We know that students are with us during their summer holidays, which is why we make sure that ISSOS is packed with fun activities and cultural enrichment.
Our day trips from St Andrews are all carefully planned in advance and are supervised by our trusted team of summer school staff, so that we can confidently give our students the freedom to explore and spend time with their new friends.
Saturday Day Trips from St Andrews
Our summer school students in St Andrews will spend all day on Saturdays exploring Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Edinburgh - Edinburgh is Scotland's Capital city and home to the World's largest arts festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Students will go on a walking tour and learn about Edinburgh's haunted streets, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Castle and all the things that make this one of the best cities in the world. Later, they will walk down the famous Royal Mile and have time to shop in Princes Street and have lunch in Princes Street Gardens. If enough students are interested, they may be offered the opportunity to visit The National Museum of Scotland or The Edinburgh Dungeons while in Edinburgh.
Glasgow - Glasgow is one of Scotland's most exciting cities, with stunning architecture and holding the title for one of the best shopping cities outside of New York. When students go to Glasgow they will visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery which is home to the Salvador Dali masterpiece "Christ of St John of the Cross", before spending time at the shops in Glasgow's main shopping district. Returning students and those interested can also choose to tour Glasgow University instead of going to Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
Half Day Trips from St Andrews
Students will choose two of the following half-day trips to go on, on a Wednesday afternoon. These trips are chosen in advance, when we send out our Student Questionnaire ahead of students’ arrival.
Glamis Castle - Enjoy the history and beauty of Glamis Castle by taking a guided tour and soak up the atmosphere of a thousand years of history. Glamis was once the childhood home to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Students can see why it was the inspiration behind Shakespeare's Macbeth and explore the gardens before saying hello to the Highland Cows.
Paddle Boarding & Sea Kayaking - Students can spend the afternoon at the beach and go paddle boarding or kayaking if the weather allows. Explore the beautiful West Sands beach in St Andrews with a highly experienced local outdoor adventure company - Blown Away. Students choosing this trip must be confident swimmers.
St Andrews Town Tour - Spend the afternoon seeing more of the sights of St Andrews, including St Andrews Cathedral, the Castle and St Rule’s Tower, and learn about the rich history of Scotland's oldest and best university. Enjoy part of the East Neuk Costal Walk, and finish off with a gelato from the famous Janetta’s.
Wild Shores Aqua Park - This water-based Aqua Park is a floating playground. The course includes a range of features that vary in difficulty, meaning that it has something to suit everyone. You will leave the park with a huge smile on your face and feeling a sense of achievement! Students choosing this trip must be confident swimmers.
Ten Pin Bowling (full summer school trip) - On the final trip day of each session all students and staff are invited to go ten-pin bowling. This is a great trip that allows everyone to hang out and spend time bonding before they prepare to leave and return home.
