Arcadia Scotland

We hope you are getting excited about your time in Scotland this Fall! We have put together a range of events for you that will get you properly immersed into Scottish culture and maybe trying some new experiences! There is something for everyone and we encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. Below is a first look at what you've got in store! 

Event registration opens SOON in your Arcadia Passport.

Don’t forget, if an event is full you can add yourself to the waitlist to be notified automatically if more space becomes available.

FIRBUSH ADVENTURE WEEKEND- 6TH - 8TH OCTOBER

Join us for one of our most popular events– the Loch Tay Outdoor Activity Weekend - Firbush. This is an activity-filled weekend set in the southern Highlands; staying in a log cabin, opening your curtains to the rolling mountains and still waters of Loch Tay you will embark on an amazing weekend of hill-walking, kayaking, canoeing and mountain biking. Come rain, snow or sun you will get to experience the best outdoor activities that the Highlands has to offer. The neighbouring village of Killin offers quaint tea shops and pubs as well as the dramatic Falls of Dochart. If you are wanting a more leisurely exploration of the area, you are more than welcome to enjoy it in a less adrenaline-packed manner. On the Saturday evening, we will have a traditional Burns' Supper where you will get to try Haggis, Neeps and Tatties followed by a ceilidh and evening of music. This really is a weekend not to be missed!

Price includes: Round trip travel by coach from Edinburgh and pick up from Stirling, two nights’ accommodation, all meals (Breakfast, lunch & dinner) and all activities with equipment hire (if you have your own, I would use that).

DRACULA THEATRE SHOW OCTOBER 12TH 

October is when Edinburgh, one of the most haunted cities in the UK, is at its peak autumnal spookiness. What better way to get into the spirit of the season than to see a reimagining of one of the most famous Gothic novels ever- Dracula! 

Dracula: Mina's Reckoning at the Festival theater is a retelling of the events of Dracula from Mina’s perspective which those familiar with, and newcomers to, the story of Dracula will enjoy. We’ll have a bite of dinner together before heading to the theater. 

Price includes: Dinner and the admission into the theater. 

REGIONAL IRELAND WEEKEND OCTOBER 13-15TH

This weekend with the Arcadia students from England and Ireland whisks you away to the Emerald Isle for surfing, singing and sweeping cliffs. You will attend an Irish Ceili for traditional singing and dancing. The next day you will tour the gorgeous cliffs of Moher, stop in the picturesque village of Doolin before catching some waves at Clare, one of Ireland’s best spots for surfing. Those who don’t want to brave the waves will get a tour of the incredible glacio karst Burren Landscape, where the echoes of glaciers have left imprints on the land. You’ll finish up with a pub quiz and head back across the sea to Scotland the next day.

Price Includes: flight, accommodation, some meals and activities

HIGHLANDS WEEKEND TRIP OCTOBER 27TH-29TH

Come away to the Highlands of Scotland! This 3-day weekend trip will feature a drive up to the historic town of Crieff where you will tour a distillery to sample some of the finest whiskies in the land. You’ll stop at the Victorian holiday town of Pitlochry and visit a working sheepdog farm. You’ll take in the dramatic views of Loch Morlich and stay the night in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. 

You will visit the historic Culloden Battlefield and the beautifully ruined Urquhart Castle which sits perched on the banks of Loch Ness. Then onto Fort William and the Glenfinnan viaduct, the ‘Harry Potter’ rail bridge. A drive filled with dramatic scenery will take you to Glencoe, some of the Highlands most iconic mountains can be seen from the visitor center. From there, you’ll visit Castle Stalker before driving coastward to Oban, a beautiful village that clings to the edge of the waters of the Firth of Lorn. Some of the best seafood in Scotland comes from here. 

You’ll continue on to the Gothic beauty of St Conan’s Kirk.  Next, a visit to a waterfall that runs through a village, the Falls of Dochart. You’ll stop at Kilmahog to see that iconic Scottish animal, the Highland coo, if they’re not feeling too shy that is. Finally, Winter is Coming! Visit Doune Castle, the original set for Winterfell and castle in the opening scene in Monty Python’s Black Knight.

Details may change due to weather. 

Prices includes: Round trip travel by coach from Edinburgh, 2 nights accommodation - Inverness Youth Hostel & Oban Youth Hostel, 2x breakfasts, 2x dinner, 3x lunch,

BORDERS DAY TRIP OCTOBER 21ST

For hundreds of years the Scottish Borders have marked the boundary between Scotland and England, and for this reason the region is rich with history, culture, and literature. From Walter Scott, to James Hogg, and John Buchan, the Borders has provided inspiration for great works of prose, poetry, and song. The day will begin with a visit to Rosslyn Chapel, a 15th century chapel featured in the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code. The Chapel is also associated with the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar. After this we will visit Melrose Abbey, a partially ruined monastery that is nearly 900 years old. Despite the best efforts of Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell the abbey still stands to this day, and provides a valuable insight into Scotland’s past. After lunch in the town of Melrose, we will be visiting Abbotsford House, the stately home of Scotland’s greatest novelist Sir Walter Scott. The house itself is full of history, and also boasts fantastic grounds including a walled garden. We will then move to Scot’s viewpoint, overlooking the verdant valley of the River Tweed.

Price includes: Round trip travel by coach from Edinburgh, Entry to Rosslyn Chapel, Abbotsford House, Lunch in Melrose.

AUTHOR TALK AND RECEPTION: Wednesday 8th November

Join award-winning author Alice Thompson as she talks us through the writing and themes underpinning her newest fiction book Chimera. 

A Scottish national newspaper describes Thompson’s latest novel as ‘taking “dreams as poetic metaphors of thought” allowing for explorations of the nature of consciousness and where it resides, the fear of losing one’s identity, the omnipresence of AI, the frightening implications of virtual reality and the suggestion of forces powerful enough to override both machine programming and human nature – all overlapping and interacting with each other in interesting and inventive ways.’ 

This is a talk not to be missed. There will be a reception with drinks and snacks after with a chance to speak to the author. 

 Price Includes: Free

FAREWELL DINNER AND CEILIDH DECEMBER 7TH 

Ceilidh [kay-lee] is the Gaelic word for 'gathering' and involves Scottish country dancing to traditional folk music. Strip the Willow? Orcadian Reel? Flying Scotsman? Soon you’ll know what all of these mean, and be pretty good at them too. At our Fall Ceilidh we’ll provide a formal meal, followed by an evening of dancing. Please join us for this amazing night with a live band and a caller to help you learn some moves. Feel free to bring friends to the ceilidh! It will be held at The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

Price Includes: Formal dinner and a dance

GATHERING FOR GIVING Wednesdays 2-3:30pm at the Edinburgh Center

Scotland will be your home away from home for the length of your program. It is a beautiful place filled with incredible people. One of the best ways to get to know your cities and its people is through volunteering.

Join us at the University of Arcadia Edinburgh Centre for our weekly Gathering for Giving. Each 2nd Wednesday we invite you to gather to look over the resources we have collected for you on different volunteering opportunities in the city. From gardening to cooking, from shop work to befriending, there is something for everyone. We’ll provide free pizza and fizzy drinks for you to enjoy whilst you think about what you’d like to be involved in. Staff will be there to give you advice on how best to get in contact with organisations and what role might best fit you. Chat with your peers about what you want to get out of your time in Edinburgh. 

We hope to see you there!