Projected itinerary – updated 19 September 2009
Wed. 23 Sept. (journey to Inverness)
compulsory
- 0615 departure Gymnasium (coach to Bremen)
- 0720 bag drop at Bremen airport
- 0920 departure Bremen
- 0955 arrival Edinburgh
- relaxing and beautiful forest walk at the Hermitage
- picturesque Victorian town of Pitlochry
- Pass of Killiecrackie
- Cairngorms National Park
- Ruthven barracks
- ancient burial mounds and standing stones at Clava Cairns
- eerie Culloden Battlefield
- Inverness, locally known as Invershnekkie
suggested/optional
- Dolphin Cruise £ 10 (not reccommended by David)
Thu. 24 Sept. (journey to Oban)
compulsory
- quick ‘dook’ in Loch Ness
- Inverfarigaig to get elevated views of the Loch
- coffee stop at Foyers
- lunch at the quaint Highland village of Fort Augustus
- down the Great Glen passing Loch Oich and Lochy
- “Harry Potter Bridge” (Glenfinnan Viaduct)
- views of Scotland’s West Coast particularly Ben Nevis and Glen Coe
- meander down to the beautiful fishing town of Oban
suggested/optional
- sit at the esplanade watching the sun set over the Isles of Kerrera and Mull
Fri. 25 Sept. (journey to Edinburgh)
compulsory
- gorgeous Glen Lonan
- bizarre St Conan’s Kirk
- Kilchurn Castle
- Inveraray Castle (lunch in the town)
- Arrochar Alps
- ‘Rest and be thankful’ down hill to the shores of Loch Lomond
- lovely village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond
- National Wallace Monument at Stirling
- Edinburgh
Sat. 26 Sept. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- nothing
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 Garden Detectives (unearthing nature’s little secrets, National Museum of Scotland)
- 1100–1300 or 1400–1600 A Slice of Life: Geology Special (Step back into ‘deep time’ with our resident expert and personal friend of James Hutton himself. National Museum of Scotland)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 1000–1700 The Enlightenments (Dean Gallery, Modern Art Galleries)
Sun. 27 Sept. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- 1100–1500 Holyrood Park Archaeology Day (guided by a Druid through the life in the Iron Age)
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 The Enlightenments (Dean Gallery, Modern Art Galleries)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 2100 Footstomping (traditional Scottish fiddle music)
Mon. 28 Sept. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- 1300–1600 Active Archaeology (longer walk focussing on the rich archaeological history of Holyrood Park)
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 Museum of Edinburgh (artefacts that illustrate the development of the city)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 1000–2000 The Original Export: Stories of Scottish emigration (National Library)
- 2130 Open Mic: Just turn up to perform (live music bar)
Tue. 29 Sept. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- for most of the group: 1500 The Scotch Whisky Experience (Take a barrel ride as you actually become part of the whisky making process.) £ 8.50
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 Museum of Edinburgh (artefacts that illustrate the development of the city)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 1000–2000 The Original Export: Stories of Scottish emigration (National Library)
- 2100 Footstomping (traditional Scottish fiddle music)
Wed. 30 Sept. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- 1000–1300 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)
- for most of the group: 1930 Beauty and the Beast (Disney’s multi-award winning musical) £ 19
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 Museum of Edinburgh (artefacts that illustrate the development of the city)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 1000–2000 The Original Export: Stories of Scottish emigration (National Library)
Thu. 01 Oct. (out and about Edinburgh)
compulsory
- nothing
suggested/optional
- 1000–1700 Museum of Edinburgh (artefacts that illustrate the development of the city)
- 1000–1700 Scotland: A Changing Nation (Explore a changing nation through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Scots.)
- 1000–2000 The Original Export: Stories of Scottish emigration (National Library)
Fri. 02 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
Further ideas for Edinburgh (without a date so far)
- 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
- 1930 Literary Pub Tour (Presented as a dramatic duologue, a hilarious duel of wits ensues performed by professional actors across 300 years of great writing and colourful characters.) £ 7.50
- Tour of the New Town/Old Town
- Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Edinburgh’s highlights (according to Kerstin’s guide book)
- Edinburgh Castle
- Royal Mile
- St. Giles Cathedral
- Palace of Holyroodhouse (Royals)
- New Scottish Parliament Building
- Grassmarket and Victoria Street
- Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland
- Royal Scottish Academy and National Gallery of Scotland
- Royal Botanic Garden