A rose for a royal romance

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND, WHERE WILLIAM MET KATE AND ROMANCE BLOSSOMED


St Andrews in Scotland is already world-famous as the Home of Golf and now, as Prince William and Kate Middleton announce their engagement, it seems the coastal town where the couple met can also claim to be the home of romance.

The small town with a big reputation is already a holiday hit all over the world, attracting more than half a million visitors every year. It is hoped the royal romance will once again put St Andrews in the international spotlight and remind potential visitors just how much Scotland has to offer.

St. Andrews, a great wedding and honeymoon destination for romantics

Fiona Stewart, Senior International PR Manager for VisitScotland, said, “St Andrews is already known throughout the world as a must-visit destination for golfers but could also now be tipped as both a wedding and honeymoon destination.”

“We hope now to see an even greater increase in visitors coming to this magical coastal town for its many other great attributes, from the first class accommodation available to the romantic backdrops of St Andrews castle, cathedral and beautiful beaches.”

“We also hope that William and Kate have a magical and memorable time when the big day arrives, while we can certainly recommend a romantic Scottish getaway to visit some of their old haunts.”

Play golf on hallowed turf in St. Andrews

William and Kate met while studying at St Andrews University, Scotland’s oldest university, which attracts students from all over the globe. Yet St Andrews already boasts a sizeable worldwide reputation, not least due to its enviable title as the Home of Golf.

The St Andrews Royal and Ancient Golf Club first met here in the spiritual home of golf in 1754, though it was first played here as early as the 15th century. The Old Course, most famous of the town's seven courses, is redolent of images of the world's greatest golfers at the British Open Championship down the years, while visitors can even play on the hallowed turf.

St. Andrews University, Prince William and Kate's alma mater

St. Andrews University, founded in 1410, dominates the centre of town. The elegant, ivy-clad buildings and delightful quadrangles and gardens have seen a procession of famous graduates, including, of course, Prince William. The future king may have graduated, but St Andrews is still one of the top universities in Britain, often compared to Oxford and Cambridge for its defining presence and the feel it gives the town.

The medieval centre of St Andrews, with its narrow alleys and cobbled streets, leads to the now ruined cathedral (once the largest in Scotland) and the adjacent church of St Regulus, where climbing the spiral staircase to the top of a 108-foot tower leads to magnificent views of the town and its surroundings.

Blog courtesy VisitScotland

Photo copyright Anne Gordon

Posted by Anne Gordon on Friday, 19th November, 2010