St Andrews & Fife Fishing Villages Day Tour from Edinburgh

Three bridges from 1890, 1964 and 2017 stand side by side at the Forth viewpoint where the tour begins.

A small-group day tour from Edinburgh visiting St Andrews, the Fife fishing villages and Falkland Palace, with a professional driver-guide and transport by minibus. The tour runs eight and a half hours with free time at each major stop so you choose what to explore (the cathedral ruins, the Old Course, the village streets) rather than following a fixed itinerary through each site. Children from age 5 are welcome. Groups stay under 16 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Forth Bridge10m
2. Falkland Palace and Garden1h

Explore Fife's villages and landmarks

• Depart Edinburgh for Forth Bridges Viewpoint
• Visit the Forth Bridges viewpoint
• Stop in Anstruther fishing village
• Free time to explore St Andrews sites
• Drive to Falkland village and palace
• Free time in Falkland village or palace

The experience

The day starts at the Forth Bridges Viewpoint, where three bridges opened in 1890, 1964 and 2017 stand together across the water. From there the route moves into Fife, stopping first in Anstruther, a traditional fishing village where the cobbled streets and harbour front sit on the coast. You walk the seafront at your own pace before the minibus carries you to St Andrews.

St Andrews gives you free time to spend as you choose. The Old Course is there if golf interests you. The game was so popular in 15th-century Scotland it was actually banned, and St Andrews became its centre. The cathedral ruins stand in the old town, and the winding streets themselves carry a thousand years of history. How much time you spend at each depends on what draws you. The guide does not dictate the stops within the town.

After St Andrews, the drive crosses the rolling countryside of central Fife to Falkland, where Falkland Palace dominates a village built around narrow winding streets and old cottages. The palace was one of the main residences of the Stewart royal family. You have free time to wander the village or visit the palace itself (note that it closes over winter, November to February). The minibus holds a maximum of 16 people, which keeps the group small enough that the driver-guide can manage the pace and answer questions without herding a crowd.

What’s included

• Professional driver-guide and transport by minibus.
• free time at St Andrews to explore the cathedral, the Old Course and the old town.
• a stop in Anstruther fishing village.
• Falkland Palace and village as a stop (palace closed November–February).
• the Forth Bridges Viewpoint at the start of the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Rabbies Trail Burners

Is this one for you?Small groups under 16 people suit this tour if you want to move between sites without driving yourself or waiting for a large coach to herd everyone through each stop: the minibus size and the free time at each major site mean you set the pace within the day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is there to do in St Andrews on this tour?

St Andrews gives you free time to explore what interests you most. The Old Course is the world-famous golf site where the game took root in Scotland; St Andrews Cathedral is a ruined medieval building that was once one of Scotland's grandest; and the Old Town spreads across winding streets layered with a thousand years of history. You choose which sites to visit and how long to spend at each.

Can I visit Falkland Palace on this tour?

Falkland Palace is included as a stop, and you have free time to enter the palace or wander the village around it. The palace is closed from November through February, so it is not accessible during the winter season.

How many people travel on this tour?

Groups are capped at 16 people maximum, which keeps the tour small and personal. You travel by a top-of-the-range Mercedes minibus with a professional driver-guide who leads the route.

What happens at Anstruther?

Anstruther is a traditional fishing village on the Fife coast where you stop to walk the old cobbled streets and the seafront along the harbour. It is a short stop before the route continues to St Andrews.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Edinburgh?

Transport is included. The minibus picks up from Edinburgh Bus Station (Gate J and Gate K, St Andrew Square) and carries you through all the stops. Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure.