St Andrews Castle

Perched on a hilltop overlooking St Andrews Bay, the ruins of St Andrews castle are among the most historically important in Scotland. Originally built in the 1110s by the Scottish branch of the Catholic Church, the castle became the seat of the church in the area until it was captured in the Wars of Independence. After that the castle hosted kings, including James I, and also served as one of the country’s most feared prisons. Visitors can tour the remains of the Bottle Dungeon, an airless dark hole where hostages were kept, and can also explore the Mine, a maze of passages under the castle that were used when the castle was under siege.