Friday Afternoon Excursions

Guided tours & excursions
Date: Friday 16 September 2022
Time: 14:00 – 18:30 hrs.
Location: Buses for the tours will leave from the congress center.

Location: Guided walks (tour 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7) or buses (tour 4 & 6) for all tours will leave from the congress venue Assembly Rooms at 14.00. Tour 6 is most suitable for participants with limited walking abilities. If you have disabilities, please contact us via l.lauvenberg@pauwelspco.nl, and we will tailor a programme for you. The outdoor tours 3 & 4 will be converted into tour 1 & 2 in case of bad weather. Children of all ages are welcome on all tours, but we need to ask for your child’s age for ticketing purposes.

Tour 1
Visit to Edinburgh Castle and free walk around the Old Town & The Royal Mile

Your Guide will take you along Edinburgh Castle sharing stories of the city and stop at key places of interest Some highlights include:

@photos: Tobias Schwarz. View of Edinburgh with Edinburgh Castle

©photos: In2Scotland

The Royal Mile - It is so called as it has the castle at the top of the mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom and is just over a mile long. You will then enter the famous Edinburgh Castle. Founded in the 12th century, it is one of the oldest fortifications in Europe. It has been a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress over the centuries. A visit to the castle includes the St Margret’s chapel, The Great Hall, the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and many other sights.

Tour 2
Visit to The Palace of Holyroodhouse and free walk around Old Town & Royal Mile

Your Guide will take you on a 25-min walk on the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Explore the palace's close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, and learn how today it is used by The Queen when carrying out official engagements in Scotland. One of the most famous names associated with the Palace is that of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her Chambers at Holyroodhouse contain works connected to her life there, including an embroidery created by her during captivity under Elizabeth I. Here visitors can also see items linked to the Stuart line, including relics assembled by successive monarchs such as the Darnley Jewel and the personal dining tray made for Cardinal York, the brother of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

©photos: In2Scotland

Immerse yourself in some of Edinburgh’s highlights exploring the city and one of the best ways to do this is on foot. Some highlights include: The Royal Mile - It is so called as it has the castle at the top of the mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom and is just over a mile long. You could visit the middle sections which is home to St Giles Cathedral, Heart of Midlothian, Parliament Square and the Mercat Cross, so there is a lot to see.

Tour 3
Hike up to Arthur’s Seat and free walk around Old Town & Royal Mile

Your Guide will take you on a 25-min walk on the Royal Mile to the starting point of the hike at Holyrood Park. Your guide will take you on a fabulous approximately 3-hour hike around Holyrood Park and up to Arthur’s Seat. You will have some stunning views of the city and learn about the history of the place. You will need to have walking clothes, sensible shoes for hiking and a medium level of fitness. In case of bad weather, this tour will be converted into tour 2. We will be in touch with you on the previous congress day about the tour confirmation.

©photo: Tobias Schwarz View at Arthur’s Seat

©photos: In2Scotland

©photo: Tobias Schwarz. View from the top of Arthur’s Seat

Holyrood Park is a short walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the heart of the city. It is a 640-acre Royal Park adjacent to The Palace of Holyroodhouse. The parks highest point is Arthurs Seat, an ancient volcano, and sits 251m above sea level giving excellent view of the city; it is also the site of a large and well-preserved fort. This is one of four hill forts dating from around 2000 years ago.
On your return you can visit the Royal Mile - It is so called as it has the castle at the top of the mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom and is just over a mile long. You could visit the middle sections which is home to St Giles Cathedral, Heart of Midlothian, Parliament Square and the Mercat Cross, so there is a lot to see.

Tour 4
Bus to Cramond Brig, then approximately 3h walk along river Almond, Cramond village and beach to Silverknowes, bus return to city centre

This walk combines a lovely river walk, a historical village dating back to Roman times, and the wonderful North Sea Coastline Edinburgh has to offer. You will need to have walking clothes and sensible shoes for walking. Your guide will take you on a leisurely walk from Cramond Brig along the cascading river Almond to the ancient village of Cramond. Here you will receive a guided tour to the village church (called Kirk in Scotland) and the archaeological site of a Roman Fort followed by some refreshments (tea time!). The old Kirk was built in the 15^th century, but is based on foundations of a Roman Fort, occupied from 140 to 212 AD. The layout of the buildings of the Fort based on archaeological excavations, are visible in the park next to the kirk. This fort was part of the Antonine Wall, the Northernmost border of the Roman Empire. You will have a view of Cramond Island which is connected to the mainland via a causeway accessible at low tides across the Drum Sands (likely not passable during the walk). You will see the row of concrete pylons built as a torpedo boat defence boom during World War 2. Your walk continues along Cramond beach and ends at the Boardwalk Beach Club café on Silverknowes beach, where the bus will bring you back to the city centre.

In case of bad weather, this tour will be converted into tour 1. We will be in touch with you on the previous congress day about the tour confirmation.

©photo: Tobias Schwarz. The river Almond

©photo: Tobias Schwarz. Cramond Kirk, built in the 15th century

©photo: Tobias Schwarz. Building layout of the Roman Fort, part of the Antonine Wall, the Northernmost outpost of the Roman empire

©photos: In2Scotland. Causeway to Cramond Island with World War 2 anti torpedo defence booms at low tide.

Tour 5
Visit to underground Vaults of Edinburgh and free walk around Old Town & Royal Mile

Your Guide will take you on a 15-min walk to the Royal Mile to the site of the largest system of underground caverns in Edinburgh. Beneath the bustle of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll discover a dark, damp world unchanged since the 18th century. Your expert guide will lead you deep into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, and together you’ll explore their history – including how they became home to the city’s most destitute inhabitants.

It’s a story rooted in Edinburgh’s Georgian past – grand feats of engineering, the expansion of the city, and those who were left behind in its darker corners.

The Royal Mile - It is so called as it has the castle at the top of the mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom and is just over a mile long. You could visit the middle sections which is home to St Giles Cathedral, Heart of Midlothian, Parliament Square and the Mercat Cross so there is a lot to see.

Tour 6
Bus to Rosslyn Chapel, bus back to city centre, and free walk around Old Town & Royal Mile
This tour is suitable for participants with limited walking abilities

Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446, and is one of the most stunning sites of medieval architecture in Europe, with intricate stonework and linked to mysterious symbolism. A Rosslyn Chapel guide will give an introductory talk and reveal the history of this beautiful 15th century chapel, the intricacies of the carvings displaying true master craftsmanship and discussing the links between Rosslyn Chapel and the worldwide bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code.

Tour 7
Visit to new Holyrood Gin and Whisky distillery and free walk around Old Town & Royal Mile

Your Guide will take you on a 30-min walk to Holyrood Distillery. Located in the heart of Edinburgh, Holyrood Distillery is a modern distillery capturing the dynamism and diversity of modern-day Edinburgh. Over 3 floors in a listed heritage building, the distillery includes a pilot still room where gin and other innovations and experimentations are made, the whisky distillery – the heart and soul of the distillery, an intimate bar with views of Salisbury Crags, and a destination shop which showcases the best in new wave scotch whisky and Edinburgh craft producer. Enjoying a guided flavour-forward experience, you will learn how gin and whisky are made, and about both the traditions and innovative new methods in craft distilling employed here at Holyrood. Drinks and sampling throughout.