St Andrews

Golf was invented here, supposedly. Whether that's true or not, St Andrews feels every inch the home of the sport - you can't escape the Old Course's magnetic pull on this ancient university town. The R&A clubhouse dominates the seafront like a Victorian railway station, while students in red gowns cycle past medieval ruins where Mary Queen of Scots once walked.

Scotland's oldest university gives the place its proper buzz. Term time brings 10,000 students to these cobbled streets, creating a lively pub scene and keeping the cafes busy well into the evening. Prince William studied here - you might spot the odd royal protection officer lurking about even now.

Beyond golf and gowns, the countryside rolls away into gentle Fife farmland. Knock Hill offers cracking views back towards the town's three spires, while Cairngreen Wood provides a proper woodland walk when you need to escape the tourist crowds. The coast here is all about that famous beach - West Sands stretches for miles, filmed for Chariots of Fire and still magnificent on a clear morning.

Getting here's straightforward enough. Leuchars station sits just five miles south, with regular trains from Edinburgh taking an hour and a quarter. The A91 brings drivers through pretty villages like Guardbridge, though parking in town can be a right pain during golf tournaments.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area makes perfect sense. You get the countryside peace but can still nip into town for dinner or catch an early morning round. St Andrews Holiday Park and Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park both offer decent bases without the premium prices of town centre hotels.