Social Programme (Provisional)

The following events are being arranged...

 

Tuesday August 8: 18:00-21:00 p.m. Reception and Welcome Buffet, John Burnet Hall

You will be welcomed to the School with a Welcome Buffet.


Friday August 11: School Ceilidh, John Burnet Hall.

Starting at 7:30 p.m. at John Burnet Hall.

An evening of Scottish music and dancing — a traditional Scottish Ceilidh (pronounced “Kaylee”) with the Dunedin Dancers, a Scottish Country Dance Group based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but with members throughout the UK and overseas. They will be demonstrating Scottish and highland dancing, and afterwards will be helping participants in the traditional dances of a Scottish Ceilidh.


Saturday August 12: Excursion: Falkland Palace .

Departing 2.15 p.m. from John Burnet Hall.

Falkland became a Royal Burgh in 1458, when the Royal Palace of Falkland was so named by King James III. Falkland was the hunting-place of the Stuart kings and queens, and dates from around 1450. Mary, Queen of Scots spent some of the happiest days of her tragic life 'playing the country girl in the woods and parks'. The Palace was built by James IV and by James V between 1501 and 1541. It replaced earlier castle and palace buildings dating from the 12th century, traces of which can still be seen in the grounds. The roofed South Range contains the Chapel Royal, and the East Range the King's Bedchamber and the Queen's Room, both restored by the National Trust. The Keeper's Apartments in the Gatehouse are also on display. The palace contains fine portraits of the Stuart monarchs and two sets of 17th-century tapestry hangings. The garden, designed and built by Percy Cane between 1947 and 1952, contains three herbaceous borders enclosing a wide lawn with many varieties of shrubs and trees. Here also is the original Royal Tennis court the oldest in Britain still in use - built in 1539. There is also a small herb garden border featuring quotations from John Gerard's book Herball (1597)

If you have time you are recommended to sample Scottish home baking in Kind Kyttock's Kitchen at Cross Wynd in Falkland .

 

Sunday August 13: Excursion: Pitlochry (Perthshire) and hill walking in Ben-y-Vrackie.

Departing 9.15 p.m. from John Burnet Hall.

Visit the Pertshire town of Pitlochry . You can see the famous Pitlochry dam and Salmon ladder, where salmon negotiate the specially constructed ladder into the man-made Loch Faskally. We will visit the pass of Killiecrankie where the Jacobite supporters of James VII under Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundeee) were routed by the army of William III under General Mackay in 1689. We will stop at the Moulin Hotel where we can start the climb to the summit of the Corbett (*) Ben-y-Vrackie (2757 ft or 841 m) along the beautiful highland moors. The walk should take one hour up to the summit and one hour back down. For those that do not want a strenuous trip, they may stay at the Moulin Hotel for lunch, or visit the stunning Blair Castle , home of the Dukes of Atholl. Alternatively you can visit the Edradour Distillery, “the smallest distillery in Scotland ”.

(*) Corbetts are defined as hills between 2500 and 3000 ft, Munros are above 3000 ft.


Thursday August 17: 8.00 p.m.: Whisky Tasting

An illustrated talk on the art of whisky making kindly provided by representatives from Chivas Regal to which all are welcome. Throughout the talk, one will have the opportunity of sampling a number of malt, grain and blended whiskies, as we are taken on a trip of discovery of the subtle tastes and aromas involved in the art of whisky making. A link to the Chivas Regal website is provided:

You can read more about Scottish whisky in the following:

 


Saturday August 19: Visit to Edinburgh and the World's largest arts festival.

Departing 1.15 p.m. from John Burnet Hall.

A coach will take attendants from St Andrews to Edinburgh , to have a free afternoon at the famous International Edinburgh Arts Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The coach will set passengers down at the east end of Princes Street , which is ideal both for shopping and sightseeing. An Edinburgh sightseeing map will be provided. From Princes Street it is only a short walk to the Scott Monument , Princes Street Gardens , Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse .

You can soak up the atmosphere during the Edinburgh International Arts Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and book yourself to one of the dozens of events that will be on show that day.

You may also just want to have a drink and/or dinner at one of Edinburgh ’s excellent pubs or restaurants.

The coach will depart from Edinburgh at approximately 11.15 p.m. and return directly to John Burnet Hall.


Sunday August 20: Excursion: Glamis and Dunnotar Castle

Departing at 9.00 a.m. from John Burnet Hall.

A full day coach excursion, beginning with a visit to Glamis Castle which is the home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and has been a royal residence since 1732. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, spent much of the childhood at Glamis, and it was the birthplace of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Margaret. The castle is the legendary setting for William Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

Time permitting there will also be a visit to Angus Folk Museum in Glamis village, a picturesque row of 17th century cottages that contain relics of the domestic and agricultural life of that period. Description can be found on the National Trust for Scotland web-site

After lunch we will visit the spectacular Dunnotar Castle . This formidable stronghold stands on an isolated crag 160 feet high, two miles south of Stonehaven. It was built between the 14th and 16th centuries, and is approached from the landward side by a narrow rocky gorge. In 1297 William Wallace stormed Dunnottar and is alleged to have burned to death the entire English Plantaganet garrison. Franco Zefferelli used Dunnottar as the location for his film Hamlet (1990). The castle does not have a dedicated web-site but is a popular place for visitors. Descriptions and photographs can be seen at

From Dunnotar we will return to John Burnet Hall via Montrose and Dundee .


Tuesday August 22: School Banquet, John Burnet Hall.

A special evening —

a short reception followed by a celebratory School Scottish Banquet —

including the traditional address to the Haggis.


Other activities around St Andrews on your own time: