What to Expect in Scotland

We fly out of Atlanta en route to Scotland on 12 May, 2012. We'll arrive at the Amsterdam International Airport in Holland, and then take a shorter flight into Glasgow International Airport. We will make our way to the  Thomson Hotel in Glasgow's City Centre, where will we spend the next seven nights. Each room has its own bathroom, television, free buffet breakfast, safe, and free wifi.

Once we settle in, students will have a brief on-site orientation and neighborhood tour. 

Over the next several days, we will visit the sites of Glasgow and the surrounding area. In Glasgow, these will include the Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis, the Riverside Museum, the Kelvingrove Museum, the University of Glasgow, the Lighthouse, the Willow Tea Rooms,  the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, the People's Palace, Pollok Country Park and the Burrell Collection.

We will intersperse those site visits with day trips in the surrounding area. First up will be Stirling and its historic castle – a site made famous by William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their struggles for Scottish independence against England. This struggle was made known to most Americans through the popular film, Braveheart. The next trip will be to Falkirk, just east of Glasgow to visit the Falkirk Wheel and remains on Antonine Wall -- the Roman wall. Finally we will take a full-day tour through the Scottish Highlands. Sites will include Glencoe (site of an infamous 17^th Century massacre), Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis, and Oban.

We will then jump aboard a ScotRail train en route to Edinburgh, Scotland’s cultural and political capital, where will stay for five nights at the Herald House Hotel, which also internet connections (for a small fee), free breakfasts, room safes, and 4 hour security/reception.

Over the next several days, we will visit the sites of Edinburgh, which may include the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Mary King’s Close, Holyrood Palace, John Knox House, the University of Edinburgh, Surgeon’s Hall Museum, the Scottish Storytelling Center, the Walter Scott Memorial, and the National Scotland Museum.

 

 

On 25 May, we will travel to Edinburgh International Airport and fly home to Atlanta.