2005 Scotland, Wales & Ireland

​In the summer of 2005 the youth choir toured Aberdeen, Stirling, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Crewe, Dublin and Limerick.

Click here to see photos from the tour​

Day 1 - MONDAY AUGUST 1  - INFLIGHT    D

-    arrive at Pearson International Airport (Toronto) and prepare for check in
-    flight via scheduled airline from Toronto to Aberdeen  (connection to be made enroute in both directions)  (airline and flight times to be advised)
-    (international groups must check in at least 3 hours prior to scheduled departure time)
-    dinner served in flight at discretion of the airline

Day 2 - TUESDAY AUGUST 2  - ABERDEEN  INT'L YOUTH FESTIVAL    B (D)

-    breakfast served in flight
-    arrive at Aberdeen Airport where you will clear customs, collect luggage and meet your hired motorcoach and driver
-    transfer to your local festival accommodation (Hillhead Halls of Residence at University of Aberdeen) where you will stay for the next 5 nights  (driver will now drop off and depart the group)
-    register for the Aberdeen International Youth Festival ~ the festival represents a celebration of young talent, bringing together some of the world's finest youth groups to perform, make friends and learn about other cultures
-    you will meet your courier who will be with your group for your stay at the festival
-    all arrangements for the next 5 days are made by the Aberdeen Festival committee  
-    dinner included this evening at the festival

Note:  3 meals per day and all coaching transfers to performances and rehearsals in Aberdeen and other towns and venues in Scotland are provided by the festival during your time here - all meals should be taken on campus unless otherwise stated

Day 3 - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3  - ABERDEEN    (B/L/D)

-    breakfast included at the festival
-    Festival Parade down Union Street today
-    Inaugural Ceremony, at the Music Hall in Aberdeen
-    lunch and dinner included today at the festival
-    Opening Concert Performance
-    return to your festival accommodation

Day 4 - THURSDAY AUGUST 4  - ABERDEEN    (B/L/D)

-    breakfast included at the festival
-    participate in festival activities and concerts today - 2005 schedule of events to be advised
-    lunch and dinner included

Day 5 - FRIDAY AUGUST 5 - ABERDEEN    (B/L/D)

-    breakfast and lunch included at the festival
-    participate in festival activities and concerts today
-    dinner included

Day 6 - SATURDAY AUGUST 6 - ABERDEEN    (B/L/D)

-    breakfast and lunch included at the festival
-    Aberdeen's International Street Carnival
-    Aberdeen Youth Day - day of workshops
-    evening "World Music and Choral Spectacular"
-    dinner included

Day 7 - SUNDAY AUGUST 7 to ABERFOYLE    (B) / D

-    breakfast included at the festival
-    meet your hired Macpherson coach and travel through the Scottish Highlands with your destination today being Aberfoyle
-    journey north west to Loch Ness, Scotland's most famous Loch  ~ "Nessie" has attracted increasing attention since ambiguous photgraphs were taken in the 1930's   
-    time to purchase lunch in this area
-    continue to Aberfoyle with a stop enroute for dinner  
-    arrive in Aberfoyle and check in to the Dounans Centre (or similar) for 2 nights accommodation

Day 8 - MONDAY AUGUST 8 to STIRLING and EDINBURGH     B

-    breakfast at your accommodation
-    board coach and depart for Edinburgh
-    enoute, make a stop in Stirling where you will visit the Stirling Castle, home of Sir William Wallace, the Scottish Patriot who's story is told in "Braveheart"
-    opportunity to sing inside Stirling Castle in the Chapel Royal
-    board your coach and continue to Edinburgh
-    enjoy a city tour of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, a beautiful blend of history centered around the Old Town from the 12th century and the New Town, built in the late 18th century​

-    free time to walk the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyrood House, to visit the John Knox's House, the Floral Clock or explore one of the many museums
-    purchase lunch and dinner in Edinburgh today
-    arrive at Edinburgh Castle and attend the evening performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo  (Tattoo runs from August 5 - 27, 2005)
-    after the evening show, return to Aberfoyle for overnight accommodation

​

Day 9 - TUESDAY AUGUST 9 -to LIVERPOOL and CREWE     B / (D)

-    board your coach and depart for Crewe (via Hadrian's Wall and Liverpool)
-    today, you will see a section of Hadrian's Wall, a 73 mile wall erected across northern England to mark and defend the northern limits of the British Province and the northwest boundary of the Roman Empire  - today, the wall is owned by the National Trust and was abandoned in 383 as the Roman Empire crumbled, but much of it still remains
-    continue to Liverpool, home of "the Beatles"
-    free time to shop and visit museums in small groups (suggest the Tate Liverpool or the Walker Art Gallery)
-    purchase lunch in Liverpool
-    opportunity exists to sing inside Liverpool Cathedral
-    meet together at the Beatles Museum and visit "Beatles Story"
-    board coach and depart for Crewe
-    arrive in  Crewe to meet your host families
-    depart for their homes for the next 2 nights  (billeting arranged directly by choir)  
-    dinner with your host families

Day 10 - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10  - to WALES    (B/D)

-    breakfast with your host families
-    board coach and depart on a day trip to Northern Wales
-    stop in Llangollen?? enroute
-    enjoy a visit and a ride on the Miner's Tramway Tour at Llechwedd Slate Caverns located in Blaenau Ffestiniog (Snowdonia National Park)
-    also, experience the Deep Mine Tour, as you descend on Britain's steepest passenger incline railway to the underground chambers
-    choir sing inside the mine
-    board a train in a corner of the original slate slabbing mill and ride into an 1846 tunnel, hauled by battery electric locomotive
-    entering through the side of the mountain this journey into the early Victorian past remains on the level, and traverses some spectacular caverns
-    stop in Betws-y-Coed located at the peaks of Snowdonia, a hill-walking centre since the 19th century
        -    point of interest is the Waterloo Bridge built by Thomas Telford (a gifted engineer responsible for many of Britains road's, bridges and canals) to mark victory against Napoleon
-    return to Crewe for dinner with your host families
        -    joint evening concert with your Crewe hosts

Day 11 - THURSDAY AUGUST 11  - FERRY to DUBLIN, IRELAND    (B) / D

-    breakfast with your host families and prepare for departure
-    say good-bye to your Crewe host families and depart for Holyhead
-    enroute, stop and visit the Caernarfon Castle, one of the most famous castles in Wales
-    displays in the castle include the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum and exhibitions tracing the history of the Princes of Wales and exploring the theme "Chieftains and Princes"
-    on a hill above the town are the ruins of Segontium, a Roman fort built in about AD78 ~ local legends claim that the firs Christian Emperor of Rome, Constantine the Great was born here in 280
-    continue to Holyhead where you will take the scheduled ferry crossing to Dublin
-    check into your Dublin accommodation for a 1 night stay
-    dinner included this evening

Day 12 - FRIDAY AUGUST 12 - to LIMERICK    B / (D)

-    breakfast at your accommodation followed by check out and loading of your coach
-    enjoy a morning visit to Dublinia at Christchurch ~ a heritage centre located in the heart of the old city and housed in a beautiful Victorian Neo - Gothic style building
-    this exhibition allows you to discover the history of the city and lifestyles of its inhabitants during the middle ages
-    purchase lunch before Limerick departure
-    board coach and depart Dublin for Limerick, the third largest city in the Republic and founded by the Vikings (allow 3 hour travel time)
        -    arrive in Limerick where you will meet your host families for 2 nights accommodation  (host billets arranged directly by the choir)
        -    dinner and evening with your host families

Day 13 - SATURDAY AUGUST 13  - RING OF KERRY     (B) / (D)

        -    breakfast with your host families
-    board coach and depart for a tour of the Ring of Kerry
-    the long established route around the Iveragh Peninsula can be taken in either direction today - this is a full day of sightseeing today
-    see the captivating mountain and coastal scenery with interesting detours across the spine of the Peninsula
-    return to Limerick for dinner with your hosts

Day 14 - SUNDAY AUGUST 14 to DUBLIN (final night)    (B) / D

-    breakfast with your host families
-    morning participation and performance at a local church service in Limerick
-    say good - bye to your Limerick hosts and depart for Dublin
-    arrive in Dublin with final afternoon to shop
-    late afternoon check in to your Dublin accommodation for your final night
-    transfer to the Dublin Viking Adventure located beside the Civic Offices
-    visit Dublin's Viking Adventure where a guide will take you on a fascinating journey through Dublin of long ago
-    the centre also houses an extensive collection of artifacts discovered during the excavation of this site, considered to be the most important of its kind outside of Scandinavia  
-    final farewell dinner at the Dublin Viking Feast located in the impressive setting of the Dyflin Feasting Hall
-    return to your accommodation for your final evening and last minute packing

Day 15 - MONDAY AUGUST 15 - FLIGHT HOME    B

-    breakfast followed by check out and loading of your coach
-    board coach and depart for Dublin Airport
-    arrive at the airport, check in and prepare for flight
-    scheduled flight from Dublin to Pearson International Airport, Toronto (connection to be made enroute) (airline and flight details to be advised)
-    (international groups must check in at least 3 hours prior to scheduled departure time)
-    inflight meals served at the discretion of the airline
-    estimated arrival at Pearson International Airport - WELCOME HOME!