1) What kind of weather can I expect in Scotland in May?
Average daytime temperatures in May range from Low-40’s to mid-60’s, but it can get cooler in the late evenings and night. Rain can be frequent at this time so participants are encouraged to bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket or a small umbrella.
2) Can I arrive before or remain after the sojourn?
Yes. If you would like to arrive at the start location in advance or remain at the end location after the sojourn has concluded, Scholarly Sojourns can help you arrange your hotel accommodation and is often able to secure attractive rates. Please indicate these preferences to us after you have registered for a particular sojourn.
3) How much walking will be required on this sojourn?
This sojourn involves several tours of historic monuments and towns that require walking and climbing a considerable distance. Several of the castles ruins we visit have uneven floors and narrow, winding staircases. All participants should be comfortable walking up to a mile at a time and climbing up to three flights of stairs at a time. In a few instances, it is necessary to climb upwards of 85 stairs to see every part of a monument.
4) I am a single traveler, can you help me find a roommate?
Scholarly Sojourns will do all we can to match single travelers with a suitable roommate if they desire. But we cannot guarantee that roommates will be available. Therefore all single travelers should register as such and be prepared to pay the single traveler rate should a roommate not be identified.
5) Is this sojourn appropriate for children?
This sojourn is not appropriate for children. Young adults, however, will find the program quite enjoyable, and they may find it gets them extra credit in their history class.
The works below will help to better acquaint you with the subject matter of this sojourn.
Understanding the Castle Ruins of England and Wales: How to Interpret the History and Meaning of Masonry and Earthworks. Hull, Lise. McFarland. 2008.
Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650. Reid, Stuart. Osprey Publishing, Oxford. 2006.
Tales and Traditions of Scottish Castles. Tranter, Nigel. Neil Wilson Publishing, Castle Douglas. 2012.
The Scottish Castles Story. Alexander, Marc. The History Press, Mount Pleasant, SC. 2014.
The meeting point for this tour is the Grassmarket in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Those making their own travel arrangements should plan to arrive here by 11:00AM on Sunday, April 22, 2018. You will be greeted there by your Scholarly Sojourns Tour Director who will assist you boarding the tour coach. An optional shuttle will be offered from Edinburgh Airport for those arriving on flights earlier that morning.
Optional air package from/to New York: $1,199/person
The air package includes round-trip, trans-Atlantic flight, airport transfers in the destination, and 100% travel assurance. This travel package can be booked once you have registered for this sojourn and paid the deposit of $500 per traveler. Scholarly Sojourns can also help arrange your travel from any US gateway.
