Ensure you have the group register and emergency contact numbers for all leaders and students
Make sure you have the tickets you need to enter with your group
Wear the official group T-shirt or hoodie for easy identification
Charge your phone fully and bring a power bank
Review the risk assessment for the day’s route and activities
Remind students to bring a raincoat or umbrella in case of light rain
Take group photos at key locations and share them with the programme WhatsApp group
A day trip to Dunfermline from Edinburgh is short but full of history. The town is only about 30 kilometers north of Edinburgh, and the train from Edinburgh Waverley takes around 35 minutes. Trains run frequently, so it’s easy to go there for a relaxing day outside the capital.
On this trip you will visit Dunfermline, Perth & then end your trip at the Crannog Centre. Dunfermline was once the ancient capital of Scotland and is famous for its royal connections. When you arrive, you can start your visit at Dunfermline Abbey, where several Scottish kings and queens are buried, including Robert the Bruce, the hero of Scottish independence. The abbey, which dates back to the 12th century, stands beside the ruins of the old royal palace.
Perth boasts a museum, home to the famous Stone of Destiny
You might visit the Carnegie Birthplace Museum to learn more about his life and achievements. For lunch, enjoy a cosy café in the town centre or a traditional Scottish pub.
By late afternoon, you can take the train back to Edinburgh, having experienced a charming mix of history, nature, and local pride.
8:45
Meet at CES Edinburgh Summer School Centre
09:00 Coach to Forth Bridges Viewpoint
09:20 Information about UNESCO World Heritage rail bridge + group photo
09:30 Coach to Dunfermline Abbey + Palace
09:45 Tour of Abbey and grounds with optional quiz (agreed beforehand)
10:30 Coach to Perth Museum
11:15 Ticket distribution, rules, times and meeting points
11:30 Guided tour + entry to Stone of Destiny + exhibits
12:30 Lunch together in Rodney Gardens
13:15 Coach to Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay
14:15 Session on ‘Day in the Life’ of traditional Scottish Iron Age dwelling
15:45 Coach to CES Edinburgh Summer School Centre
17:30 Return to Edinburgh and release to host families
The Forth Bridge, a famous cantilever railway bridge in Scotland, was built from 1883-1889 as a response to the Tay Bridge disaster, using pioneering steel construction to create the world's first major steel structure and longest single cantilever span at its 1890 opening, becoming a landmark of Victorian engineering and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Designed by Fowler and Baker, it carries the Edinburgh-Aberdeen rail line and remains a vital, iconic crossing over the Firth of Forth.
Perth is a historic city in central Scotland, built on the banks of the River Tay, which is the longest river in Scotland It is one of the oldest towns in Scotland, with a history of over 800 years. It was an important royal city in the past, with many Scottish kings were crowned in Perth, which made it an important place for the country.
Today, Perth is a small but lively city with many shops, cafés, and restaurants. It has green parks, museums, and a theatre, so there are many things to see and do. The city is also known for its beautiful natural surroundings and is often called the “Gateway to the Highlands,” because it is close to mountains and countryside.
Inside Perth museum, perhaps the most famous artifact we will see is The Stone of Destiny. It is an ancient, sacred block of red sandstone, a powerful symbol of Scottish monarchy, used for centuries in ceremonies where a new King is crowned, before being taken to England by Edward I in 1296. It remained in Westminster Abbey for coronations until its return to Scotland in 1996, and is now housed inside the museum, but travels to Westminster for UK coronations, most recently for King Charles III in 2023.
The Scottish Crannog Centre represents the Iron Age, specifically a reconstruction of a dwelling used around the 5th century BC (about 2,500 years ago) in Loch Tay. It showcases ancient Scottish loch-dwellings and life from that period, though some crannogs date from the Bronze Age or later.
2,500 years ago, some people across Scotland lived in Iron Age loch-dwellings known as “Crannogs”. Eighteen of these have been found on Loch Tay in Perthshire. Since 1979, we’ve explored these ancient dwellings and in 1997 a reconstruction based on excavation results was built and became the showpiece of the Scottish Crannog Centre.
While at the Crannog Centre, you will have an experience booked. This will involve some kind of workshop done by the Centre's staff. It's important to remind students to be respfectful of the staff's time