Drone Rules in St Andrews — Old Course, Castle & Leuchars Station (2026)

Why St Andrews Is Complicated for Drone Pilots

St Andrews is a small coastal town in Fife, world-famous for its golf courses and medieval university. For drone pilots, it presents a uniquely challenging combination of restrictions: a military FRZ from nearby Leuchars Station, historic sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland, private golf links, a busy university campus, and a compact town centre that qualifies as a congested area.

The result is that legal, unrestricted flying opportunities within St Andrews itself are extremely limited. Most successful drone flights here require advance planning and multiple permissions.

Leuchars Station FRZ — The Biggest Restriction

Leuchars Station (formerly RAF Leuchars) is a British Army base located approximately five kilometres from St Andrews town centre. The station retains an active aerodrome with a Flight Restriction Zone. The FRZ extends in a radius of approximately 2 to 2.5 nautical miles around the airfield, plus runway protection zones of 5 km length and 500 m width along the extended runway centreline, reaching from ground level to 2,000 ft.

The West Sands beach — one of the most photogenic locations in St Andrews — sits within this FRZ. Flying a drone of any size or weight within the FRZ without permission is against the law.

To request FRZ access, contact Leuchars Station Air Traffic Control on 01334 857282. Based on reported procedures, you may also need to obtain a Police Incident Number (PIN) by calling 101 and informing local police of your planned flight. ATC may grant a time-limited clearance depending on military activity that day.

CAA Registration and the Drone Code

Regardless of where you fly in St Andrews, UK-wide CAA rules under CAP 2320 (March 2026) apply:

• Flyer ID — required for drones weighing 100 g or more (free online theory test).
• Operator ID — required for drones weighing 250 g or more. Label must be affixed to the drone.
• Altitude — maximum 120 m (400 ft) above the closest point of the ground.
• VLOS — keep the drone in unaided visual line of sight at all times.
• Distance — 50 m from uninvolved people; 150 m from congested areas for most drone classes.

The Old Course and Golf Links

The St Andrews Links are managed by the St Andrews Links Trust. The links comprise seven public golf courses plus surrounding land. Drone flights over active golf courses pose obvious safety risks to players and could disrupt play. You must contact the Links Trust for permission before flying over any of the courses.

Even outside playing hours, the links attract walkers and are classified as recreational land. The 50 m distance rule from uninvolved persons applies. Additionally, parts of the links closest to the town fall within the Leuchars FRZ, adding a second layer of restriction.

St Andrews Castle — HES Permission Required

St Andrews Castle, perched on the coastal cliffs, is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. As with all HES properties, drone flights on or from the site require prior written consent. Contact drones@hes.scot at least five working days in advance, providing your flight plan, drone details, and a risk assessment. The same applies to St Andrews Cathedral ruins nearby.

University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews has its own drone policy. The university requires all drone operations on its property to be authorised through its Environmental, Health and Safety Services (EHSS) department. Unauthorised drone flights over university buildings or grounds are not permitted. This applies to both students and members of the public.

Coastal and Beach Flying

The coastline around St Andrews — including the East Sands and the cliffs — offers visually striking locations. Key considerations:

• FRZ overlap — check whether your chosen beach location falls within the Leuchars FRZ before planning any flight.
• Cliff-edge altitude — the 120 m height limit is measured from the closest point of the earth, so flying off a cliff means you must account for the drop below.
• Seabirds — nesting seabird colonies along the Fife coast are protected. Disturbing them is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• Wind — the east coast of Fife is exposed to North Sea winds, which can be strong and unpredictable, especially near the cliffs.

Penalties

Flying without CAA registration or in breach of the Drone Code can result in fines of up to £2,500. Entering a military FRZ without authorisation is a serious offence under the Air Navigation Order 2016 that can lead to unlimited fines and criminal prosecution.