Scotland

1. Scotland Things to see and do! Teran Frick

2. Getting Around Trains- some of the most affordable, quick options, especially for lengthy travel. http://www.scotrail.co.uk Buses- best for short distances http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/scotland_east/journey_planning/timetables/index.php?operator=25&page=1&redirect=no

3. Glasgow History/Architecture Glasgow Cathedral:An example of great Scottish Gothic architecture, the cathedral has been in use as a place of worship for more than 800 years. City Chambers (18): This magnificent building in the heart of Glasgow is the headquarters for Glasgow City Council. It is home to stunning marble staircases, mahogany-filled rooms and epic chandeliers. Free guided tours are available twice a day at 10.30am and 2.30pm, or feel free to just wander round yourself. The Arts Glasgow School of Art– A working school to this day, many a great student has graduated from this prestigious school. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh – it has certainly put Glasgow on the map for art. Gallery of Modern Art –Located on the verge of Merchant City – the iconic façade is definitely worth checking out. Just outside the main entrance, make sure to take a photo of the Duke of Wellington sculpture, which can often be found with a traffic cone on top of it after the night before.

4. Glasgow Museums Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: This free attraction exhibits many wonders, including Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St John on the Cross’ and various Charles Rennie Mackintosh pieces. Even if museums aren’t your thing – the red sandstone building is impressive nonetheless. Hunterian Museum: Based within the University of Glasgow, this free museum exhibits remnants of the lesser-known Antonine Wall. Built around the year AD 142 in the reign of the Romans. It ran coast-to-coast across Scotland from the Clyde to the Firth of Forth. The University building is well worth exploring as it is very “Hogwarts-esque”. Keep an eye out for graduating students which will be robed up at this time of year. Riverside Museum: Located on the banks of the Clyde, this free museum is Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel. The collection is housed in an ultra-modern building with fantastic views up the river. Why not visit The Tall Ship just next door; one of hundreds of ships built in Glasgow’s famous shipyards.

5. Glasgow Attractions Shopping: Glasgow is known as the second best place to go shopping in the UK outside of London. The city centre is packed with places to buy the latest fashion. Buchanan Galleries is ideal if the weather is a wee bit “dreich”. Check out Byres Road for vintage second-hand clothes shops as well. Kelvingrove Park: The River Kelvin runs through these grounds that surround the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. There are great opportunities for photos of the ancient University in this vicinity. Botanic Gardens (3): On a sunny day the gardens are packed with Glaswegians topping up their tan. The exquisitely designed greenhouses host a wealth of tropical and bizarre flora. After a stroll around the grounds, pop over to Oran Mor(40)– the converted church which is now a pub – for a nice refreshing drink.

6. Glasgow Transport Subway – The ‘Clockwork Orange’ as it’s known to locals. This fast, easy to navigate mode of transport is one of the best ways to explore the city on a budget. A ‘Discovery’ ticket (unlimited all day use) is £3.50. Walk! (or you could pay for a cab if you really need to!)

7. Glasgow Eating out: Glasgow has long been renowned for a good choice of international cuisine and is now quickly emerging as a stylish, thriving city, one of the most exciting places in the UK in which to eat out. There are restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Republic Bier Halle on Gordon Street (just off Buchanan Street) offers a great selection of beers from around the world and 2 for 1 pizza between Noon and 10pm everyday. The Counting House at George Square is a pub situated in a former bank building. Food and drink very reasonable and Thursday is “Curry Club” night with meals for two offered at discount prices. Café Andaluz on St Vincent Place offers Spanish Tapas, lunch and dinner menus available. Student discounts offered (take your ID and Snapfax). If you wanted to try quality, traditional Scottish fare the following places serve up authentic fresh dishes using locally sourced ingredients but are a bit more expensive than the other suggestions above. The Bothysituated down a cobbled lane off Byres Road in the west end:http://www.bothyglasgow.co.uk/ Stravaigin on Gibson Street near the University of Glasgow: http://www.stravaigin.co.uk/

8. Glasgow ******The Willow Tea Rooms: ACharles Rennie Mackintosh designed building with a cute upstairs café and furniture to compliment Mackintosh’s designs. Tchai-Ovna (Otago Lane – off Gibson Street, West End of Glasgow): A quirky, laidback tearoom hidden away near the University of Glasgow. They offer over 80 varieties of tea from all over the world, as well as a range of vegetarian food and even a Zen room. Andy’s tea tip: try the Yogi Yogi Chai – a spiced milk concoction. University Café (87 Byres Road, West End): One of only a few eateries in Glasgow to have been mentioned in the New York Times. This old-school (opened in 1918) diner is the place to go for a hearty (*not healthy) Scottish breakfast. Make sure to save space for the vast range of pick’n’mix (candy) behind the counter.

9. Glasgow Nightlife: Glasgow is considered Scotland’s number one city for nightlife. Remember your student ID as most places offer discounted entry. Check out these great websites for detailed listings of what is going on including gigs, art exhibitions, comedy clubs and club nights in Glasgow: http://www.seeglasgow.com/what's-on/ http://www.theskinny.co.uk/listings

10. Glasgow Accommodation: There are a number of cheap hostels, hotels and B&Bs in Glasgow. Check out this website for cheap hotels and hostels: http://glasgowguide.laterooms.com/en/p3325/Hotels.aspx Easy Hotel offers rooms from as little as £25 per night. http://www.easyhotel.com/hotels/glasgow_city.html Euro Hostelhttp://www.euro-hostels.co.uk/glasgow Travelodge and Holiday Inn both have hotels in very central locations and are usually relatively inexpensive.

11. St. Andrews HistorySt Andrews Cathedral:Buy a joint ticket to enter both St Andrews Cathedral and St Andrews Castle. Most of the Cathedral grounds are free to enter, but the paid ticket offers entrance to an exhibition of stone carvings (more interesting than it sounds) and a trip up St Rule’s Tower. St Rule’s Tower is one of the only surviving sections of the Cathedral ruins, and if you can face climbing nearly 200 steps to the top, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of St Andrews’ town, the beaches and the North Sea. St Andrews Castle: St Andrews Castle is also now in ruins, but there is a wonderful illustrated history of St Andrews and the Castle in the visitors’ centre. The Castle itself hides some harrowing sights from more dangerous times in history including the bottle dungeon, the mine and counter-mine. St Salvator’s Chapel: The beautiful St Salvator’s Chapel is found in St Salvator’s College. One of the oldest surviving colleges of the University of St Andrews, St Salvator’s College is most recently famous for being the home of Prince William in his first year of study in St Andrews. It is a remarkable, beautiful structure with amazing wood carvings. St Salvator’s Chapel also holds the pulpit which originally stood in Holy Trinity Church when John Knox preached a three-day sermon.

12. St. Andrews Museums Museum of the University of St Andrews: displays to the public some of the treasures from the University's collection of over 112,000 artefacts. What’s more, there is a great view of the sea from the museum. It is free to enter and is another fantastic way to get a feel for the rich history of the University and its relationship with the town of St Andrews. Opening times: 10am-5pm. (Found on the Scores) St Andrews Museum-Kinburn Park, a short walk west of North Street. Built as a private residence in 1855 and named after a Crimean battle of the same year, Kinburn Castle became the home of St Andrews Museum in 1991. The Museum explores St Andrews' heritage from early times to the 20th century, covering both the medieval period when the Cathedral was one of the great religious centres of Europe and the growth of tourism starting in the Victorian era. The museum currently has an exhibition called ‘Fabric of Life’ capturing tradition, change and survival from thriving textile industries from the knitwear, tweeds and fine linen of Scotland through objects and photographs.

13. St. Andrews Beaches West Sands Beach: With a prestigious Blue Flag Award, this is one of the cleanest beaches in the world, and probably one of the most diverse. Horse riders share the sands with power-kiters, and the West Sands is one of the most popular surfing beaches in Scotland. However, you are most likely to recognize this beach from the iconic opening scene of the film ‘Chariots of Fire’. Why not have a little jog along the West Sands to re-enact this powerful moment? East Sands Beach and Harbour: The East Sands are an amazing beautiful stretch of sand that’s like a mini bay really between the giant pier and the Kinkell cliffs. ***If you have a group and plan ahead of time, check out http://blown-away.co.uk The guys that run the company are great fun and offer several different beach experiences, like sea kayaking and land yachting!

14. St. Andrews Food/drink Ice Cream: St Andrews boasts two excellent ice cream parlours that entice visitors even on the coldest of winter days, and often attract long queues in the summer. B Jannettas on South Street boast 52 varieties of ice cream and Luvians Ice Cream Parlour on Market Street have a long heritage of making Italian ice cream in a wide variety of unusual flavours including such Scottish flavours as IrnBru and Scottish tablet. ***Fish Supper: grab a ‘fish supper’ – battered and deep-fried fish with a portion of chips – from the Tail End Fish Bar on Market Street which is owned by the same partners who brought fame to the Anstruther Fish Bar (an award winning ‘chippy’). ***Fudge Donut: Why not try a fudge donut at perhaps the best bakery in Scotland. People come from all over to have one of these- it’s a must! You will find one at Fisher and Donaldson bakery on Church Street.

15. St. Andrews Attractions The Old Course and the Himalayas Putting Green: St Andrews is the world famous home of golf, and no trip would be complete without a walk down the 1st and 18th greens. Right next to the West Sands these greens are open to the public. Why not take a group picture on the Swilcan Bridge? Find about about the various ways to book a round of golf on the Old Course. If you’re not a great golfer, the best place to get a feel for the town’s favourite sport is to play a round on the Himalayas Putting Green, Officially the Ladies Putting Club, founded in 1867 (found next to the Old Course and right next to the sea). No need to book in advance, just turn up and pay a few pounds per person to enjoy the very first ‘mini-golf’ course in the world.

16. Edinburgh Scottish History The Palace of Holyrood House: stands elegantly at the bottom of Edinburgh’s characterful Royal Mile. This sumptuous Baroque Holyrood palace serves as the official residence in Scotland of The Queen and is used by the Royal Family for State ceremonies. The palace is integral to Scottish history and is best known as the home of Mary Queen of Scots, with some of the most dramatic episodes of her turbulent reign occurring at Holyroodhouse. Mary was twice married in the Abbey and, in her private apartments, witnessed the brutal killing of her secretary Rizzio by her jealous second husband, Lord Darnley. The palace also served briefly as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s headquarters during the 1745 Jacobite uprising. **The Scottish Parliament: as well as being the centre of Scottish politics, the Scottish Parliament is also a visitor attraction, where you can learn about Scotland's political history, watch live debates and marvel at its unique architecture. Entry to the Parliament is free and you can book a free tour to explore the impressive architecture which was created by EnricMiralles, who sadly died before the building was opened. His designs drew inspiration from a wide range of sources including the surrounding landscape, flower paintings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the upturned boats on the seashore to create a unique space for Scotland’s new government following devolution in 1999. www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/index.htm **The Royal Mile: Take a walk along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile which runs down Castle Hill in the old town centre. The actual road is 1867 yards long which in fact is 107 yards more than a mile! Along this cobbled road you will find a broad variety of pubs and shops. There are also many interesting side streets leading off from the Royal Mile where you’ll find vintage record shops and other quaint shops. www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/

17. Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle: Edinburgh Castle is home to The Scottish Crown Jewels; the Scottish crown is one of the oldest in Europe. This majestic landmark with its commanding position high above the city (Castle Hill) offers stunning panoramic views over the city and beyond. In its history Edinburgh Castle has withstood many sieges and occupations, recent excavations have shown there to have been a fort on the site since the Iron-Age. Today’s castle is a rich architectural mix reflecting the castles varied uses as a palace, fortress and barracks. www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/

18. Edinburgh Greyfriar’s Bobby: Have your picture taken with the statue of Greyfriar’s bobby. The statue commemorates a little dog that faithfully visited his master’s grave in Greyfriars graveyard each day for 14 years. Having won the hearts of local people, on his death he was buried near to his master just inside the graveyard entrance. The Greyfriars Kirk courtyard is itself quite amazing and worth walking around. It’s one of the most famous inner-city graveyards in Europe. It is estimated that there are many, many layers of people buried on top of one another in these grounds. ISS9TC will visit the location in depth on Friday, 6th July. www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/home.html J

19. John Knox House: John Knox House (43-45 High Street) is Edinburgh's oldest Royal Mile mansion - the home of Mary, Queen of Scots' Catholic goldsmith and the final resting place of Scotland's controversial religious icon. Come and enjoyEdinburgh's vibrant cultural centre on the Royal Mile and visit the historicJohn Knox House and discover Scotland's stories. (Price £4.25 – Remember Student Card!) **Scott Monument: Dominating the gardens is the prickly Scott Monument, a gothic structure built in the 1840s which is the largest monument to a writer, Sir Walter Scott, in the world and can be climbed for a small fee. There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Find out more about Sir Walter Scott and the monument in the museum room. www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Scott-Monument.aspx

20. Edinburgh Art- Museums are FREE!!! Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art: Modern art lovers should visit the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, a short and pleasant walk from the city centre. Displays in the galleries’ two buildings include Cubist, Expressionist, and Surrealist art, with highlights including works by Matisse, Picasso and Dalí. Explore the delightful grounds which include a vast grass and water landform sculpture as well as other artwork. Scottish National Gallery: For lovers of fine art, the place to head is the Scottish National Gallery which is located in grand interconnected buildings on the Mound, between Princes Street and the Royal Mile. They house a superb collection drawn from the early Renaissance to the late 19th century. Look out for masterpieces from Raphael, Titian, El Greco, and Rembrandt to Van Gogh, Monet and Cézanne. The Royal, also part of the complex, features a changing programme of temporary exhibitions which have included work by Andy Warhol and Elizabeth Blackadder.

21. Edinburgh Museums  *Our Dynamic Earth: Our Dynamic Earth uses interactive exhibits to teach both kids and adults about the past present and future of our planet. Whether coming face to face with an extinct dinosaur, feeling the sticky heat of a tropical rainforest or flying over glaciers in prehistoric Scotland, Dynamic Earth presents all aspects of the planet we live in. Population growth, concepts of time and the realities of climate change are just the tip of the iceberg (they even have a real one of those too!) www.dynamicearth.co.uk/ **National Museum of Scotland: Following a major refurbishment project, the newly reopened museum now holds over 20,000 exhibits spread across 36 galleries. See the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, ancient Egyptian mummies and specimens collected by Charles Darwin all under one roof. Step inside the treasure house of the National Museum of Scotland to uncover stunning and surprising exhibits from around the world in its 16 new exhibition galleries, with 80% of objects being displayed for the first time. www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum.aspx Museum of Childhood: is the world’s first museum which is dedicated to the history of childhood. See toys and games from across the generations, marvel at teddies and dolls and listen to the sounds of a 1930s schoolroom. Get hands-on with the dressing up costumes and games and make sure not to miss the brilliant collection of early Steiff Bears, Corgi cars and Barbie dolls. www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood Writers’ Museum: in Edinburgh sits in the historic Lady Stair’s House which dates back to 1622, and celebrates the lives of three of Scotland’s great writers - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Hear all about these three great literary men at the Writers’ Museum: see portraits of Robert Burns, the fishing rod and smoking pipe of Robert Louis Stevenson and the actual printing press on which Sir Walter Scott’s famous Waverley novels were once printed. www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/The-Writers--Museum

22. Edinburgh Attractions **Edinburgh Bus Tours: With 6 different types of bus tour to choose from why not take a trip on one and see and learn about Edinburgh. The bus tours are reasonably priced and stop outside Waverly Station every 20 minutes. www.edinburghtour.com/ **The Grassmarket: Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's historic Old Town (not far from the castle and the Royal Mile), the Grassmarket area is one of the most vibrant, picturesque and hospitable areas of the city. A paradise of independent merchants, designers and artisans, the Grassmarket Edinburgh is simply bursting with some of the best shopping Edinburgh has to offer. www.grassmarket.net/ Edinburgh dungeons: Scare yourself silly in the Edinburgh dungeons. Let the dungeon take you on a journey (and rides) through Edinburgh’s horrible history! An educational journey with a scary twist! www.the-dungeons.co.uk/edinburgh/en/index.htm Mary King’s Close Ghost tour: Hidden beneath the Royal Mile lies Mary King’s Close. These 16th and 17th century streets below the city are full of history waiting to be discovered. Take an exciting tour (duration approx. 1 hour) for £11 (student card required). www.realmarykingsclose.com/ Camera Obscura (On The Royal Mile): The Camera Obscura show is a fascinating and highly amusing way to see the city and learn about its history. This unique experience has delighted and intrigued people for over 150 years. It is a 'must' on any visit to Edinburgh. From inside this mysterious Victorian rooftop chamber, you see live moving images of Edinburgh projected onto a viewing table through a giant periscope. Pick people up on your hands, squash them to a pulp and even make the traffic climb over paper bridges! Remember to bring your student ID and get admission for £8.95. www.camera-obscura.co.uk

23. Edinburgh **Edinburgh Zoo: Edinburgh zoo is a great day out for all lovers of the natural world. Opened in 1913 it is now one of Europe’s leading zoos for conservation and education. The zoo prides itself on its commitment to educate visitors about threatened species and habitats. Covering over 80 acres of hillside (great views) it is home to more than 1,000 animals. The zoo produces a daily ‘what’s-on’ sheet giving details of feeding times, keeper talks and live animal presentations. The zoo has recently welcomed two pandas- TianTian and Yang Guang. Catch the airport bus link (Airlink 100) to Edinburgh zoo which departs and returns outside Waverly Station every 10 mins. www.edinburghzoo.org.uk The Scotch Whisky Experience: Scotland’s national drink is honoured at the Scottish Whiskey Experience, on the Royal Mile, where you can sample a dram at the end of your tour. Enjoy a barrel ride to learn all about the whisky-making process and see the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whisky. www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/ Go Shopping on Princes Street: Shop ‘til you drop on Princes Street which has a selection of high street and designer stores.

24. Edinburgh Free parks and gardens **Walk up Arthur’s Seat: Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, a wild piece of highland landscape in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. The hill rises above the city to a height of 251 m (823 ft), provides excellent panoramic views of the city, is quite easy to climb, and is a popular walk. Though it can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest and simplest ascent is from the East, where a grassy slope rises above Dunsapie Loch. Princes Street Gardens: Right beneath the castle and beside the city’s main shopping street is Princes Street Gardens which is a great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle. Numerous statues and pretty flower arrangements are scattered across the park as well as an unusual floral clock, a band stand, fountain and a play park.  The park host concerts during the year and sparkles during the annual winter festival with a German market, fair ground and ice rink. **Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: another green attraction, near the boutique shopping area of Stockbridge. Founded in 1670 and covering 72 acres, the garden is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The John Hope Gateway, an eco-friendly interactive visitor centre where you can discover more about work carried out by the Royal Botanical Gardens is also free to enter. http://www.rbge.org.uk/

25. Edinburgh Eating out ***Oink (34 Victoria St, Grassmarket) – Delicious, pulled pork sandwiches at very reasonable prices. www.oinkhogroast.co.uk/ Elephant House- “Birthplace of Harry Potter”- Be sure to check out the bathroom messages to JKR! Jekyll and Hyde pub deep in the very centre of 'Auld Reekie'. Here you will encounter sights and sounds beyond those yet experienced by human kind. Take your pick from the seven sins and the seven virtues, all chosen from the Dr's personal favorite cocktail recipes. www.eerie-pubs.co.uk/jekyll-hyde Kampung Ali Malaysian Delight The multitude of curries, soups and stir fries reflect the ethnic diversity of Malaysian cuisine, from the coconut infused beef rendang to the Chinese inspired chaokoayteow. A bit further out, on Fountain Bridge, but well worth it. www.list.co.uk/place/30916-kampung-ali-malaysian-delight/

26. Edinburgh The Holyrood 9a Bar serving great burgers and selection of drinks, stones-throw from Scottish Parliament building. www.fullerthomson.com/downloads/menus/holyrood_menu.pdfCafé Royal in the heart of Edinburgh just of Princes Street, this “Edinburgh Institution” is 180 years old.  Surrounded by original stained-glass windows, Victorian plasterwork and Doulton ceramic murals, you really feel that nothing has changed in over 100 years.  With a Scottish feel to the menu and friendly service it’s worth a visit. www.caferoyal.org.uk/ Whiski Rooms great bistro/bar for a bit of lunch/dinner and one of the best Whisky menus in Scotland. You can find live Jazz from 9pm on Thursday nights.www.whiskirooms.co.uk/

27. Edinburgh Accommodation: There are a number of cheap hostels, hotels and B&Bs in Edinburgh. (hostelworld.com) ***Budget Backpackers-http://www.budgetbackpackers.com Easy Hotel offers rooms from as little as £25 per night; www.easyhotel.com/ Euro Hostel; www.euro-hostels.co.uk/edinburgh/

28. Edinburgh- The Festival City Known for festivals of music, movies, books, comedies and much more, be sure to check out the local, current listings. There are over a 100 venues in the city centre that are utilized during these events and are very easy to find!

29. Stirling Attractions- Stirling Castle and Old Town Jail- take a tour of the historic old military castle and city jail! http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk Bannockburn- take a 10 minute bus ride to the Bannockburn Heritage Centre which commemorates the Battle of Bannockburn and Scottish History. http://www.nts.org.uk/property/bannockburn/

30. Stirling Wallace Monument- make the trek up to the highest point from where William Wallace stood at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. One of the most splendid views of the area. http://nationalwallacemonument.com

31. Tours Wild in Scotland- small company that provides tours throughout the country, including the Highlands and Islands. Only open to people over 16 years of age- tours are geared toward young adults. The most entertaining and fun tour available! http://www.wild-in-scotland.com

32. Highland Games For a taste of Scottish traditions, look into going to a Highland game! From carnival activities to traditional athletic showings, there’s something for everyone. http://www.shga.co.uk/visitor-events.php

33. Jacobite Express A steam train, nicknamed the “Hogwarts Express” takes its passengers on a journey that was used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies! http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/Jacobite_Details.html

34. References Many of the recommendations I received from the University of Stirling’s International Summer School Coordinator and Interns. I either checked them out or talked to people who did! ***indicate a high rating