Sustainable RESPONSIBILITY

At Fairmont St Andrews, outdoor adventure goes hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship. Our sustainable water management and support for local rewilding protect the landscape for future generations. By partnering with wildlife initiatives, we’ve dedicated portions of our grounds to conservation guests may even spot our resident Highland cows, a charming highlight of any visit.

Located on the Fife Coastal Path, guests enjoy direct access to over 100 miles of dramatic shoreline. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a casual stroller, the path offers panoramic sea views and links to East Fife’s towns and villages.

The hillsides around the resort burst with wild blackberries and heather. Explore at your own pace with our bike rentals, we recommend the 5.6 km round-trip from East Sands to Rock & Spindle, a striking volcanic formation.

Prefer something leisurely? The Lade Braes Walk meanders through tranquil woodlands and streams, connecting you to St Andrews’ most picturesque sites. With our bikes, venture further to discover nearby villages and hidden coastal gems.

Whether seeking adventure or relaxation, Fairmont St Andrews invites you to experience the best of Scotland’s outdoors while supporting the local environment and community.

Here at the Fairmont, we want to make life easier for guests and staff, while encouraging sustainable practices. Transport options are an area where we have made significant efforts to reduce our impact.

At the Fairmont, we have six EV charging stations to power our guests vehicles and our fleet of electric vehicles.

Available at the front desk are bus schedules, covering routes to and from the train station in Leuchars, as well as the Edinburgh Airport, to encourage and make local transport options accessible for our non-domestic guests who may be unfamiliar with Scotland’s transport system. If guests are looking for private or more direct routes, we offer our EV luxury transport options, which balance five-star service with a respect for our natural resources.

We are proud to say that all our guests biking needs can be met here at the Fairmont. If you are looking to explore the beauty of Fife, no better way to do it than with that fresh Scottish air as your company on the back of a bike.

Five beehives on our grounds are cared for by our greenskeeper, who also tends the property’s herb and vegetable garden. We use rainwater harvesting and composting to reduce waste and support both our hives and gardens.

Our gardens yield microgreens, tomatoes, herbs, and onions, all used by our kitchen to prepare fresh dishes for guests. We prioritise local produce for its health and environmental benefits, maintaining high standards in both our kitchens and gardens.

A recent addition to our ecosystem is a herd of five Highland cows, part of local university-led rewilding efforts and funded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund. Their grazing helps improve the St Andrews-Craig Hartle Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), including areas beyond Fairmont, such as Kinkell Byre and Fife Council land. The cows wear NoFence collars, allowing them to roam and graze naturally with minimal interference.

While golf is typically a water-intensive sport to maintain on property, Scottish precipitation patterns and our water cycling infrastructure enable the Fairmont to maintain five-star greens without compromising our commitments to environmental best practices.

Working with our landscape, our greens-team utilises two small lakes that collect excess water as drainage points on the course; from these lakes we extract water for our sprinkler systems, without ever completely depleting them.

Additionally, at the driest points of summer, typically in June and July, and usually never more than twice a month, our team may extract water from an 80-meter deep borehole to maintain the integrity of our courses. This borehole does not significantly impact any surrounding aquifers and acts as a key tool in balancing high-quality golf experiences and our environmental aspirations.

These alternatives to purchasing or shipping around water, as many courses must globally, enable us to honour our water conservation commitments.