A variety of social and accompanying persons' activities is planned

Social programme:

Sunday 5^th July - Icebreaker reception 18.30-20.30. venue the Playfair Library Hall.

Monday 6^th July – Student reception (everyone welcome to attend) 17.00-19.00. – Appleton Tower

Tuesday 7^th July – Beer and posters 17.00-19.00. – Appleton Tower

Wednesday 8^th July -Whisky tasting – 19.30-21.30. Following a day in the field unwind at the Scotch Whisky Experience, located beside Edinburgh Castle at the summit of the historic Royal Mile. The centre is built around the WHISKY TOUR; devoted to telling the story of Scotland’s most famous product: Scotch whisky. Visitors are guided through an interactive sensory experience, unlocking the secrets of Scotland’s regions and their influence on the whisky produced. A highlight of the tour is the Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection, which is the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky, encompassing almost 3,500 individual bottles. A whisky expert will then tutor the group on how to appreciate four single malt Scotch whiskies – one from each of the four primary whisky producing regions: Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, and Islay. The whiskies chosen will illustrate typical regional differences, wood finishes, differing ages of maturation, and methods of production. Guests will be tutored through the five stages of appreciating Scotch whisky: colour, body, nose, palate, and finish.

Thursday 9^th July – Conference Dinner and Céilidh 19.00 for 20.00 – The dinner will take place at Our Dynamic Earth - beginning with a welcome drink 19.00-20.00 in the Earthscape galleries with dinner then served at 20.00 in the Stratosphere.  Following the dinner there will be a traditional Scottish Céilidh in the Ozone area with music from ‘Scotch Snap’. Located at the bottom of Holyrood Road, neighbouring the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House, Dynamic Earth is an approximate 15 minute walk from the city centre (Princes Street).

Kilt hire

For those wishing to wear traditional Scottish dress (e.g. for the banquet),

Bowdens - http://www.bowdenskilts.co.uk/
35-41 Easter Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5PL
Tel: 0131 202 9690
Davison - http://www.qualitykilts.co.uk/
31-33 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HJ
Tel: 0131 229 0266
McCalls - http://www.mccalls.co.uk/
21-22a Haddington Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4AF
Tel: 0131 557 3979
Kinloch Anderson - http://www.kinlochanderson.com/
4 Dock Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6EY
Tel: 0131 555 1390

Accompanying persons programme: 

All organised trips will depart from Appleton Tower with additional pick-up and drop-off points in central Edinburgh.

Monday 6^th July. Day trip to Stirling Castle departing Appleton Tower at 9.30 am returning around 5 pm. Situated prominently above Stirling on a Carboniferous sill crag 45 miles from Edinburgh, Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally in Scotland. A place of power, beauty and history, it was one of the favoured residences of Scottish Kings and Queens. See the Royal Palace, the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal, the Stirling tapestries and lots more. Lunch available in café within the castle or in nearby restaurants.

Tuesday 7th July. Afternoon visit to Rosslyn Chapel at Roslin, Midlothian, 7 miles from Appleton Tower. Dating back to the mid 15^th century, this fascinating chapel with its many intricate stone carvings has, since the late 1980s, featured in speculative theories concerning its supposed connection with the Knights Templar, Freemasonry and the Holy Grail as featured in the book “The Da Vinci Code” and film of the same name. There is also a modern Visitor Centre and coffee shop. Departure 13.00 return at ~17:00.

Thursday 9^th July. Half-day visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia now berthed at Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh. This large oceanic liner was used by Britain’s Royal Family for state visits around the world from 1954 to 1997. Using an audio handset in 27 languages, visit the Bridge, explore the State Apartments, Crew's Quarters etc. and finish at the Engine Room. Departure 9:30 return at ~13:00.