The house lies at the heart of Falkland's cobbled streets and old buildings, and is a perfect base from which to explore the rich history and rolling countryside of this picturesque part of Fife.
A stay at St Andrews House includes a complimentary visit to the Palace and gardens for non-members, during normal property opening hours.
Accommodation details
- First floor
- Sleeps 4 - 2 twin bedrooms
- Sitting room
- Kitchen
- Dining room
- Bathroom with bath only
- Gas central heating from gas fire with back boiler
- Immersion water heating
- Parking space available, plus free car park in the village, a short walk away
- A spiral staircase leads to the property which is regrettably not suitable for the infirm
About Falkland Palace
With a history that includes a murderous duke, an imprisoned king, several changes of hands and some of Mary Queen of Scots's happiest country days, Falkland Palace is a treasure trove of history, brought to life by exquisitely restored display rooms.
The current palace was built between 1450 and 1541 and served as the hunting residence of the Stewart kings and queens. Its tapestry corridor containing 17th century Flemish masterpieces is unmissable, as are the gardens which contain the oldest real (or royal) tennis court in Britain, built for James V.
About the area
History runs deep in the village of Falkland, a former Royal Burgh inhabited since before the 12th century. The Falkland hunting estate was given to Duncan Macduff, 6th earl of Fife in 1160 and served as a base for royalty and aristocracy right up until the twentieth century.
Falkland also found fortune as a weaving town, and in 1792 an estimated third of the village's population were weavers. Cobbled wynds, an old horsemarket and no less than 28 listed buildings add to the village's historic charm.
There are international restaurants and traditional pubs in the village, plus a small supermarket with a post office. To source your own local food, have a look at www.fifediet.co.uk for details on nearby farmers markets.
Things to do
- Spend a day at the seaside on one of Fife's famous beaches. West Sands at St Andrews, Silver Sands at Aberdour, Elie and Burntisland have all received the prestigious blue flag award, meaning they are safe, clean and have great facilities.
- Scale the summit of East Lomond, a 424m hill looming over Falkland's south west side. For the brave, its wooded slopes also have a series of downhill mountainbiking tracks.
- Soak up Edwardian elegance at Hill of Tarvit. A classic mansion house remodelled in 1906, there are 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' rooms to explore as well as a rose and kitchen garden.
Getting there
Falkland lies 11 miles north of Kirkcaldy on the A912. < Less
