What’s the drive from Glasgow to St Andrew’s like?

[MatchingStraws]

I’m an okay driver but never venture east

Would probably take a couple of hours, via kincardine bridge. Once you get to kincardine bridge the majority is on single carriageway country roads, reasonably main roads though with a 60 limit and a few villages to pass through. Fairly straight forward I'd say. In my experience the main issue is getting stuck behind something slow... tractors, lorries, Sunday drivers etc!

Thanks. Just realised that you can get the train from Bishopbriggs to Leuchars and that seems easier.

Oh no, apparently you can’t. Back to the drawing board!

Yes indeed, leuchars is the closest station with regular buses to st Andrews, probably about 10 minutes bus trip.

Ah no, my mum goes to Dundee via a different line, forgot it doesn't go via leuchars, that's the Edinburgh line. Dundee would be about a 30 minute trip by bus I suppose.

What do you reckon would be easier, just driving and parking or taking the train?

I've done it by bus, not bad...

New option! Wonder if they’re running in Covid world.

I think there is a direct bus service but it might take longer than driving. You would need to change if you wanted to get the train, either at Edinburgh or Dundee if you wanted to go to Leuchars then you’ve got to get St Andrews as well.

I often get the 99 from dundee to st andrews. It's quiet and very regular during the day.

It's the same bus you would get from leuchars.

Bus from Glasgow to dundee (or st andrews) on the other hand, I really dislike as I find the traffic around Glasgow unpredictable. I usually get the bus everywhere but tend to go to Glasgow by train. I've been stuck in Buchanan st for hours in the past.

The drive out of Glasgow is always better than the drive in.

I’ve done it in Covid times…

Think we’ll just drive. The sat nav will be doing the work!

Any parking recommendations?

I regularly do the drive which takes around 90 minutes. After the Clackmannanshire Bridge it’s not motorway but still an easy drive and not usually busy. It’s possible to go along the M8, across the Forth and up the M90 but the last 35 minutes would still be single carriageway along the A91 and it’s a bit longer.
If you’re worried about parking there are some reasonable edge of town options with a 5-10 walk into the centre. I would always choose driving over bus or train, neither of which are direct or convenient.

Parking is free on the North Haugh which is close to town.
It's between the sciencey University buildings and the bus station.

The drive is fine. We live in St Andrews and DD1 was at Glasgow uni plus we have relatives in glasgow. We have driven it a lot. The bus is fine too. Parking in St Andrews is easiest at Petheram Bridge as you come in but it might depend on what you are doing and where you want to be.

Thanks all. Will let you know how we get on!

If you want to avoid the wee roads it's only about 15 minutes extra to go straight up the motorway M80 to Stirling and then M9 / 90 to Dundee and over the Tay. Don't recommend going via the Forth Bridge cos I hate the M8 route to Glasgow.

Agree the quickest and prettiest is the Clackmannan Bridge route but it is harder work.

Just DRIVE! Jeezo, when you obviously have the use of a car why would you tie yourself into knots with complicated bus routes or trains??

M80 out past Cumbernauld - over Kincardine Bridge - up through Crook of Devon, M90 north one or two junctions, A91 through Cupar and right onto St Andrews. 90 minutes.

Or the same time to train from Glasgow to Leuchars, not including the time it takes to get into Glasgow, and then a bus from Leuchars into St Andrews. And being tied to bus/train times to get home.

Or 2 and a half hours each way sitting on a coach.

There is loads of parking in St Andrews, both on-street and in several car parks.

Sempre, took your advice and it was fine! Surprised myself but I am tired tonight. Went nice and early, got parked, the haar was down to start with but lifted in the afternoon.

Unexpected bonus of taking the car was that we could eat our cheese toasties without the enormous seagulls! Saw more than one poor person divebombed

Thanks all.

Good to know all my various detours are paying dividends. Got DD1 home from Uni atm. She keeps comparing notes on the weather so she told me this morning St A had the haar while we were out in the garden soaking up the rays. She says Clyde seagulls are positively genteel in comparison.

Yep those gulls are vicious. Dd went to school there then worked there for a couple of years and she will not let me eat a poke of chips outdoors.