Arcadia Scotland

Scotland looks forward to welcoming our summer students! We have designed a program of events that we hope will enhance your experience of Scotland’s culture and heritage. Below is a first glance of the excursions that will be taking place this summer.

Event registration goes live May 11th and can be found in your Arcadia Passport account.

Abbotsford House AND THE SCOTTISH BORDERS DAY TRIP - $12

ORIGINS, SCOTLANDS

The Scottish Borders is full of beauty with sweeping valleys, forests and heather-clad moorlands. The day excursion to the Scottish Borders will begin with a visit to Abbotsford House, the historic home of author Sir Walter Scott. There will be photo opportunities of the Tweed Valley at Scott’s View, where Scott enjoyed writing and free time to explore Melrose village before we visit the ruins of Melrose Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1136 for the Cistercian Order and largely destroyed by Richard II’s English army in 1385. Finally, we will visit Crichton Castle, a ruined castle situated at the head of the River Tyne.

LUSS HIGHLAND GAMES & THE HILL HOUSE - $12

ACTIVE SCOTLAND, CREATING & IMAGINING SCOTLAND, Scotlands

We will travel from the central belt of Scotland to Luss, a village situated on the western shore of Loch Lomond, to watch the Luss Highland Games. The games began in 1967 to promote tourism by a group of local businessmen in the Balloch area. Today the games are known to be one of the top three Highland Games in all of Scotland and even includes over £15,000 in prize money. The traditional events include Running, Cycling, Wrestling, Tug o' War, Tossing the Caber, Weight over the Bar, Throwing the Hammer, Ball and Weight and the Highland Dancing.

After seeing the games, the coach will drive to the Hill House, high on a hill in Helensburgh overlooking the River Clyde. The Hill House is universally regarded as Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation with a visually arresting mix of Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Scottish Baronial and Japonisme architecture and design. Mackintosh designed nearly everything inside the Hill House, along with his wife, Margaret Macdonald, who designed and made many of the textiles as well as a beautiful fireplace panel. Much of the house has been restored so it looks almost exactly as it did in 1904 when its first residents, Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie and his family, moved in.

TRAINSPOTTING, Live in FALKIRK - $12 

CREATING & IMAGINING SCOTLAND, LIFE OF THE MIND

A coarse, intense and hilarious rollercoaster ride through the darkest backstreets of the drug scene of 1980s Edinburgh. Before the globally successful film adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, there was a notorious theatre production that started it all. In celebration of the film's sequel, the visceral story returns to the stage on a world tour. In an environment where work and opportunities are scarce, Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and Spud rail against the trappings of a successful lifestyle held out of their reach and seek life through the point of a needle. First published in 1993, Trainspotting defines a generation and remains an enduring cult phenomenon. 

Scenes of violence, sexual content, drug references and very strong language.

CEILIDH DANCE AT THE Assembly Roxy - Free!

CREATING & IMAGINING SCOTLAND

Ceilidh is the Gaelic word for a visit or gathering, a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) once involved a gathering of friends who sang, told stories, played music, recited poetry or debated the topics of the day, creating their own evening’s entertainment. A modern-day ceilidh usually involves Scottish country dancing to traditional Scottish folk music. The ceilidh will be taking place at Assembly Roxy with a band and a caller who will teach the dances.

Escape the Room - $7

ACTIVE SCOTLAND, CREATING & IMAGINING SCOTLAND

Trapped inside one of four customised rooms in Glasgow, your problem solving skills will be pushed to the limit! Locked in your room with your team, your goal is to escape within 60 minutes. This is achieved by completing a series of challenges which allow you to unlock the next one and eventually the safe which contains the key for the door. Code breaking, observation and mental dexterity are just some of the areas that will be tested, but the bigger test will be in your skill as a team. You'll have be organised and communicate constantly; bounce every idea off someone else - as crazy as some may seem, they may be the right answer and your ticket to escaping...

Maison de Moggy - Free!

CREATING & IMAGINING SCOTLAND

Maison de Moggy is Scotland's first ever cat cafe! Located on the historic Grassmarket in Edinburgh, join us for a cuppa and some furrapy. From ragdolls to bengals, there are 11 cats roaming around the cafe with lots of places for them to climb and play, as well as nooks and crannies to explore and snooze inside. All food and drink is prepared in a cat-free environment but keep an eye on your cake once you order - Elodie the Sphynx, loves cake.