Detailed schedule for Edinburgh study trip

For all academic activities described below, notes must be written on paper in a notebook. Notes on electronic devices are not acceptable.

Saturday, April 6

Please remember to bring your 16-25 rail card.

Meet at Norwich train station by 11:35 AM.

Depart Norwich 1157, arrive Peterborough 1326; depart Peterborough 1348, arrive Edinburgh Waverley 1728. (Waverley Station is the main train station in downtown Edinburgh.)

The instructors will be traveling to Edinburgh separately, but will meet you at Waverley Station.

The group is staying at the Castle View Guest House, 30 Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3HT [Google maps link].

Note that your train ticket is an "off-peak open return" ticket. This means that you can return to Norwich on any day, on any off-peak train (routes via London are disallowed) within one month of the outward journey.

Sunday, April 7

Bring today: Explorer Pass.

Required academic preparation: Choose one event in the history of Edinburgh Castle, and take two or three sentences of notes about this event.

Schedule:

• 9:30 AM: Edinburgh Castle visit. Meet outside the main castle entrance, near the Gate House, at 9:30 AM. This will mostly be a self-guided visit, but we may meet for a discussion during or after the visit. During your visit, make some additional notes on the event you chose above, based specifically on exhibits, items, or physical features at the castle.
• 1:50 PM: Meet at the Information Desk in the main Entrance Hall of the National Museum of Scotland [Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF], ready for our guided tour, which begins at 2 PM. The tour will view highlights of the collection touching on Scottish history, archaeology, science and technology. Please take some brief notes on at least one item or aspect of personal interest to you.

Monday, April 8

Bring today: Holyroodhouse entry ticket.

Required academic preparation: Through some brief online research, make two or three sentences of notes answering the following question: Why does Edinburgh have both a Castle and a Palace?

Schedule:

• 10:00am: Arrive outside the Scottish Parliament no later than 10:00 AM, 30 minutes before our tour starts. Go through the Public Entrance, which includes going through a security checkpoint (there may be a line here, which is why you need to arrive early). Meet at the Visitor Information Desk in the Main Hall, for our guided tour which starts at 10:30 AM and lasts for approximately one hour.
• Afternoon: Visit Holyrood Palace (opposite the parliament building) at your own chosen time and pace. Last admission 4:30pm.

Tuesday, April 9

Bring today: Explorer Pass, Linlithgow train tickets, 16-25 railcard.

Required academic preparation: Some important advances in surgical techniques were first achieved in Edinburgh. Via some brief online research, find one particular surgical technique with an Edinburgh connection and describe it in 2-3 sentences.

Schedule:

• 10:00am: meet at the entrance to Surgeons' Hall Museums [The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DW] for our self-guided visit to the museum. The exact meeting point is the ticket desk inside the building. During the visit, make some additional notes on the surgical technique you selected above.
• [NEW on April 7] When you are finished visiting the museum, please go to Cafe 1505 (on Nicolson St next to the museum), where the instructor will be waiting for you, and the Dickinson program will provide a coffee or other beverage. This will be an opportunity to discuss the academic assignments from the last two days (surgical techniques, Holyrood vs the Castle, any other points you have noted).
• 2:00pm: Meet at Edinburgh Waverley station. The exact meeting point will be the entrance to the platform for the 2:15 PM departing train to Linlithgow. We will depart Waverley at 2:15pm, arriving Linlithgow 2:37pm. We then walk to the palace for our self-guided tour. After the visit you can return to Edinburgh on the train of your choice.

Wednesday, April 10

Bring today: --

Required academic preparation: Plan your afternoon academic activity.

Schedule:

• 9:25 AM: meet outside our hotel for a guided walking tour of Edinburgh, which will be leaving at 9:30 AM. This is a two-hour tour.
• Afternoon: you are required to complete the provided academic assignment, based on visiting one or more cultural or historical sites and/or research of your own choosing.

Thursday, April 11

Bring today: Explorer Pass, Stirling train tickets, 16-25 railcard.

Required academic preparation:Choose one event in the history of Stirling Castle, and take two or three sentences of notes about this event.

Schedule:

• 9:30am: Meet at Edinburgh Waverley station. The exact meeting point will be the entrance to the platform for the 9:51 AM departing train to Stirling. We will arrive in Stirling at 10:46 AM, then walk to the castle (0.8 miles, 20 minutes). The visit will be mostly self-guided, possibly with a scheduled class meeting or discussion. Details will be provided later. During your visit, make some additional notes on the event you chose above, based specifically on exhibits, items, or physical features at the castle. Return to Edinburgh on any train of your choosing.

Friday, April 12

• The day is free to pursue your own choice of activities.
• 5:00pm: Optionally, meet at the Queen's Arms (49 Frederick St) for an informal gathering to celebrate the end of the study trip. Light refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, April 13

• Check out of the hotel by 1030am.
• We will not be traveling as a group, so make your own arrangements to check out of the hotel and return to Norwich or continue your travels. As previously explained, your train ticket is valid for returning to Norwich on any off-peak train (within one month of arrival, and excluding routes via London).
• If traveling directly back to Norwich today, the following train times may be convenient: depart Edinburgh Waverley 1130, arrive York 1355, depart York 1405, arrive Peterborough 1532, depart Peterborough 1545, arrive Norwich 1712.