WalkEasy20 to 30 minutes
St Andrews Harbour & Pier
Around 1km round trip along the pier and harbourside · Level; the pier surface is uneven stone, exposed to wind and spray elevation
← All things to do
About
A small working and leisure harbour tucked below the cathedral, at the mouth of the Kinness Burn, with the East Sands beach just beyond it. The stone pier running out from the harbour is a well-known student tradition: graduating students in gowns walk its length on a Sunday morning as a rite of passage, a custom locals call the Pier Walk. Even without the tradition attached, it is a short, easy stroll with good views back at the cathedral ruins.
Highlights
- ✓The traditional Sunday-morning student Pier Walk in graduation gowns
- ✓Views back at the cathedral ruins from the pier
- ✓A small working harbour beside East Sands beach
Tips
- →The pier can be slippery and exposed; take care in wind or wet weather.
- →Combine with the cathedral and East Sands for a short loop.
- →Sunday mornings in graduation season are the liveliest time to see the Pier Walk tradition itself.
Best Season
SpringSummerAutumnWinter