St Andrews Castle

A palace at the centre of the Reformation

Building began around 1200 and the castle served as palace, fortress and state prison. In March 1546 the Protestant preacher George Wishart was burned outside its walls. Weeks later his supporters got in disguised as masons and murdered Cardinal David Beaton. They then held the castle through a long siege, with John Knox as their preacher, until French artillery forced them out in 1547. The Church kept the castle until bishops were abolished in Scotland in 1689, after which it was left to fall into ruin.

Underground: mine, countermine and dungeon

During the siege the attackers tunnelled through the rock towards the walls and the defenders dug a countermine to meet them. Both passages were rediscovered in 1879 and you can still go down into them; expect low, damp spaces. Below the north-west tower you can peer into the bottle dungeon, a prison hewn out of solid rock.

Planning your visit

Book a timed ticket online. An audio guide is available on your own phone or on a device at the castle. Allow about an hour, then go down to Castle Sands below, the tidal swimming pool, or follow The Scores east to the cathedral and St Rule's Tower.

Highlights

• Begun around 1200 as the bishops' palace
• Siege mine and countermine from 1546, open to visitors
• Rock-cut bottle dungeon
• Clifftop setting on The Scores
• Audio guide included

Good to know

• Tickets are timed and booked online through Historic Environment Scotland.
• Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders get in free.
• Scottish residents aged 7 to 25 can visit for £1 with a Young Scot or National Entitlement Card.
• The mine is a low, tight rock tunnel and may not suit everyone.

Frequently asked questions