British Beaches

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St. Andrews West Sands

Fife, Scotland


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St. Andrews West Sands is a popular sandy beach located in the town of St. Andrews, Scotland. .

St. Andrews West Sands is a 2-mile-long sandy beach backed by dunes and the world-renowned golf course. The beach is situated just south of the River Eden Estuary and is approximately a 15-minute walk from the town centre, where visitors can find additional facilities.

The south end of the beach, which features in the opening sequence of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, is a popular spot, while the north end is favoured by kite surfers. The beach also overlooks the Eden Estuary Nature Reserve, a haven for birds and seals. Visitors can hire beach wheelchairs, making the beach more accessible to everyone.

St. Andrews is surprisingly one of the sunniest and driest places in Britain, making West Sands an ideal destination for those seeking a pleasant beach experience. The beach's proximity to the town centre and its range of activities make it a must-visit destination for tourists and locals alike.

Sand

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 100%
Max temperature 16°C
feels like 17°C
Wind 18mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 57%
Min temperature 11°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 17mph

The tide at St. Andrews West Sands is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 5:44 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 11:58 AM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near St. Andrews West Sands

Things to do and see in the area

St Andrews Links (0.5 miles)
The Himalayas Putting Course (0.6 miles)
The Swilcan Bridge (0.7 miles)
Eden Mill (0.7 miles)
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (0.7 miles)
University of St Andrews (0.9 miles)
St Andrews Ghost Tours (1 miles)
St Andrews Cathedral (1.2 miles)
Craigtoun Country Park (2.7 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: St Andrews

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: NO502181

Coordinates: 56°21'10"N 2°48'26"W

Mapcode: GBR 2Q.3R8F

What 3 Words: pounding.bulky.earl

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: Scotland

Local Authority: Fife

Nearest postcode: KY16 9XL

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for St. Andrews West Sands, Fife, Scotland. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:20:04 +0100