Scotland Golf Guide: Between-the-Rounds Attractions

Near Gleneagles:

Edradour Distillery

Edradour is the smallest legal distillery of Scotch whiskey in the world. It can only legally be defined as whiskey once matured for three years in an oak cask. Established in 1825, it still uses traditional wooden tools to make one of Scotland's favorite whiskeys and its output in one year (50,000 bottles) is equivalent to the production of a major distillery's production in just one week - yet it receives two visitors for every bottle produced. Housed in delightful white stone washed buildings, the distillery, just north of Perth, is situated in Scotland's temperate belt where conditions are perfect for whiskey distillation. The process is managed by just three men and on the free tour you can learn all about the history of the distillery, the old ways of making whiskey, the importance of what casks are used to store the liquor, and buy whiskey at the on-site shop.

Edradour certainly has a colorful history since its inception two hundred years ago; most of its output ended up in America during prohibition where it allegedly fell into the hands of the mafia. Indeed, a significant proportion of the content of the 264,000 bottles of Scotch whisky in the hold of life shipwrecked SS Politician, upon which best selling 1946 novel Whisky Galore was based, contained Edradour-produced whiskey. Certainly something to mull over during the free tasting session.

Address: Edradour Distillery, Pitlochry, PH16 5JP, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1796 472095, Fax: +44 (0)1796 472002
Opening times: Beginning of March to end-October, Mon-Sat 9.30am to 5.00pm and Sun 12.00pm to 5.00pm. November to mid-December, Mon-Sat 10.00am to 4.00pm
Website: www.edradour.co.uk

Near Gleneagles:

Royal Yacht Britannia

Continuing an unbroken 300 year tradition in the British royal family for owning yachts, the Royal Yacht Britannia was launched in 1953. After clocking up a million miles it was finally decommissioned in 1997 in Portsmouth after a public outcry over royal spending. It's now an award-winning tourist attraction in Edinburgh's historic port of Leith.

Address: Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh's new waterfront retail and leisure development,
Telephone: 44 (0)131 555 5566
Opening times: Winter - October to March: 10.00am - 3.30pm (close 5pm), daily. Summer - April to September, 9.30am - 4.30pm (close 6pm), daily.
Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

The Heritage of Golf Exhibition

The charismatic ex-vet Archie Baird began collecting golf memorabilia over 30 years ago and has since built up a formidable private collection that he opens to the public upon request. He has an unbounded passion for the game and is arguably Scotland's foremost golf historian. His exhibition runs from the early Dutch origins of golf, to the feathery ball era of the pre-1850s, to the 'gutta percha' ball of the late nineteenth century which allowed for a massive expansion of the game. An absolute must for golf lovers everywhere.

Address: Next to Pro's Shop, Gullane, East Lothian, EH31 2BB, UK
Telephone: 44 (0) 1875 870 277, ask for Archie Baird
Opening times: By appointment

Near St Andrews

St Andrews Castle

The ruined St Andrews Castle stands on the rocky coastline on the east side of the town, its walls dropping down on three sides into the sea and rearing up on the fourth behind a deep moat. It was founded in the 13th century and extended over the centuries as the castle of Scotland's bishops and archbishops. It witnessed grim events during the sixteenth century reformation including the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1545 in revenge for the execution of protestant reformers by their fellows, who then threw his body into the chilling bottle shaped dungeon you can still view today. They spent the following year besieged in the castle, digging the siege tunnel complex you can still climb through - said to be the best surviving example of such engineering in Europe. Plan your trip first thing in the morning or later in the day when the castle can be almost deserted.

Address: Historic Scotland, St Andrews Castle, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 1334 477196
Website: www.visit-standrews.co.uk
Opening times: All year, 09.00-18.30 daily

Jim Farmer's Pro Shop

Jim Farmer's is one of the top, if not the top pro shop in Scotland. Jim stocks a huge range of quality brand name sports clothing and merchandise featuring the St Andrews logo.

Address: St Mary's Place, Market Street, St Andrews, KY16 9UY, UK
Tel / Fax: +44 (0)1334 476796
Website: www.standrewshopro.com

British Golf Museum

If you're golfing in St Andrews, a trip to this museum is worthwhile. It takes you on a neatly chronological tour of golf's history through the prism of the town of St Andrews, the home of golf. Its galleries trace its history using a mixture of text, memorabilia and touch screens, simultaneously teaching you all about golf's heritage and testing your knowledge.

Address: British Golf Museum, Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AB, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1334 460046, Fax: +44 (0)1334 460064
Website: www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk
Opening times: Varies according to day and time of year

More information

Adventure Golf: Scotland