Seeking Interest in an Edinburgh Research Tour

When I sent out polls a few months ago asking about various regions for genealogy research tours, a few people said that they would be interested in a return to Edinburgh.

If you are interested, please let me know by adding your name to the email list. You can sign up at the top right-hand side of this page. If I get enough interest, I will organize a tour for 2020.

I need to have 12-16 people to make the tour work, so please feel free to share with others that you think might be interested.

Stromness, Kirkwall and Standing Stones

On Wednesday evening, I caught the last ferry from Scrabster to Stromness. After a short 90 minute sail across the Pentland Firth, we docked and I made my way to the B&B.

The Old Man of Hoy sea stack

Stromness is at the 59th parallel, which at this time of year, provides 18 hours of daylight. After a very restful sleep, and an Orkney Continental breakfast of locally sourced meats, cheeses and fish, it was time to learn what I could about this island. 

My first stop was at the Standing Stones of Stenness. 

Then up the road less than a half mile to see the Ring of Brodgar

From Stenness, I continued on to Kirkwall to see the Weeping Window of Poppies, which has been set in place to commemorate the Battle of Jutland. 

In addition to the poppies, I toured the cathedral

From the Cathedral, I went to see the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces 

After touring the local museum, Tankerness House, I headed back to Stromness, stopping to see the Barnhouse Prehistoric Village, next to the Stenness Stones, on the way. 

I was fascinated with the documented history that was displayed through the wall plaques on the buildings in Stromness

My final stop was the Stromness museum. What a little treasure! The archival information is amazing. They have records for men who were recruited to work in the HBC's inland factory at York, lists of men who were pressed into service with the Navy, lists of ferries, dingys and lifeboats and their workers and fate, men who served and fell in service for both world wars, the records of the Stromness Hearse Company, donated private collections, Orkney Shipwrecks, Pentland Firth Crossings that ran into trouble. I can't begin to explain how much I love and value the local archives and archivists in Scotland. 

SOLD OUT!!

And that's a wrap! Incredibly in just a fortnight, the Glasgow Genealogy Research Tour has SOLD OUT!

Thank you to everyone who signed up! I am looking forward to sharing your genealogy adventures with you in Glasgow!

For anyone still interested in researching their family history in Scotland, the regular Genealogy Tour that takes place annually in Edinburgh is still OPEN. 

http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/edinburgh-tour.html

The Edinburgh tour gives you: 

• pre-tour preparation webinars
• pre-tour preparation package
• assistance to plan a visit to your ancestral part of Scotland
• 9 nights accommodation
• 9 full breakfasts
• Overview of records in each facility
• 5 full days of research
• daily research fees
• daily transportation to research facilities
• time to travel to your ancestral home area
• additional day to research locally
• optional evening tours
• evening at the Taste of Scotland dinner and show

SECOND TOUR ADDED FOR 2016

A second, smaller group genealogy research trip to Scotland has been added for 2016.

With the popularity of the Spring 2016 tour and it being SOLD OUT 11 months in advance, a second, smaller sized group tour has been added for 2016. 

Spaces are limited to 10. Spaces will fill quickly with the majority being filled over the remainder of the summer. I anticipate that by mid October ALL SPACES WILL BE GONE. 

No further tours for 2016 will be added. 

If you are interested in a group trip to Scotland to research your family history and to spend time in your ancestral homeland, BOOK NOW while space is available. 

Following the 10 day research tour, you will return home with your newly found documents, memories and deeper sense of your own Scottish heritage.

Here's the link:  http://genealogytoursofscotland.ca/

Spring 2016 Genealogy Research Tour to Scotland ITINERARY NOW CONFIRMED

Monday May 30: This is a day of arrival. Today is a bank holiday in Scotland. While all of the banks and government buildings will be closed, the heritage sites, museums and tourist attractions will be open as are most of the stores.

We will meet in the restaurant area of the hotel at 6:30 pm for a meet and greet and to talk about the week ahead. There will be an opportunity to sign up for optional walking tours of Edinburgh during the week. Each tour is £8 and the fees will be payable upon sign up. Non-researchers are also welcome to join us for the meet and greet and to attend the walking tours with us.

I will also have information of things to do during the weekend if you are planning to travel to the area where your ancestors lived before or after the genealogy tour.

Tuesday May 31: Following breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre where we will enjoy a Family History session followed by research time. Laptops and tablets can be taken into the research room. WiFi is not available.

You will need money to put on an account to pay for your downloads or print outs. Downloads are 30p Prints are 50p. Any money not spent will be returned to you at the end of the day.

Please have a username ready so that the staff can set up your account. You can give this to me at the meet and greet on Monday evening. If you are going to download, please make sure you have a USB drive with you (they are available in the shop if you forget). Pencils only, please, no pens. There are lockers available for your coats, bags etc. These require a one pound coin (£1) which will be returned to you when you open the locker back up.

There is a cafe onsite and there is a terrific little pub next door for lunch.

Wednesday June 1: Following breakfast- we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group at 9:45. We will taxi to the maps building of the National Library of Scotland.  Here we will get an introduction and will be able to then explore the maps that are available. Additional staff will be available for assistance. You may wish to bring your laptop or tablet as the number of computer stations is limited. Wifi is available.

Those who are signed up for the tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:45. From here we will walk over to the Kirk yard gates to meet with the tour organizers. This tour is approximately 90 minutes. It is NOT a ghost tour, it is an educational/historic tour. It will be outdoors, so dress appropriately. There is some walking but it is not on difficult terrain.  

Thursday June 2: Following breakfast- we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group at 9:00. From here we will walk over to the National Library of Scotland.

In order to access the records, you will require a library card. Please register online before the trip so that this will be a more seamless process. You can register here: http://www.nls.uk/

Getting the cards will take time to process for the group. Please have a piece of photo id ready to show the registrar as well as a piece of id (mail, drivers licence) that has your address on it. At 10:00, we will enjoy a talk on the resources available at the library.

The rest of the day will be available for research. The NLS is three blocks from the hotel, however, if you require a taxi to get there, one will be ordered for you. 

Those who are signed up for the historic walking tour will meet in the hotel lobby Details regarding the time to meet will be available at the meet and greet on Monday evening.

This tour lasts 2 hours. It is outside so please dress appropriately. There is quite a bit of walking involved. There are some hills and cobbled streets. It is also an historic/educational tour about some of the old closes, buildings and famous inhabitants of Edinburgh.

Friday June 3: Following breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre where we will enjoy a full day of research. 

June 4 & 5 : The weekend is set aside for you to travel to the area of Scotland where your ancestors were from to gain a better sense of their lives and struggles. For those doing the travel before or after the tour, you may wish to spend the time exploring the rich history that Edinburgh has to offer.

Monday June 6: This day is set aside for you to research in the local archives or Family History Society in the region where your ancestors lived. You may also choose to sightsee, shop or take a day trip instead.

Tuesday June 7: Following breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre where we will enjoy our final day of research. 

At 6:20 pm, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group. From here we will taxi to Prestonfield where we will enjoy the Taste of Scotland Dinner and Show.

Wednesday June 8: today is check-out day. I wish you safe travels as you return home with your newly found documents, memories and deeper sense of your own Scottish heritage.

Another Successful Genealogy Tour to Scotland Comes to an End

What a busy 10 days we have had! Although Friday was officially a "day off" from research, almost all of the participants did research. Some at ScotlandsPeople Centre, some in the Historical Reading Room upstairs (the National Archives). Others spent the day at the National Library of Scotland. Some in the Special Collections department, others pouring through the Manuscripts. 

Sunday, all of the research facilities were closed, forcing the participants to take a break and enjoy the beauty and history of this magnificent city. A day of R&R and sightseeing was much enjoyed and allowed people to re-charge their energies. 

In all, the participants have had six days of research as well as a day at the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. 

Eight participants have taken personalised ancestral tours with Ian Walker of Borders Journeys. 

Seven participants are staying for a week or two longer to enjoy some of the history and scenery beyond the Central Belt. And all of them are looking forward to their next trip to Scotland!

T Minus 25

In just over three weeks I will be on my way "home" once again. This time, however, there will be a stop off in Birmingham first to attend Who Do You Think You Are? Live. 

I am looking forward to meeting up with friends and colleagues while there and to learning lots of new things. 

From Birmingham it will be onto Edinburgh to meet up with this year's tour participants. Always such an exciting time for me. Again this year, most of the participants are from the US, with a couple of fellow Canadians in the mix. 

I have my lists compiled. Not so much on what I want to research genealogy-wise, but places to visit and learn more about. Castles, Cemeteries (I'm an avid Taphophile) and historic places. 

I have my days planned well in advance, and as always, will hit the dirt running. This allows me to get the most out of my short time in Scotland and to alleviate jet lag. It is only when I return to Canada that the exhaustion sets in. For days. 

I look forward to sharing my time at WDYTYA Live and in Scotland through daily blogging. 

What I am not looking forward to is the travel. A long ass flight that generally goes poorly. If nothing else, it will provide fodder for the blog roll. 

Stay tuned!

Limited Spaces Remain for 2016 Genealogy Tour to Scotland

Although we are still over a year away, spaces on the 2016 Genealogy Tour to Scotland are filling fast and only limited spaces remain. 

If traveling to Scotland to do family history research is on your bucket list, don't wait to book. 

There is no greater feeling than walking in the footsteps of your ancestors. It will give you such a deep sense of connection to those who have gone before you. 

Create your own Who Do You Think You Are ancestral trip. Your tour fees include:

• pre-tour preparation package
• pre-tour webinars
• 9 nights accommodation 
• 9 breakfasts  
• protected research time
• onsite overviews and talks
• 3 full days of research at Scotland's People Centre 
• Full day of research at the National Library of Scotland
• Full day of research at the NLS Maps Reading Room
• Daily research fees
• Evening at the Scottish Experience Dinner show 
• All ground transportation for research 
• Time to visit the area where your ancestors lived (additional travel fees not included)
• Opportunity to visit the local family history society where your ancestors lived

Book your spot on the 2016 spot now at: 

https://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/

VisitScotland Ancestral Tourism eBook

I was honoured to have the opportunity to provide input into VisitScotland's new Ancestral Tourism eBook. 

If you are planning a trip to Scotland, to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, or to visit the areas associated with your clan or name, be sure to have a look at this eBook before you go. It will assist you in knowing where to travel.

The book has downloadable itineraries for Clan tours, an Outlander tour and a listing of historic sites, battlefields and castles that formed part of the rich history of Scotland. 

In addition to all of this, there is a great deal of information about getting started in researching your Scottish ancestors. This is a brilliant guide for beginners. 

You can either link to the download page at :

 

http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/about/ancestry/start-your-ancestral-journey-to-scotland/download/

 

Or go straight to the ebook itself by using this link.

 

http://www.visitscotland.com/ebrochures/en/ancestral-guide/

Scottish Institute Speakers Confirmed - Day 1

The Scottish Institute, a unique learning opportunity for genealogists who do client work in the Scottish records, will be held in Edinburgh and will offer a series of talks by experts in their respective genealogical fields

Monday October 19

Today's talks will take place at the National Records of Scotland. Here, we will hear from the following experts:

Iain Ferguson, Manager, ScotlandsPeople Centre, who will talk about the records held by the GRO and that are available at the ScotlandsPeople Centre. These differ greatly from the records available online.

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

An archivist (yet to be named) will talk about the records available at the National Archives of Scotland. http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/

Chris Halliday, manager of the Family History Centre at the Highland Archives in Inverness will share information about what Highland resources are available and how they can be accessed. http://www.highlandarchives.org.uk/

Following lunch on our own, Emma and Graham Maxwell, owners of the Scottish Indexes website will discuss their work on the more elusive records that they are indexing and making available online. These include sheriff court records (Paternity Cases), Asylum records, Prison registers and non-OPR BMD records. http://www.scottishindexes.co.uk/

Kirsty Wilkinson, owner of My Ain Folk genealogy services will talk to us about palaeography and understanding Scottish handwriting. http://www.myainfolk.com/Home.html

We will round out the day at the NRS with a talk by Chris Paton, owner of Scotlands Greatest Story and author of the British Genes blog. Chris will talk on the various church records, how to access them and what information we might find in them. http://britishgenes.blogspot.ca/

After dinner on our own, we will walk over to the Scottish Genealogy Society where genealogist Ken Nisbet will share his expertise on researching Military records. Ken will also provide us with a tour of the Scottish Genealogy Society.

We will then retire back to the hotel to get rested up for day two of lectures.

Monday provides 7 hours of learning.

The Scottish Institute is limited to 15 participants. This is a unique learning opportunity which will also allow time to make collaborative relationships through built in networking opportunities.

To register: http://www.scottishinstitute.ca/

For unanswered questions: mailto:genealogytoursofscotland@gmail.com

Tombstone Tuesday - David Hume

This tomb belongs to one of the important Scottish Game Changers:  David Hume

David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist known especially for his ph...ilosophical empiricism and scepticism. 

 David Hume's aim was to found the 'Science of Man' - the study of human nature by scientific means. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment.

A statue of Hume stands on the Royal Mile.

 

His tomb, which is quite grand, is in the Old Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh

 

Tombstone Tuesday - William Miller - "Wee Willie Winkie"

This monument stands atop a hill in the Glasgow Necropolis.

 

William Miller is perhaps best known for his children's nursery rhyme:

 

Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toon,
Up stairs an' doon stairs in his nicht-gown,
Chappin' at the window, crying thru the lock,
"Are the we'ans in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"

Tombstone Tuesday - Prehistoric Cairns

 

Just a mile down the road from Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, Scotland lie a series of pre-historic cairns. Called the Balnuaran of Clava Cairns or simply, the Clava Cairns, these prehistoric structures are still in amazing condition.

It is estimated that these cairns are roughly 4,000 years old - older than the pyrmaids.

The North-East Cairn and South-West Cairn, are well-preserved passage cairns. The cairns are aligned to the mid-winter solstice. These cairns likely only housed one body each. Standing stones surround the cairns as protection.

These standing stones were added much later.

This central cairn is a circle with no opening or passage. It is thought that this was likely a fire ring where ceremonies were held in conjunction with the burials in the two passage cairns.

This kerb cairn was added most recently (3000 years ago) and may have originally provided an outline for a low earth mound or shallow grave.

What amazed me most about the cairns was that they were still relatively in tact, lying in a field, surrounded by farmland. For 4,000 years, they have been seen as sacred ground and so have been given a place of honour, and have been left in solitude. Had they been in North America, they would have been cleared eons ago and a subdivision would now stand in their place. Here's to the Scots for recognizing the importance of these pre-historic structures and for preserving them for future generations to enjoy and honour as well.

 

Give Yourself the Gift of Heritage - Join Us For An Ancestral Trip to Scotland

Most of us are at a stage of our lives now where we can focus less on family and work and more on ourselves. To some it has been a long time coming. So, now that time is less of a constraint, why not give yourself the gift of connecting with your ancestral heritage?

Come to Scotland. Take time in the archives. Research your roots. Tour your ancestral

villages, towns, graveyards. Learn the history and culture. Feel more connected, more

rooted. Create a memory of a lifetime. Bring a friend or partner along to share the journey.

Non-genealogy partners travel for half price.

 

When You Join a Genealogy Tour of Scotland, You Get:

 

v     Pre-tour webinar on Scottish Genealogy Research

v     Pre-tour webinar on Planning For a Research Trip to Scotland

v     Pre-tour assistance to make the most of your time in Scotland

v     Pre-tour package of information to assist with your research planning

v     9 nights in a centrally located hotel where you will get the sense of living in Scotland

v     Breakfast every day

v     A Family History Talk at ScotlandsPeople Centre

v     A Family History Talk at the National Library of Scotland

v     5 days of dedicated research time where staff are expecting you and are ready to assist

v     Transportation to and from the research facilities

v     Time to visit the area where your ancestor lived in Scotland and assistance to plan this

v     25% discount at Borders Journeys Ancestral Tours

v     Time to research in a local archive, family history society or library

v     The chance to experience a Ceilidh and indulge your Scottish heritage

v     Transportation to and from the Ceilidh

v     Optional historic evening tours in Old Town Edinburgh

v     A great way to connect with your Scottish ancestors

v     Memories to last a lifetime

 

Why not join a tour to research your roots and discover your heritage?

 

The April 2015 tour includes registration at the Scottish Association of Family History Societies annual conference to be  held in Stirling.

 

There is also the opportunity to attend the Who Do  You Think You Are Live event in Birmingham, scheduled for the three days prior to the Genealogy Tour of Scotland.

 

Spaces are limited! Book now at: http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/

Is a Genealogy Research Trip to Scotland on YOUR Bucket List?

At Genealogy Tours of Scotland, (http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca, we provide you with protected time at the ScotlandsPeople Centre, the Scottish Genealogy Centre and the National Library of Scotland. These are all based in Edinburgh and while on the tour, you will receive personal assistance from the archivists in each location. 
 

In addition to the repository visits, time is available to travel to the area of Scotland where your ancestors lived. I provide connections to ancestral tour companies, run by genealogists in Scotland, who will give you a personalised tour of your ancestors home area including graveyards, churches, streets, business and anything else you may wish to see that is still standing. 
 

If a genealogy research visit to Scotland is on your bucket list, contact me and I can assist you to make the most of your ancestral visit. (genealogytoursofscotland@gmail.com). I'm looking forward to sharing your genealogical adventures with you!

Edinburgh Well Heads

At the foot of Castle Esplanade, where it connects to the Royal Mile once sat a reservoir known as Castlehill Reservoir. This reservoir was fed by springs and streams from the Pentland Hills. This reservoir was the source of water supply for the old, walled town. There are a series of well heads along the Royal Mile and one in GrassMarket which once provided drinking and washing up water to the inhabitants of the City.  

These wells were built in the 1685 by Master Mason, Robert Milne. People would gather at the well head to gather their water supply. Because the wellheads provided a place for people to gather, it was a place of gossip and a great place to catch up on all that was new with the other inhabitants - illnesses, relationships, new babies, scandals and indiscretions. 

The water was pulled up from the wells by way of narrow necked buckets known as "stoups" (the bucket would be stouped doon the well to collect the water). These buckets would then be carried back to the tenement for use by the residents.  

During the summer months when the City declared rationing, the wells would only be open from midnight until 3am. Long lines could be expected as the poorer inhabitants gathered to get their share before the water ran out. In the anxiety of not knowing whether water would be available, many scuffled and fights often broke out.  

The City's elite hired others to fetch water for them. These men were knows as "Caddies" who would have a special barrel to collect and carry the water. The barrel would be strapped to their backs to better distribute the weight as they then delivered it to their benefactors.  

Although long decommissioned, with the advent of indoor plumbing, these well heads remain intact and are a visual reminder of the harsher times in which our ancestors lived.

West Bow Well in Grassmarket.

Lawnmarket Well Head on the Royal Mile

Tombstone Tuesday for Wordless Wednesday

Our Last Day of Research

Following a weekend to travel to where our ancestors lived, to research in local archives, to sightsee, or to simply unwind, we were back at the ScotlandsPeople Centre first thing thisTuesday morning. This was our last opportunity to search OPRs, Statutory Records, Sazines, Wills, Testaments, Court a Records, Valuation Rolls or Kirk Session Records. 

 

 

 

Just as we were leaving, the heavens opened up and we were baptized with a torrential downpour, complete with thunder and lightening! We were right drenched as we stood endlessly waiting for our taxis to arrive....

It's Almost Time

It is almost time for the annual genealogy research tour to Edinburgh. In the final days, last minute preparations are being made. It almost feels like the old Christmas song, having made my list, I find myself checking it twice:

• Make sure that my Family Tree is up to date. Making it portable. I have it on my laptop that I can access the information in Scotland.
• Make a list of all of the documents I already have copies or originals of. This will prevent me wasting time searching for information I already have.
• Knowing I will be able to see births newer than 100 years, marriage records newer than 75 years and death records newer than 50 years, Iwant to make a list of the more recent records to look at while in Edinburgh.
• Know what each repository has in its collections to assist me further with my research.  
• Write out my brick walls and thinking about what I want to find out to help break these down.
• Make sure that my passport is valid and up to date.

• Remembering to pack my NLS card, my NAS readers ticket and my Glasgow library card.

 

• Pack extra batteries, camera cards, power cords, USB sticks and and other accessories that I might need for pictures, accessing my family tree and of course, blogging.

 

• Pack adapters for the change in electrical voltage in Scotland.

• Pack pencils. Pens are not allowed in the repositories.

Added Tours Are Filling Quickly!

Two tours have been added for genealogy research in Scotland. The first tour takes place December 1 - 10 2014 and the second runs from April 19-28, 2015. This second tour includes the Scottish Association of Family History Societies Conference in Stirling.

Don't miss out on the chance to visit your ancestral homeland, to gain access to records not available online and to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors.

Book NOW at: https://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca/