Projected itinerary – updated 18 october 2010
Fri. 22 Oct. (journey to Oban)
compulsory
- 0615 departure Gymnasium (coach to Bremen)
- 0720 bag drop at Bremen airport
- 0920 departure Bremen
- 0955 arrival Edinburgh
- Tour of Scotland with MacBackpackers
- National Wallace Monument at Stirling
- lovely village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond
- ‘Rest and be thankful’ up hill
- Arrochar Alps
- bizarre St Conan’s Kirk
- gorgeous Glen Lonan
- beautiful fishing town of Oban
- self-made candlelight dinner at our hostel: Oban Backpackers
suggested/optional
- sit at the esplanade watching the night over the Isles of Kerrera and Mull
- sleep after a long day
Sat. 23 Oct. (journey to Kyleakin/Isle of Skye)
compulsory
- views of Scotland’s West Coast
- Glen Coe
- “Harry Potter Bridge” (Glenfinnan Viaduct)
- tour of Scotland’s most spectacular island, the Isle of Skye
- self-made candlelight dinner at our hostel: Skye Backpackers
suggested/optional
- enjoy yourself
Sun. 24 Oct. (journey to Edinburgh)
compulsory
- quick ‘dook’ in Loch Ness
- lunch at the quaint Highland village of Fort Augustus
- ?
- Cairngorms National Park
- Pass of Killiecrackie
- picturesque Dunkeld/Birnam Wood (to visit Macbeth?)
- self-made candlelight dinner at our hostel in Edinburgh: BudgetBackpackers
suggested/optional
- first impressions of Edinburgh: stroll up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle
Mon. 25 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory (so far)
- be a late riser
suggested/optional
- Tour of the New Town/Old Town
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots. National Museum of Scotland)
- 1945 Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest (The Lyceum Theatre, £ 7.00–8.00)
- 2030 Red Raw (open mic comedy, The Stand Comedy Club, £ 1.00–2.00)
Tue. 26 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory (so far)
- 1030–1315 Edinburgh Castle: A Developed Tourist Attraction (a mix of history and some background about visitor numbers and how Historic Scotland look after them and interpret the site for them including some elements of Time Detectives to get a flavour of lots of different types of interpretation)
- 1530–1700 Beginnings (Discover the origins and evolution of Scotland’s landscape, flora and fauna. National Museum of Scotland)
suggested/optional
- Tour of the New Town/Old Town
- 1945 Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest (The Lyceum Theatre, £ 7.00–8.00)
- 2030 Ed Byrne (stand-up comedy, The Stand Comedy Club, £ 13.00)
Wed. 27 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory (so far)
- 1000–1300 Active Geology and Archaeology (long walk focussing on the rich geological and archaeological history of Holyrood Park)
suggested/optional
- Tour of the New Town/Old Town
- Footstomping (traditional Scottish fiddle music)
- 1830–2115 Opera North : The Adventures of Pinocchio (Festival Theatre, ca. £ 7.50)
- 1830–1930 Ceilidh Dancing Beginners (traditional Scottish partner dance, Dance Base, £ 6.50)
- 1945 Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest (The Lyceum Theatre, £ 7.00–8.00)
- 2030 Best of Scottish Comedy (The Stand Comedy Club, £ 5.00–6.00)
Thu. 28 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory (so far)
- nothing
suggested/optional
- 1015 Thursday Health Walks (Enjoy fresh air and meet new people on a health-boosting garden walk at the Royal Botanic Garden)
- Tour of the New Town/Old Town
- go to bed early(!)
Mon.–Thu. 26–28 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
suggested/optional
- Top free attractions
- Top walks
- 72 hours in Edinburgh
- Cultural inspiration
- Best city views
- 1000–1700 What You See is Where You’re At (Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art)
- 1000–1800 From Another Kingdom: The Amazing World of Fungi (The first major multi-media exhibition in the UK to focus on the fascinating and diverse world of fungi and their relationship with humans and the planet. Prepare to be shocked, surprised and smile at hidden secrets From Another Kingdom.)
- The Scotch Whisky Experience (Take a barrel ride as you actually become part of the whisky making process.) £ 8.95/£ 5.95
- Events within 5 miles of Edinburgh
- Ghost Tours (walking tours around Edinburgh’s Old Town featuring the most haunted locations, the scariest stories and most spectacular candlelit underground vaults) £ 6.50–11.00
- Mary King’s Close (Edinburgh’s deepest secret: a warren of hidden ‘closes’ where real people lived, worked and died.) £ 7.50, pre-booking essential
- 2000 or 2100 Underground City of the Dead (Descend into Edinburgh’s Legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery.) £ 8.50
- 2030 or 2200 City of the Dead Hauted Tour (Combines the weirdest history with the wildest stories and wickedest humour around.) £ 8.50
- 0930–1800 Camera Obscura (The Camera Obscura show is a fascinating and highly amusing way to see the city and learn about its history.) £ 5.75, pre-booking essential
- 1000–1600 Skin Deep: The Restoration of Form and Function (An exhibition investigating plastic surgery relating to war, punishment, psychology, congenital defects and cosmetic reasons) £ 3.00
Fri. 29 Oct. (journey back to Westerstede)
compulsory
- 0330 transfer to Edinbugh Airport
- 0420 bag drop at Edinburgh airport
- 0620 departure Edinburgh
- 0855 arrival Bremen
- 0920 departure Bremen (by coach)
- 1020 arrival Gymnasium
- 1145 Seminarfach
- 1315 end of the study trip
Weather forecast
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders weather forecast (Met Office)
- Highlands & Eilean Siar weather forecast (Met Office)
- 10 day Weather Forecast in Edinburgh (The Weather Channel)
- Monthly Outlook for Scotland (BBC Weather)
- Climate/Average Conditions (BBC Weather)