By Janey Swanson
Getting to Fife and St Andrews is simple, with excellent public transport links from around the UK. This fabulous region is not far from Scotland’s cities and is also very easy to get around, making it the perfect destination for a day trip or longer stay.
Getting here
By road
If you are driving from Edinburgh and the south, Edinburgh is directly connected by the Forth Road Bridge. Then head to Dunfermline where the A92 takes you further into Fife. From Glasgow and the west, it is easiest to take the M8 to Edinburgh and then head to Fife from there. The best route from Aberdeen and Dundee is to head for the Tay Road Bridge where the A92 continues into Fife. If you are heading to Fife from Inverness, Perth and north, follow the A9 from Inverness to Perth. Continue down the M90 from either the A912 at the Bridge of Earn, or continue to Dunfermline on the A92.
By train
If you wish to get the train here, there are a number of train stations which have direct rail connections to other towns and cities in Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. There are also links to major English towns and cities on the east and west coast. St Andrews is served by Leuchars station, where taxis and buses connect with a short journey.
By air
National and international flights fly into Edinburgh Airport and Dundee Airport which are both just a 20-minute drive from the Kingdom of Fife.
Fife is in close proximity to Edinburgh and Dundee airports
By bus
Buses from all over the UK stop at Inverkeithing Ferrytoll, where you can continue your journey throughout Fife by bus.
By ferry
Direct routes on Scottish ferries operate from Ireland to ports in the West Coast. From there you can take public transport or drive to the region which is around 90 miles (145 km) from Troon and 140 miles (225km) from Cairnryan. Ferries also run from the Netherlands to Newcastle in the north east of England, which is also around 140 miles away.
Public transport
For information about all public transport in Scotland, the best place to check for information and timetables is the Traveline website – you can also download their mobile app or call them on 0871 200 22 33.
Getting around
By road
The A92 connects the whole region and is perfect for car touring with many well signposted scenic routes linking the smaller towns and villages. Fife has around 300 miles of on and off-road cycle routes – bring your own or hire a bike in one of the towns. The Fife Coastal Route is a National Tourist Route which runs 85 miles around the coast of the region. You can use this route to explore the many towns and villages both around the coast and inland.
The region is easy to get around by bus
By bus
An express coach network links Anstruther, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Leven, Glenrothes, Cupar and St Andrews and is complemented by local bus networks in each town.
By rail
Fife Circle trains make stops at numerous towns and villages in South West Fife while there are also regular trains which run between Edinburgh and Dundee. Bus connections are available between Leuchars (for St Andrews) and St Andrews town centre.
Read more about Fife and St Andrews
