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St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle
Scotland · Fife · Near Dundee
Built 1200 · Scottish medieval
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Extended to 18:30 April to September. Managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
- Tickets from
- €8
- Duration
- 1–1.5 hours
- Best time
- Year-round
- Nearest city
- Dundee
Highlights
- ✦Dramatic cliffside ruin above the North Sea
- ✦Famous mine and countermine tunnels from the 1546–1547 siege
- ✦Bottle dungeon — a horrifying 7-metre-deep pit cut into solid rock
- ✦Cardinal Beaton's murder here sparked the Scottish Reformation
- ✦Visitor centre with original carved stones and castle history
Skip the queue with a guided tour
Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
St Andrews Castle perches on a dramatic clifftop above the North Sea at the eastern tip of St Andrews, its broken towers and walls commanding views along the Fife coast. Built around 1200 as the residence of the Bishops (later Archbishops) of St Andrews — the most powerful churchmen in medieval Scotland — the castle was the seat of ecclesiastical power and a scene of bloody religious conflict during the Scottish Reformation. The castle's most extraordinary feature lies underground: during the siege of 1546–1547, Protestant reformers held up inside dug a mine to escape; their Catholic besiegers countered with their own tunnel to intercept it. Both tunnels survive, open to visitors to crawl through — one of the most remarkable underground medieval survivals in Britain. The infamous 'bottle dungeon' — a pit carved into the cliff bedrock from which escape was impossible — held political prisoners for centuries.
History
The castle was built around 1200 for Bishop Roger of St Andrews and expanded over the following centuries. It was repeatedly captured and destroyed during the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1546 Cardinal David Beaton, the most powerful Catholic in Scotland, was murdered here by Protestant conspirators who then held the castle for over a year in one of the Scottish Reformation's most dramatic episodes. The siege tunnels date from this period. After the castle fell to French forces supporting the Catholic cause, Protestant preacher John Knox was taken prisoner and sent to the French galleys. The castle was never fully rebuilt and fell into permanent ruin in the 17th century.
How to Visit
St Andrews is 85 km north-east of Edinburgh. Regular buses and trains run via Leuchars junction (7 km), with buses into St Andrews. The castle is at the north end of the town, a 15-minute walk from the bus station, adjacent to the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Both sites are managed by Historic Environment Scotland and can be visited with a combined ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — the mine and countermine tunnels are open to visitors. They are low and narrow; be prepared to crouch or crawl through sections.
Location
The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AR, Scotland
Nearby Castles
Tours & Tickets
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Entry from
€8/ adult