Fairmont St Andrews

Fairmont St Andrews sits on a clifftop above the North Sea, looking out over St Andrews and the water beyond. The setting is the first thing you notice: the hotel is built at the edge, and the views from the rooms carry straight out to sea.

There are two golf courses on the grounds — enough to keep a golfer occupied for more than one day without leaving the property. The guest rooms are spacious and come with satellite television, coffee and tea equipment, and a refreshment centre.

Three restaurants cover different ground. The St Andrews Bar and Grill serves Scottish beef and local seafood. La Cucina is the Italian room, built around pasta and similar dishes. The Atrium Lounge does afternoon tea: homemade cakes, finger sandwiches, and pastries served in a formal setting.

The indoor leisure facilities are extensive: a swimming pool, a wet suite of sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, and a relaxation room — a useful combination on the Scottish coast, where the weather does not always favour outdoor plans. The hotel is in Fife, a short drive from the town centre of St Andrews and its Old Course.