On the fifth day of our trip, we rented a car in Edinburgh and drove up to St. Andrews, then spent the evening in Edinburgh, of which I noted in the Ode to Scotland post back in December, we fell hard for both Scottish cities and the country in general.
Scotland for me was magical, it literally took my breath away from the cities to the tiny towns we drove through, from the gorgeous oceansides to the golden-hued open fields. We arrived late the night before from Belfast and stayed at the Hotel Missoni (more to come on review of this fantastic hotel soon), then the next morning jumped on the Airlink bus back to the airport to rent our car, after which we headed up driving through the Scottish countryside to St. Andrews.
St. Andrews blew me away. It was a magical little town, charming to say the very least. It’s stone buildings, narrow little streets, cathedral ruins and of course the famous golf course and gorgeous beaches made me fall hard for the town where Kate and Prince William fell in love. We spent the whole day there, just wandering around, taking it all in. While sitting in a little Scottish restaurant for lunch, enjoying amazing lamb shank followed by incredible Sticky Toffee Pudding, I watched out the window and imagined what it would be like to live in this charming Scottish town, living simply. Someday perhaps… that’s how hard I fell for this town. It touched something in me, something that I’ve only ever felt in a few other places in the world.
After lunch, Nick wanted more photos of the golf course, so I wandered up the main street to the ruins of the St. Andrews Cathedral at the end of the lane on my own. I wandered as the sun began to set, taking in the views from the bluff over the ocean, the ruins from so many years ago and imagining all those people who have lived there for hundreds of years, taking in the same views, the same feelings. As the sun continued to set, I met up with Nick as he got his final shots of the day, only then to turn to see the most stunning sunset I’ve perhaps ever seen. We jumped in the car and raced up the road back to the cathedral ruins to grab some photos of the sun setting behind the stone columns, just in time to take in the final hours of daylight among the hundreds of years-old cathedral. The colors and vibrancy of the end to the day was incredible and the most magical way to end our magical day in lovely St. Andrews.
We then drove back to Edinburgh and spent our evening wandering around the Edinburgh Christmas markets and taking in the lights of the city by night. Edinburgh has a “fantasy” sort of feeling, and that was only amplified by night as the lights sparkled around the city.
To say I was enchanted by Scotland would be an understatement. I fell in love with the lovely aura of the country and the beautiful towns and cities we were able to enjoy!
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Traveling to Scotland?
See all of my posts on the country!
BoardingTogether says
Your pictures are amazing. I love the feel of old European towns with such charming buildings. This is my first time on your blog and I’m so happy I found it via bloglovin’. Check out my Boarding Together blog at http://www.boardingtogether.blogspot.com
Casey Martin says
Thank you! And welcome 🙂 Scotland was so charming!
Jenn @ A Country Girl's World says
I definitely love all the history in Scotland and I love your pictures! I had a friend that studied abroad in at the University of Edinburgh and loved it! I loved seeing all his pictures and learning about different traditions.
Casey Martin says
The history there is so amazing! We heard some pretty interesting stories from Edinburgh’s past while there. It’s such a beautiful country!
Sara @ Bristol In My Pocket says
I absolutely loved my trip to St Andrews a couple years ago! Luckily it was warm when I went, it looks like it was pretty cold for y’all!
Casey Martin says
It was super cold but at least clear with no rain!!! Gorgeous town!
Jane {In the Pink and Green} says
Scotland is amazing and you guys really lucked out with the weather! Such beautiful photos! Looking forward to getting together soon 🙂
Casey Martin says
We lucked out so much with weather!!! Let me know when you’re all caught up and over jet lag and we’ll get together!
Alyson says
Like most of the time in Scotland, it rained during our visit to Edinburgh so I wasn’t able to really appreciate and enjoy it as much as though it wasn’t raining. But it is for sure a place I would like to visit again!
Casey Martin says
I’ve heard this from a lot of people and I think we just totally got lucky on the weather… we had not a drop of rain in London, Ireland and Scotland in November, which is pretty unheard of!!!
Kelly says
What gorgeous photos, especially the sunset ones!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Casey Martin says
That sunset was so stunning to watch in real life!! I’m still thinking about it 🙂
Tracy says
I love the photos of the cathedral ruins! The night shots and sunset are fantastic too!
Casey Martin says
Those ruins, wow, they were seriously amazing!
Annie says
I love your photos. And that sunset! Absolutely breathtaking.
Casey Martin says
Thank you! That sunset was just stunning… seriously so breathtaking!