Main Info
Scottish Genealogy Tour of the Middle Marches, Scotland
Led by
Sister Barbara Jean Brown
September 14 – 21, 2020
Sister Barbara Jean Brown has been leading pilgrimages to Scotland, Ireland, and England for over 20 years. She has also been studying genealogy for many years. Now, she has combined her two passions into Scottish Genealogy Tours. These ancestral pilgrimages will focus on researching your family tree in one of the countries of your ancestors.
Your tour begins with research at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and at the Scotlands People Centre in Edinburgh with help from experts in genealogy. Then, you will explore the Middle Marches and discover places from your research. You will return home with a better understanding of your heritage and an appreciation of the beauty of Scotland.
Last names found in the Middle Marches include Fleming, Fraser, Hay, Douglas, Bruce, Scott, Robson, Elliot, Hall, Rutherford, Lindsay, Kerr, Burns, Young, Pringle, Davison, Tait, Oliver, Turnbull, Croser, Laidlaw, Routledge, Turner, and Henderson.
The space in this group is limited to 13, so sign up today!
Itinerary
Download BrochureDay 1, Monday, September 14, 2020: We depart from the Philadelphia International Airport on our American Airlines direct flight to Edinburgh. M
Day 2, Tuesday, September 15: We arrive in Edinburgh and meet our driver. Our first stop is in the town of Falkirk. We marvel at The Kelpies, giant equine sculptures, and we ride the impressive Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boatlift that does the work of 11 locks in just 15 minutes. We continue to Glasgow where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. D
Day 3, Wednesday, September 16: After breakfast, we spend the morning at the Mitchell Library where a research assistant introduces us to the library’s resources. Tahitia McCabe, a genealogist and professor from Strathclyde University, gives us a talk on the genealogical process. After a morning of research, we are free for lunch and have the afternoon for exploring Glasgow and/or doing more research at the library. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Glasgow. BD
Day 4, Thursday, September 17: We enjoy breakfast at our hotel before walking to the Queen Street Station where we board the train for Edinburgh. We arrive at Waverly Station and take a short walk to the Scotlands People Centre where we continue our research using their extensive collection. We have lunch on our own at one of the nearby restaurants. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Edinburgh or to do more research. We meet back at Waverly Station to return to Glasgow for dinner and overnight. BD
Day 5, Friday, September 18: We say farewell to Glasgow this morning and head to the Middle Marches. We begin in the town of Biggar where we visit the Collegiate Church, built by the Fleming family in the 15thcentury. We continue to Peebles and tour Neidpath Castle, home of the Fraser, Hay, and Douglas families. Next, we visit Melrose Abbey founded in 1136 by King David I and the final resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce. We have time for lunch in the town of Melrose before continuing to Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott. We complete our day in St. Boswells where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. BD
Day 6, Saturday, September 19: After breakfast, we visit Jedburgh Castle, Jail, and Museum to learn more about the history of the Border Reivers in this area. We visit the abbey in Jedburgh built in 1138. We also visit Dryburgh Abbey considered to be one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Scotland. We spend the afternoon finding haunts and homes that we discovered from our research. This area was home to Robsons, Elliots, Halls, Rutherfords, and Lindsays, as well as others. We return to St. Boswells for dinner and overnight. BD
Day 7, Sunday, September 20: Today, we visit the town of Kelso and the Smailholm Tower built by the Pringle family. We continue to Floors Castle established by the Kerr family and the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. We have lunch on our own in Kelso before continuing our exploration of the area. We return to St. Boswells for dinner and overnight. BD
Day 8, Monday, September 21: We take a boxed breakfast on the coach to the Edinburgh Airport for our early flight to Philadelphia. BM
B – Breakfast L – Lunch D – Dinner M – Meals on Aircraft
Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion of the leaders.
CT20022 Brown Scotland
Price is based on double occupancy:
10-13 participants $2,699.00*
Single supplement $399.00 (limited space)
*Pricing includes airline taxes & fuel surcharges and are subject to change until the tickets are issued. The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Great Britain Pound and the US dollar. We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Pound. Any changes will be reflected on your final invoice. Optional activities and sites visited during your free time are not included in the cost of the pilgrimage and are to be paid for at the time of your visit. Tips for the driver and guides are payable upon completion of services.
Deposit of $300.00 per person due by February 15, 2020, with reservation form and a copy of passport
Final Payment Due by June 15, 2020
