Our four-red-star hotel in St Andrews is set within 10 acres of private gardens and grounds. This exceptional setting allows the hotel to offer space, tranquillity, and a strong connection with nature, while remaining just minutes from St Andrews town centre, the Old Course, the university, and the coast.

Rufflets is uniquely positioned to offer the best of both worlds: the cultural and historic richness of St Andrews, alongside the calm, privacy, and openness that only extensive gardens can provide.

Rufflets St Andrews
Strathkinness Low Road
St Andrews, Fife
Scotland

Rufflets is easily reached by car:

• Edinburgh – approximately 1 to 1¼ hours
• Glasgow – approximately 1½ to 2 hours

Regular train services run to Leuchars Station, followed by a short taxi journey to the hotel.

Rufflets can offer a dedicated airport transfer service in our fully electric people carrier from/to Edinburgh Airport at the cost of £200 each way. We are also happy to recommend trusted local taxi or alternative private transfer providers.

reservations@rufflets.co.uk

+44 (0) 1334 472594

Rufflets offers elegant, individually designed bedrooms and suites within a traditional country-house setting, including woodland suites and garden-located accommodation. As one of the leading hotels in St Andrews, each space reflects understated luxury, comfort, and a strong sense of place, shaped by the surrounding gardens.

Rufflets offers an intimate collection of 31 bedrooms and suites, designed to preserve privacy, calm, and a relaxed Hotel & Gardens atmosphere.

Our two self-catered cottages are perfect for those wanting a private getaway, just steps from the luxury hotel amenities.

Guests enjoy:

• Ten acres of landscaped gardens and grounds
• Beautifully appointed bedrooms and suites
• Organic Scottish ISHGA* toiletries: a luxury Scottish brand inspired by the natural landscapes of the Hebrides.
• Award-winning dining and afternoon tea
• Elegant lounges and bar
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and on-site parking

*ISHGA products are made in Scotland using sustainably harvested seaweed and organic ingredients. Free from parabens, sulphates, and artificial fragrances, they offer guests a sensory connection to Scotland’s wild, elemental beauty — reflecting Rufflets’ commitment to authenticity, wellbeing, and responsible luxury.

Yes, Rufflets offers dog-friendly accommodation in selected rooms and cottages in St Andrews. Advance booking is required.

Yes, Rufflets welcomes families and offers a relaxed, spacious environment where guests of all ages can feel at home, making it a wonderful choice for a family getaway in St Andrews.

• Family-suitable rooms and suites
• Extensive gardens and outdoor space for exploration
• Children’s dining options
• Seasonal and themed family experiences

Rufflets Brasserie Restaurant and Terrace in St Andrews offers an equally earthy and refined Scottish dining experience, inspired by seasonality, local sourcing, and produce grown in and around our organic certified gardens., Alongside we also have a relaxed bar and lounge serving cocktails, wines, and light dishes.

Yes, the Brasserie restaurant and bar at Rufflets welcome non-residents. Advance booking is recommended for our Brasserie in St Andrews.

Yes, Rufflets offers private dining in St Andrews for family celebrations, special occasions, and business gatherings.

Yes, Rufflets is well known for its Afternoon Tea in St Andrews, served in elegant surroundings overlooking the gardens.

Current menus for Rufflets are available on the website.

Yes, Rufflets offers a selection of indoor and outdoor spaces set within the gardens, suitable for special occasions, celebrations, and private events in St Andrews.

Yes, Rufflets provides discreet meeting spaces in St Andrews ideal for leadership meetings, away days, and retreats, enhanced by access to the gardens for reflection and informal discussion.

Yes, Rufflets is particularly well suited to corporate retreats, offering privacy, space, high-quality dining, and easy access to St Andrews, while remaining removed from town-centre distractions.

Yes, Rufflets is a popular choice for those celebrating graduation in St Andrews. Our 4-red-star hotel is perfect for stays, dining, and private celebrations, offering space for families to gather both indoors and outdoors.

Yes, Rufflets is a sought-after wedding venue, offering elegant interiors, beautiful gardens, and bespoke wedding experiences, perfect for couples looking to get married in St Andrews.

Rufflets Guests are encouraged to enjoy garden walks, the surrounding countryside, and nearby fitness facilities in St Andrews. While we don't have an indoor gym, our gardens and woodland offers the very best natural gym in St Andrews!

Experiences at Rufflets are shaped by nature, seasonality, and place, and include:

• Gardens and seasonal experiences
• Golf breaks and local exploration
• Dining and afternoon tea experiences
• Relaxed outdoor walks within the grounds

Sustainability at Rufflets is thoughtful, practical, and long-term.

Key initiatives include:

• An organic certified kitchen garden supplying herbs, flowers, and produce
• Seasonal menus with strong local supplier relationships
• Use of organic, Scottish guest amenities
• Waste reduction and recycling practices
• Careful stewardship of the gardens to support biodiversity

Yes, Rufflets offers complimentary on-site parking for guests, and provides electric vehicle charging points, supporting guests who choose to travel more sustainably.

Seasonal and exclusive offers are available throughout the year at Rufflets and can be found on the website.

Yes, gift vouchers for Rufflets are available for our accommodation, dining, and experiences.

Prices vary depending on season, room type, and availability. The best available rates for Rufflets can be found on the website.

Rufflets has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations since 1952, and in 2020, Marco Truffelli joined as a co-owner, expanding the ownership.

Rufflets was built in 1924 as a private home for Anne Brydon Gilroy, the widow of a successful Dundee merchant who traded in jute, a natural fibre used to make cloth. You can see her initials ABG engraved on the key stone above the door leading to the formal gardens.

Until 1924, the 10 acres of Rufflets grounds had been used for agricultural purposes. Records from 1642 show that the land was owned by the Priory of St Andrews and was known as the "Ruch (pronounced ruff) Flets" which in the old Scots tongue meant 'rough, flat lands'.

In 1952, the seven-bedroom turreted mansion was bought by George and Margaret Cook and business partners, Anna and James Meldrum. The two women were sisters and the men, lifelong friends. The group sold their business and home and ploughed their fortune and passion into turning it into one of Scotland's first and finest country house hotels.

Today, Rufflets’ board comprises Mark Forrester, grandson of two of the original founders, his mother, Ann Murray-Smith, who took over the business from her parents in 1976, and Marco Truffelli, Italo-British hotelier, who partnered with them in early 2020.

Nearby highlights include many of the most popular attractions in St Andrews and surrounding areas:

• St Andrews Old Course
• University of St Andrews
• St Andrews Cathedral and Castle
• Beaches and coastal walks
• East Neuk fishing villages

Yes, guests can sign up to the Rufflets newsletter via the website to receive news, stories, and exclusive offers.