Kite Flying Site Report   ~ Back to UK Summary

Site Name: St Andrews West Sands

County: Fife, Scotland

Nearest Place: St Andrews

Also Near: RAF Leuchars

OS Grid Ref: NO 500 190 - Landranger: 307 -  Multimap Link

Height ASL: 0 metres - CAA Limit: 60 metres

Location: North of St Andrews town, East of Golf links.

Directions: Entering St Andrews via A91 from the west, turn left on Golf Course road.
Pass Royal and Ancient clubhouse on left then Sea World centre on right.
Follow road to left past Old course Ist hole then to right past car parks for golf courses, putting green and Southern end of beach.
Go through 3 mini-roundabouts north on road for 2 kilometres until road leaves low dunes at beach edge.

Parking: £1 a day at Car parks for golf courses and Southern end of beach.
Its no longer possible to dodge the fee (unless you arrive before 9am or after about 4.30pm) as there are now barriers in place.

Facilities: Toilet blocks at 1st and 3rd roundabouts. Good food and drink to be had in town.

Accessibility: Easy access to beach for buggys from grassy area as road swings inland.

Flying Area: Sand is compact, no rocks, 400 metres wide at low tide.
Care needed beyond headland at Eden river eastuary.
On north bank of estuary lies RAF Leuchars with East-West runway.
Grass area between road and beach is ideal for sports kiters with aversion to sand.

Comments: It is worthwhile going to the northern end of the sands as the tourist/mad dog levels decrease significantly.
Good flying will be had with on or offshore winds due to topography.
The RAF do not fly on Sundays out of Leuchars normally and are loath to fly too close to St Andrews town.
Kite flyers should use common sense & not get too close either.
The Kite Club of Scotland fly here on a 6 weekly rota between this and their other two sites in Irvine and Chatelherault.
SPKA members can usually be found here too, most weekends throughout the year.

Local Clubs/Contacts: The Kite Club of Scotland
Scottish Parakart Association S.P.K.A. + sec.Paul Smith, Email = paul(at)madaboutkites.co.uk

Nearest Retailer: Wind and Water, St Andrews, Tel: 01334 460600

Report By: Ian Murray 22/09/97

Updates By: Paul Smith 13.05.02
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