St Andrews Castle, Medieval castle ruins in St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews Castle stands on a rocky coastal promontory above Castle Sands beach, featuring defensive walls that extend toward the North Sea and scattered masonry from its medieval construction. The site displays remains of residential chambers, towers, and the distinctive bottle dungeon while the surrounding landscape offers views across the bay.
The fortress was built around 1200 and served as the residence for the Bishops of St Andrews until the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. After this religious shift, the site lost its political importance and gradually fell into decline.
The ruins preserve a bottle dungeon, a prison chamber cut into solid rock, which held both local offenders and prominent religious prisoners during its time as a bishop's seat. This chamber remains one of the most striking features visitors encounter when exploring the site today.
Access is available on established paths that allow visitors to explore different areas of the ruins, though some sections are steep and uneven. Wear sturdy footwear and be aware of tides, since the location directly on the coast affects beach conditions nearby.
Visitors can explore the underground mine and countermine system created during the 1546-1547 siege, when opposing forces tunneled beneath the fortress. These passages reveal the intense military engineering techniques used during that confrontation.
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