St. Andrews University Graduation Celebration: Exploring Edinburgh & St. Andrews
Curated By
Patty Monaghan
Curator’s statement
St. Andrews and Scotland became special to us the moment our goddaughter chose it for university. That decision instantly turned the destination into a promise we made to be there for her big moment. Walking the same cobbled streets and ruins she'd called home for four years, visiting her favorite haunts and watching her cross the stage at graduation, gave the trip a depth that pure sightseeing never could. Pairing that with Edinburgh's castle-and-close atmosphere and a few well-chosen day trips added Scotland's history and beauty to the trip. The heart of this trip stayed personal: celebrating someone we love reach a milestone we'd committed to years earlier. It's now woven into our extended family story, not just a place we visited.
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We started the graduation celebration in Edinburgh before venturing north to St. Andrews. An over 90-minute walking tour helped set the table for our stay in Edinburgh. Immersing ourselves quickly into the history and culture, we were charmed by Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Victoria Street. Edinburgh was celebrating Armed Forces Day, so we were fortunate to help honor veterans, current service people, and future military candidates.
We walked to Parliament and Holyrood Palace, where we caught a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla after the opening session of Parliament. Alongside historic landmarks and monuments, we discovered charming shops, restaurants, and pubs. Harry Potter fans also enjoyed searching for places rumored to have inspired J.K. Rowling.
We chose a well-curated tour company to explore areas beyond Edinburgh, including Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond, while gaining deeper insight into Scottish culture from a native Scotsman.
St. Andrews was our second Scotland destination and was the most anticipated. In between graduation celebrations, we received a personal tour of this wonderful gem with one of the locals. From the cathedral and castle ruins to the infamous 18th hole of the Old Course, we were captivated and charmed. St. Andrews is a lovely university town where one automatically feels at home.
Another carefully curated tour took our group to working palaces, the awe-inspiring Hermitage, and a few minutes with the “coos” (Highland Cows).
Need to know
Make dining reservations in advance, especially during summer months and for large groups.
Be sure to spend a Sunday in St. Andrews when the golf course is open to the public for walking, picnicking, and photographing.
Do not feed the seagulls! Particularly in St. Andrews, they are aggressive and will steal food out of your hands. This happened to one of the members of our group. Feeding them only exacerbates the problem.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Scotland page.
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Patty Monaghan
Patty Monaghan
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