishing through time and is a great place to visit in the pretty coastal fishing village.

Outlander is now in its 7th series, with an 8th and final series planned for 2025. As filming continues, more Outlander locations are being added all the time. So, take a look at this Outlander locations map for more places to visit during your stay with us. If you need any help planning your visit to Elderburn Lodges, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

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An Ace Fife Fact

So Wimbeldon is nigh and right here in Fife we are proud to say that we are home to Britain’s oldest tennis court dating back to 1539! And no it was not tennis King Andy Murray who graced its surface but that of King James V and young James VI of Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II also visited it in 1958, so it has ‘served’ a great deal within the royal circle. Housed at Falkland Palace it is still in use today and is the only surviving example of jeu quarré design.

Putt this in your fact file

St Andrews can lay claim to the fact that it IS ‘the home of golf’. The Royal and Ancient Golf club was the authority that set the rules for the game worldwide between 1897 and 1952. Golf was first played here in the 1400 and became so popular that King James the II prohibited it due to it interfering with archery practice of his subjects. It was here in St Andrews that Mary Queen of Scots was a member of the local golf club and was probably the first female golfer.

Fishing for Facts

Back in medieval time Crail was extremely important in the Scottish fishing industry, so Robert the Bruce granted it the rare right to hold a Sunday market back in 1310. Evidence suggests that fish were exported from the port as early as the 9^th century. On the 25^th January 1765, 8 fishermen lost their lives at the mouth of the harbour in a fishing disaster, leaving the local population devastated.

Oats so interesting

Fife is the home the one of the largest Oats companies ‘Quaker’. Owned by Pepsico, Quaker has been producing Oats in Cupar for over 100 years and uses much of the oats that are grown in the Kingdom of Fife to fuel the nation. Quaker lays claim to the fact that a bowl of Quaker Oats will keep you fuelled up for 4hrs and 21 minutes!

DRAMatic Fact

It is said that Lindores Abbey near Newburgh holds the oldest record of distilling whisky. John Cor who was a monk here was apparently distilling as far back as 1494. “Eight bols of malt’ were granted to this clever monk by King James IV through the Royal Scottish Court at Falkland so that he could make whisky for him. The nearby Ormiston Hill supplied the spring water via Monks Well and Abbots Well. The Abbey is set to get back to distilling whisky with a £5 million project to construct a distillery and visitor centre.

So there you have it. You will now be able to start your holiday full of wisdom and you may be mistaken for a local given your local knowledge! Who thought holidays in Fife could be full of such wise and wonderful things.

There is much more to discover in this Kingdom. If you are looking for holidays in Fife then check out some of our great offers and come along for some fun!

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