“Fantastic & thoroughly engaging trip for our
P3/4s on Monday. We learned so much.
Really well thought out, lively and well
pitched. Your enthusiasm and sense of
humour were contagious! I would thoroughly
recommend!”
J.Ross
WELCOME TO OLD EDINBURGH!
USE EVIDENCE TO DISCOVER OUR CITY’S STORY
Please email robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
to discuss your tour requirements
Just some of the learning questions answered
on our first level Old Edinburgh tour
YOUR FIRST LEVEL OLD EDINBURGH TOUR
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THIS TOUR?
FIRST LEVEL
OLD EDINBURGH
TOUR
This outdoor learning experience will immerse your class in the
rich history of the Old Town of Edinburgh.
We designed this ‘First Level’ tour of Edinburgh to be
appropriate for younger classes. The historical evidence we
will use is engaging for our first level pupils, and the stories we
tell are more age-appropriate.
Your guide will come equipped with an assortment of props
and an A3 book of supporting images and other materials.
We’ve worked hard to give your class a very ‘visual’ tour.
The pupils will be doing individual and partner work using a
variety of different sources of evidence. We will use old maps,
‘then and now’ images and much more to get your pupils
acting as detectives as they explore the Old Town. Active
learning, ‘on location’ is to the fore on this tour, there are no
paper and pencils needed on this investigation of Old
Edinburgh!
Robert designed this Old Town tour; he’s the same person who
will lead your class around the Old Town. He’s a teacher
himself and will use all of his 20+ year teaching experience to
engage with your pupils.
Important information for
the class teacher
Wet weather information
This tour is an ‘outside’ tour, and there are no areas where
we can shelter out of the rain. We do realise that a wet and
windy day probably isn’t going make for positive memories!
We’re pretty flexible and will happily reschedule your date.
There’s no extra cost for this. We realise this is useful if you
are travelling on foot or using public transport. If you have
organised transport, then please know that, whatever the
weather, we will be there for you!
If you’d like to reschedule your tour, please let us know by
8.30 am on the morning of your tour. My mobile number is
07590 026 077.
Accessibility information
Although pupils won’t be walking for the full hour and a half
duration of this tour, there are limited places where we can
offer rest areas. We’ve put together a page which will highlight
some relevant accessibility issues which occur on this tour
route.
We can alter the tour if notified in advance and we can discuss
some options for young people with mobility issues. Sadly, the
Old Town is hilly and not brilliantly paved. All our tour routes
cross at pedestrian crossings and any alternative solutions
might include streets which don’t have proper crossing areas.
We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with
some information for your risk assessment print-out. You can
access these here.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is something which your governing body
will legally need you to carry out and, as such, we can only
offer some suggestions and recommendations for your
paperwork.
While we can’t offer these as your official risk assessment,
please click here to download our suggested risk assessment
information and our route instructions.
We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with
some information for your risk assessment print-out. You
can access these here.
Toilets and added value to your tour (!)
We’ve got no ‘toilet’ stops on our tour, but you are welcome to
ask the Museum of Scotland if you can use theirs. Most of our
schools' tours of Edinburgh start just across the road from
there. You may also want to book a teacher-led guided
tour/exploration of the Museum of Scotland. This is free. They
also offer a series of paid workshops. Booking something
either of these options will allow you to ask for the use of their
lunchroom.
We also recommend checking out the educational workshops
at Riddle’s Court. These come with a cost. A lunchroom is
sometimes available.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle tour requirements.
Email us at; robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle tour requirements.
Email us at; robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
“Who are the most famous ‘Old
Edinburgh’ people?”
Our tour starts by looking at one of the most famous of all Edinburgh’s characters; the story of the faithful Skye Terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. This story is probably the most popular Edinburgh tale. But stories are not always full of facts. Robert will explain the different versions of the ‘legend’ of Greyfriars Bobby and let your class work out their own opinions.
“How has the Old Town changed over
time?”
There are lots of chances for us to become ‘time travellers’ on this tour! We’ll stand in a couple of locations and use archive images to show us what these locations looked like hundreds of years ago. We can even use multiple images to reveal how one area looked at different points in history! Your pupils will visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, the Lawnmarket, Riddle’s Court, the High Street, Parliament Square (where we get a great view of St Giles) and a typical ‘Old Town’ close on your tour.
“How long could people live for in ‘Old
Edinburgh’?”
We love covering this on our tour! Towards the start of our tour, we will look at the gravestone of a family which give us a very clear idea about just how long it was possible to live for in the eighteenth century. We guarantee that your class will be surprised by this!“How can we use evidence to find out
about a place fron the past?”
The picture shown on the left of this text box shows a view of the old West Bow street as it would have looked over two hundred years ago. You can see parts of this street today. Your class will get a chance to explore this area and compare this image with what they can see now. It’s a great opportunity to look at the fine details in archive images and see what resemblance if any, these archive images have with the evidence we can see today.“What was it like to live in an Old Town
close?”
We’ll use props and ‘then and now’ pictures to let pupils imagine what it was like to live in one of the famous Old Edinburgh closes. Yes, we DO look at the whole ‘Gardyloo’ story…probably in a lot more detail than you’d expect… Twenty-years of teaching have taught us what your pupils will want to know!
“What were some of the big events in
Edinburgh’s history?”
We can look at the celebration which officially welcomed Mary, Queen of Scots on her return to Scotland. We will look at the story of Deacon Brodie, and we’ll visit the site of the prison where he spent his last days. We will also find out about the bodysnatchers and can mention the Irish murderers Burke and Hare - this isGardyloo a choice available to you. We know that these characters often come up, even in first level projects. We can share stories which are as age-appropriate as possible. You’ll know what you’d like your classes to learn and we can incorporate when and where possible.
2020 TRAVELLER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER
CONTACT US
robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
+44 (0)7590 026 077
28/2 BRIDGE ROAD
EDINBURGH
EH13 0LQ
Registered in Scotland - SC454482
ONLINE EXPERIENCES
Old Edinburgh Virtual Tour
© Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd 2020
Call us +44 (0)7590 026 077
WE’RE GOOD TO GO!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd have successfully achieved the
‘Good to go” standard from Visit Britain which shows we follow
current government COVID-19 guidelines and that we have
processes in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social
distancing.
You can find out more about our COVID-19 policy here.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle
tour requirements.
Email us at; robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
“Fantastic & thoroughly engaging trip for our
P3/4s on Monday. We learned so much. Really
well thought out, lively and well pitched. Your
enthusiasm and sense of humour were
contagious! I would thoroughly recommend!”
J.Ross
Please email robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
to discuss your tour requirements
Just some of the learning
questions answered
on our first level Old
Edinburgh tour
“How has the Old Town changed over
time?”
There are lots of chances for us to become ‘time travellers’ on this tour! We’ll stand in a couple of locations and use archive images to show us what these locations looked like hundreds of years ago. We can even use multiple images to reveal how one area looked at different points in history! Your pupils will visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, the Lawnmarket, Riddle’s Court, the High Street, Parliament Square (where we get a great view of St Giles) and a typical ‘Old Town’ close on your tour.“Who are the most famous ‘Old
Edinburgh’ people?”
Our tour starts by looking at one of the most famous of all Edinburgh’s characters; the story of the faithful Skye Terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. This story is probably the most popular Edinburgh tale. But stories are not always full of facts. Robert will explain the different versions of the ‘legend’ of Greyfriars Bobby and let your class work out their own opinions.“How long could people live for in ‘Old
Edinburgh’?”
We love covering this on our tour! Towards the start of our tour, we will look at the gravestone of a family which give us a very clear idea about just how long it was possible to live for in the eighteenth century. We guarantee that your class will be surprised by this!“How can we use evidence to find out
about a place from the past?”
The picture shown on the left of this text box shows a view of the old West Bow street as it would have looked over two hundred years ago. You can see parts of this street today. Your class will get a chance to explore this area and compare this image with what they can see now. It’s a great opportunity to look at the fine details in archive images and see what resemblance if any, these archive images have with the evidence we can see today.“What was it like to live in an Old Town
close?”
We’ll use props and ‘then and now’ pictures to let pupils imagine what it was like to live in one of the famous Old Edinburgh closes. Yes, we DO look at the whole ‘Gardyloo’ story…probably in a lot more detail than you’d expect… Twenty-years of teaching have taught us what your pupils will want to know!
Important information for
the class teacher
“What were some of the big events in
Edinburgh’s history?”
We can look at the celebration which officially welcomed Mary, Queen of Scots on her return to Scotland. We will look at the story of Deacon Brodie, and we’ll visit the site of the prison where he spent his last days. We will also find out about the bodysnatchers and can mention the Irish murderers Burke and Hare - this isGardyloo a choice available to you. We know that these characters often come up, even in first level projects. We can share stories which are as age-appropriate as possible. You’ll know what you’d like your classes to learn and we can incorporate when and where possible.
Wet weather information
This tour is an ‘outside’ tour, and there are no areas where we can
shelter out of the rain. We do realise that a wet and windy day
probably isn’t going make for positive memories!
We’re pretty flexible and will happily reschedule your date. There’s
no extra cost for this. We realise this is useful if you are travelling
on foot or using public transport. If you have organised transport,
then please know that, whatever the weather, we will be there for
you!
If you’d like to reschedule your tour, please let us know by 8.30 am
on the morning of your tour. My mobile number is 07590 026 077.
Accessibility information
Although pupils won’t be walking for the full hour and a half
duration of this tour, there are limited places where we can offer
rest areas. We’ve put together a page which will highlight some
relevant accessibility issues which occur on this tour route.
We can alter the tour if notified in advance and we can discuss
some options for young people with mobility issues. Sadly, the Old
Town is hilly and not brilliantly paved. All our tour routes cross at
pedestrian crossings and any alternative solutions might include
streets which don’t have proper crossing areas.
We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some
information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access
these here.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is something which your governing body will
legally need you to carry out and, as such, we can only offer some
suggestions and recommendations for your paperwork.
While we can’t offer these as your official risk assessment, please
click here to download our suggested risk assessment information
and our route instructions.
We’ve put together an accessibility information sheet with some
information for your risk assessment print-out. You can access
these here.
Toilets and added value to your tour (!)
We’ve got no ‘toilet’ stops on our tour, but you are welcome to ask
the Museum of Scotland if you can use theirs. Most of our
schools' tours of Edinburgh start just across the road from there.
You may also want to book a teacher-led guided tour/exploration
of the Museum of Scotland. This is free. They also offer a series
of paid workshops. Booking something either of these options
will allow you to ask for the use of their lunchroom.
We also recommend checking out the educational workshops at
Riddle’s Court. These come with a cost. A lunchroom is
sometimes available.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle
tour requirements.
Email us at; robert@historicedinburghtours.co.uk
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
YOUR FIRST LEVEL OLD EDINBURGH TOUR
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THIS TOUR?
FIRST LEVEL
OLD EDINBURGH
TOUR
This outdoor learning experience will immerse your class in the
rich history of the Old Town of Edinburgh.
We designed this ‘First Level’ tour of Edinburgh to be
appropriate for younger classes. The historical evidence we
will use is engaging for our first level pupils, and the stories we
tell are more age-appropriate.
Your guide will come equipped with an assortment of props
and an A3 book of supporting images and other materials.
We’ve worked hard to give your class a very ‘visual’ tour.
The pupils will be doing individual and partner work using a
variety of different sources of evidence. We will use old maps,
‘then and now’ images and much more to get your pupils
acting as detectives as they explore the Old Town. Active
learning, ‘on location’ is to the fore on this tour, there are no
paper and pencils needed on this investigation of Old
Edinburgh!
Robert designed this Old Town tour; he’s the same person who
will lead your class around the Old Town. He’s a teacher
himself and will use all of his 20+ year teaching experience to
engage with your pupils.
© Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd 2020
Text/Call us :
+44 (0)7590 026 077
WE’RE GOOD TO GO!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd have achieved the
‘Good to go” standard from Visit Britain.
You can find out more about our COVID-19
policy here.
