Fife / Perthshire
Walks Near St Andrews
2 hills within 55km — 2 Grahams. Sorted by straight-line distance.
St Andrews is on the flat Fife peninsula — the nearest real hills are the Lomond Hills to the west, and the nearest Munros are in the Angus Glens to the north. The coastal path around the East Neuk and along the Eden estuary offers excellent walking without altitude. The Fife Coastal Path passes through St Andrews and provides spectacular cliff and beach walking as an alternative to hill days.
No railway reaches St Andrews — take the train to Leuchars, then the Stagecoach 99, which runs between Dundee and St Andrews and stops at Leuchars station. By car: the M90 from Edinburgh to Kinross, then the A91 across Fife. A car is needed for hill access — West Lomond is about 33km west in a straight line, and the nearest Munros are over 60km north.
Top walks near St Andrews
West Lomond (Fife)
West Lomond (522m) is Fife's highest point — a good path from the Craigmead car park above Falkland, with fine views over the Forth, the Tay and the Highland edge. A proper hill day without leaving Fife.
33km from St Andrews, straight line
Fife Coastal Path (St Andrews to Crail)
Outstanding coastal walk south from St Andrews by Boarhills and Kingsbarns to Crail — the Rock and Spindle, rocky shore, East Neuk fishing villages. No altitude, but rough: the Fife Coast & Countryside Trust says St Andrews to Boarhills should be walked only at low tide. Public bus returns from Crail.
Mayar & Driesh (Glen Clova)
The nearest Munros to St Andrews — two Angus hills (929m and 948m) above the head of Glen Clova, about 62km north in a straight line. The drive goes via Dundee and Kirriemuir.
59km from St Andrews, straight line
When to go
The Fife Coastal Path is excellent year-round — particularly atmospheric in winter with stormy seas off the East Neuk. The Lomond Hills are good from March to November. For Munros, May–October gives the best conditions, and the drive north adds to the day. The East Neuk coastal walks are at their most dramatic in October–November with storm light. Summer in St Andrews is busy with golf visitors — morning starts on the coastal path avoid the midday crowds.
Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and Donalds within 55km of St Andrews
Distance is straight-line (as the crow flies) from the centre of St Andrews — not drive or walk distance. Radius: 55km. Marilyns are not included in this list; a hill on two lists appears once. Top-walk distances above are measured the same way, to the summit, car park or spot each card links to.
Current conditions near St Andrews
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:16
- Sunset
- 16:33
- Civil dawn
- 06:36
- Civil dusk
- 17:13
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the nearest hill walk to St Andrews?
- West Lomond (522m) in the Lomond Hills of Fife is the closest significant hill — about 33km west of St Andrews in a straight line. The path from the Craigmead car park above Falkland gives a straightforward ascent. The Lomond Hills Regional Park also offers lower-level walking.
- Is there a good coastal walk from St Andrews?
- Yes — the Fife Coastal Path runs both north (to Tayport, across the Tay from Dundee) and south (to Crail and Anstruther). The southern section to Crail is outstanding rocky-shore and beach walking; check tide times, because the trust says the stretch between St Andrews and Boarhills should be walked only at low tide. Stagecoach buses connect the East Neuk villages for return journeys.
- Can I do a Munro as a day trip from St Andrews?
- Yes, with a car. The nearest Munros are Driesh (948m) and Mayar (929m) above Glen Clova, about 62km north in a straight line; the drive goes via Dundee and Kirriemuir. Allow a full day including the drive.
- Why are there fewer hills near St Andrews than near Glasgow or Edinburgh?
- St Andrews is on the Fife peninsula — a relatively low-lying landmass between the Tay and Forth estuaries. The Highland Boundary Fault and the main Highland ranges lie to the north and west. Fife's terrain is the Lomond Hills (522m at the highest) and the farmland of the Howe of Fife rather than dramatic highland terrain.
Eat, drink and stay in St Andrews
The SCOT network covering the same town — travel context, food and drink, and non-hill alternatives.
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