Day 13 – St. Andrews and Scottish Food

University of St. Andrews

We started today with an approximate one hour drive to St. Andrews and sightseeing at the University of St. Andrews, which is Scotland's first university, founded 1413. This is another “Napier” highlight as Lord John Napier went to school there in 1563 but it much more famous as the meeting place for Prince William and Kate Middleton when they were both students there.

18 Hole at the Old Course

Next was a walking tour of the Old Course at St. Andrews. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world and generally recognized as the “home of golf.” It has been the host of many great British Opens, the last one in 2015. It was pretty interesting to walk up the 17 and 18th holes and to see the course from a player’s perspective.  As today is Sunday, we got to see another aspect of the course that I wasn’t aware of. The Old Course is closed on Sundays and the townspeople come out and use the course as public land and have since the course was constructed in the mid-1700s. We got our picture taken on the iconic bridge on the 18th hole and afterward  Steve and I played a round on their 18-hole putting course. It was windy and cool, but still fun.

Deep Fried Mars Bar

We then took a really quick tour of the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery.  I say “really quick” because they were in the process of closing up but were kind enough to let us take a look around even though the official tour had completed. It also reminds me to talk a little about the Scottish food we have tried. I have a list I’m trying to taste while here and in no particular order:  1) Haggis. Haggis is available at almost every meal but is particularly good with potatoes (called “tatties” here).  I like Haggis but am not sure everyone else does. It’s a little like a lamb version of scrapple. 2) Irn Bru soda. To me it tastes like cream soda, but Steve says it is more like medicine. 3) Cullen Skink. I had it yesterday on the yacht. It is a soup of smoked fish, leeks and potatoes, all blended to a creamy texture. Everyone liked it. 4) Deep fried Mars Bars. Scotland has a reputation of deep frying everything and candy bars are no exception.  Had one tonight and it was okay, but I won’t be craving it later. In the photo, Mars Bar on the left and ice cream with a chocolate "flake" on the right.

We are spending the night in Cairngorms National Park which is the start of the Highlands region of Scotland. We are starting to see mountains now, some with snow on them still.