Fairmont St Andrews

Got goals? Crush them at the Fairmont Spa & Fitness Club, where you’ll workout alongside full-length windows which offer unrivalled views of the dramatic landscape beyond. 

Make sure you bring your trainers because the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment on offer here will let you focus on both body and mind.

Working out feels less of a chore at the gym, thanks to Life Fitness cardiovascular equipment which lets you stream TV channels, YouTube and even Netflix. It also has smartwatch connectivity to track your goals and set interactive fitness challenges. You can even take an on-screen stroll during your workout in different locations around the world!

Prefer to sweat it out with a friend? Book into a group class. There are over 20 on offer each week, from pilates and spinning to boxercise and outdoor bootcamps. There are even classes specifically tailored for golf fanatics.

Outdoorsy types will love hiking the Fife Coastal Path. Completed in 2002, it runs from Culross through St Andrews and has exceptional views of Scotland's majestic coastline. You can join the walk from the path near the Clubhouse and it takes an hour and half to walk to St Andrews. Sturdy walking shoes are advised, and check with the concierge for tide times as, at certain times of the day, it's impassable.

Striking views may be a stand-out feature at this coastal masterpiece, but the sublime dishes and delicious cocktails on offer at the Fairmont St Andrews will distract you from the dramatic scenery. 

With three-quarters of the food coming from Scotland (and a fair amount of that from the hotel’s own kitchen garden) you know you’re in for a treat.

Most of the main eating and drinking options surround the main Atrium so you don’t have to walk too far to sample them all. So where should you head for your post-massage G and T, light bite or delicious dinner? Read on for all your options. 

Kittocks Den

Low-key and traditional-looking, the popular main lounge bar at Fairmont St Andrews is named after the valley that runs through the golf course. Nestled in a cosy nook on the first floor, it overlooks the Atrium below which gives it a buzzy atmosphere. Pub grub is the order of the day here, along with spirits, perfectly-mixed cocktails and rare single malts. 

Zephyr Sports Bar

The place to go for fun, dirty fries and some dangerously good cocktails. At the sports simulator in Zephyr bar you can whack golf balls, kick rugby balls, hurl lacrosse balls or play zombie dodgeball while a huge screen tots up your score. Or keep things traditional with darts, pool, or foosball, preferably played with a drink in hand.

Squire Restaurant

Breakfast is served in the Squire Restaurant, named after golfing legend Gene ‘The Squire’ Sarazen. And what a breakfast! Served buffet-style, the choice is huge! Will you go to the egg station, grab a smoothie, or try some local haggis?

La Cucina

La Cucina is the hotel’s homely Italian restaurant which has a vibrant atmosphere and a nicely varied menu of pizza and pasta. Small balconies that straddle the side of the spacious Atrium provide an intimate space to eat under the dancing ceiling sculpture. 

St Andrews Bay Clubhouse & Grill

You need to take the hotel’s shuttle bus to reach the golf clubhouse restaurant, but you’ll be very glad you did. The view from the cliff-tops is to die for, as is the menu, spanning from simple sourdough sandwiches, burgers and soups during the day to fresh lobster from St Andrews Bay and Josper-grilled steak by night.

Yes, and it’s a beauty. The peaceful 16m heated indoor swimming pool is open from 6:30am for tranquil morning dips and stays open until 9pm, so night owls won’t miss their swim, either. The poolside area is spacious and has comfy seating made for lounging.

A set of French doors open onto the grounds in sunnier months. At one end of the pool you’ll find the toasty, warm Jacuzzi. At the other, there’s a separate splash-pool for children. The aromatherapy steam room and wooden sauna seat four or five, and there’s a bucket shower or cold-water experience shower to cool you down.

There are two championship golf courses, four bars and three restaurants. At the spa you’ll find a state-of-the-art gym, 16-metre pool, sauna and steam room, as well as 10 treatment rooms and a range of spa therapies from ESPA and Ishga.

Fairmont St. Andrews has 209 sumptuous bedrooms, many with incredible coastline views. Rooms have a luxurious, contemporary feel, juxtaposed with some traditional Scottish touches, such as artfully tasteful tartan accessories. 

Rooms come in three categories: Guest Rooms, Suites and Lodges. If you’re in a Guest Room, you can choose from views over either the golf course, the sea, the grounds or over the glass-roofed Atrium. Luxurious suites have a separate lounge, and some come with balconies or courtyards.

All rooms have snuggly bathrobes, luxurious toiletries, a Nespresso machine, a well-stocked refreshment centre and satellite TV. You’ll feel right at home here.

Here on an overnight stay? You lucky thing. You can check in at Fairmont St Andrews from 4pm, and check out anytime before 11am. Spa days generally start at 10am, but do check the details on your package. 

The hotel’s location means you’re perfectly placed to explore the nearby countryside and coastline, as well as the historic town of St Andrews. Walks and activities abound and, to take full advantage, the hotel has an app you can download before your stay. This not only allows you to book in at any of the restaurants and bars, but also provides all the information you need to fully explore the local area.

The chocolate box town of St Andrews is well worth a visit. You’ll find cobbled streets, traditional family run shops and cosy coffee shops, along with the picturesque ruins of St Andrews Cathedral. Golf lovers will enjoy learning more about the sport at the fascinating R&A World Golf Museum.

For an extra fee, Fairmont St Andrews can also let you take part in Scottish countryside pursuits, from guided hawk walks to fishing.

It might be easier to tell you what’s not on offer. Golf, spa, leisure, guided coastal walks and giant chess - it even has its own cinema with three showings a day in the school holidays! But there are a few other notable features that really shouldn’t be missed.

First up, you must spend time admiring the Zephyr Chandelier, the award-winning 60m light installation in the Atrium Lounge, which changes colours to match the mood and time of the day. 

Made by artist and chandelier designer George Singer, zephyr means ‘soft, gentle breeze’ and it was inspired by the rolling hills, long grasses and crashing waves of this beautiful stretch of coastline. Comprising over 20,000 steel-coated disks and suspended by 280 cables, the chandelier is the largest of its kind. 

And don’t miss the greenhouse talks, given by John Mitchell, the head gardener and beekeeper at Fairmont St Andrews. His kitchen garden and greenhouse supply the hotel kitchen with veggies and micro-herbs, while his three bee hives supply the wax for honey and real beeswax candles - he’ll even teach you how to make your own to take home.

It is. There are 12 accessible rooms on the ground floor which feature ​lower light switches, wider door frames and large showers with accessible fittings. Lift access throughout the hotel ensures that all bars and restaurants are easily accessible.

Fabulously so. Family-friendly and interconnecting rooms mean you’ll all get a good night’s sleep. Little ones under five can dine for free, while children aged six to 12 get 50% off. Children’s menus at La Cucina, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, feature family favourites like bolognese, but also gnocchi and bruschettas for more adventurous eaters.

Children can splash to their hearts’ content between 6.30am and 9pm each day in the pool. There’s a well-equipped playroom with a small soft play, giant jenga, Guitar Hero and other arcade games that are all free to play, as well as Xboxes and air hockey. 

Outside there’s an astroturf football pitch, croquet, boules and other grass games, like giant chess. Even better, the hotel has its own cinema which shows family-favourites three times a day during the school holidays.

At the moment, dogs aren’t allowed at Fairmont St Andrews. But the word on the street is that this may well change soon. Keep an eye on the hotel’s social media for a pup-date.

It has two, and they’re both award-winners. Well, you are in St Andrews, the Scottish town synonymous with the sport after it was invented here in the 15th century. 

Fairmont St Andrews’ two championship courses wind their way around the hotel’s 520 stunning acres of stunning scenery. Called The Torrance and The Kittocks, they’re open year-round. Unless, of course, they happen to be hosting a global golfing event - both courses played host to the Final Qualifying for the 150th Open, while the Torrance staged the DP World Tour from 2020 to 2022.

You’ll need to book a time to tee off. But if you don’t feel ready for a full round, there’s also a top-of-the-range practice facility to have a go on, with practice targets set on an all-grass driving range. 

If you just fancied getting a flavour of the game, head to the Zephyr Sports Bar. Here you can book the Full Swing simulator (an hour costs £50) for a fun activity to try with friends over a single malt whiskey or two.