Tours

Ed Miller’s Folksong Tours of Scotland. I will be leading two tours in 2024, May 26-June5 and June 16-26.

As of January 2024, both tours are sold out. If you would like to put your name(s) on the wait list in case there might be any cancellations, please let me know at songsofscotland@gmail.com

 

Flights from the USA are overnight; so the latest you can depart is May 25 for Tour No.1 or June 15 for Tour No.2 You are free to arrive in Scotland before the tour starts or to stay afterwards; but we will rendezvous either at Edinburgh Airport on the morning of May 26/June 16, or at the Apex Hotel (Waterloo Place) in the centre of the city if you arrive on an earlier date. Arriving a day or two earlier is strongly recommended so as to counteract the effects of jetlag.

The cost of this year’s tour is $3600 per person, based on double occupancy. This price covers all transport and hotels in Scotland, all breakfasts and dinners, performers’ fees and entry to most historical sites. It does not cover lunches, tips, single room supplement ($750) or airfare. Direct flights into Edinburgh are available on United (fr Newark) and American (fr Chicago, Philadelphia or JFK); while several other companies have flights via London, Dublin, Amsterdam etc. Keep checking for any special offers.

Please send a deposit of $500 per person to book a place/s and full payment is required by 1 February. If you cancel after that date, I can only give a refund if I can find someone on the waiting list to fill your spot/s.

The basic aim of these tours is to give people the chance to enjoy and learn about Scotland through experiencing its music and landscape. You will meet and hear singers and musicians on their home ground, visit the contexts from which the songs and music have come, and have the chance to enjoy occasional hikes in both the Lowlands and the Highlands. This is NOT a search for the Scotland of Braveheart, Jamie Fraser or the Loch Ness Monster – rather it is a unique opportunity to learn about the music, people, history and landscape of this amazingly varied country in an interesting, personal and entertaining way.

Tour No.1 will include 3 nights at the luxurious Peebles Hydro Hotel in the Borders area; 2 nights in the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry on the southern edge of the Highlands; 2 nights at the Pearl Hotel in Oban on the northwest coast and 3 nights in the Apex Hotel in central Edinburgh.

Tour No.2 will be 3 nights in Peebles, 2 nights at Ardoe House near Aberdeen; 2 nights at the Atholl Palace in Pitlochry and 3 nights at the Apex in Edinburgh.

Some not-too-arduous hikes will be available in Dunkeld, Balquhidder and Edinburgh, with other activities suggested for non-hikers.

Some of the possible performers you will meet and hear include fiddlers Iain Fraser, Paul Anderson and Pete Clark, singer/songwriter Robin Laing; Jim & Susie Malcolm, bothy songster Scott Gardiner, songwriter Karine Polwart, Edinburgh-based singer George Archibald and Robert Burns expert Charlie Milne, as well as others still to be arranged.

Guide Charles Hunter and myself will also be singing and telling stories throughout the trip. Songbooks will be provided so everyone can sing along as we travel…..this IS a singing tour…..bring your voices and enthusiasm.

We can only accommodate a maximum of 35 participants; so if you are interested in joining the tour group, please send in your application form and $500 deposits ASAP to ensure a place. Once I receive these, I will send you a reading list, detailed itinerary and other materials.

A’ the best, Ed

To download application form, click 2024 tours application form.

If you have ever enjoyed Ed Miller as a performer, how about spending 10 days traveling Scotland with him as he shares his friends, music, humor and knowledge with you “on location” in his homeland.

Imagine hearing Border ballads in a 16th century tower, hearing Iain Fraser’s fiddle music in the Border hills; learning Gaelic songs from Margaret Bennett, singing sea songs in a fishing village or farming songs in an Angus bothy; joining in a pub session; enjoying Robin Laing’s songs of love and whisky; exploring the pubs, museums and shops of Edinburgh; or following the footsteps of Robert Burns. These are the kind of experiences Ed brings you on these very personal folksong tours.

Originally from Edinburgh, Ed has lived for several decades in Austin TX. He can, therefore, see his homeland from both a Scottish and American perspective. As a singer, folklorist (PhD), geographer (MA), radio host and amiable character with an infectious love and knowledge of Scotland, he is the perfect guide for such a tour.

The basic aim of these tours is to give folk song enthusiasts the chance to enjoy and learn about Scotland through experiencing its music, history and landscape. You’ll meet and hear singers and musicians on their home ground, visit the contexts from which the songs and music arose and enjoy informal talks and evening concerts.

We will stay in high quality hotels with wonderful food and will travel by luxury coach with an experienced driver and a blue-ribbon Tourist Board-approved guide.

Ed, guide Charles Hunter; fiddler Iain Fraser and our driver  make a great & entertaining team – this will be their 23rd year working together.

The cost for this 2024 tours is $3600 per person based on single occupancy. This price includes all hotels and ground transportation in Scotland, all breakfasts &  dinners, performers’ fees and entrance to Historic Scotland sites. It does not include airfare, single room supplement ($750), lunches and tips for driver and guide.

Due to the exclusive nature of these tours, reservations will be limited to 35 people.

 

 

To download application form, click 2024 tours application form.