Scotland

Scotland Folk High School

Folk high school courses in Scotland

So much exciting is happening in the British Isles right now. As a topical and curious folk high school abroad, we naturally want to follow this development closely, and so we travelled to Scotland in the spring of 2022 to take part in events. The whole of Great Britain is undergoing an enormous upheaval after Brexit and its departure from the EU, and in Scotland it has now reached the point where half the population wants to leave Great Britain entirely and form an independent nation. Many Scots also feel a close kinship with Scandinavia and wish to draw closer to our society and way of life.

Wherever we are in Scotland, we meet a passionate and proud people with the courage of their convictions, who will help us understand better the questions that occupy them about their future. On ”Scotland from the inside” we visit the Scots in their everyday lives and their Parliament, and hear why they want to break free of England, how they dream of living, and whether it is even possible to leave the United Kingdom and manage on their own.

A week in Peebles by the River Tweed

On the courses ”Scotland from the inside” and ”Knitting in Scotland” and "Learn fly fishing in Scotland", we stay at a lovely hotel in the charming little town of Peebles. It is situated in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, along the banks of the River Tweed. The town has a rich history, beautiful nature and a range of cultural and historical attractions that make it a popular destination.

The folk high school building

The Park Hotel in Peebles, which serves as the folk high school this week, is a charming hotel located in the heart of the town and an ideal base for exploring both Peebles and the surrounding Tweed Valley. The hotel has a cosy, local atmosphere, and guests often highlight the friendly welcome and warm hospitality. With its 24 rooms the hotel is a touch smaller, but it makes up for it with plenty of personality and comfort.

The rooms are simple but stylishly furnished, and the hotel offers various types of rooms, including double rooms and larger rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

Pool, spa and fitness

One of the special benefits of staying at The Park is that guests also gain access to the facilities at the sister hotel, Peebles Hydro, which include a pool, spa and fitness centre.

The hotel also has a popular restaurant serving dishes inspired by local produce, as well as a bakery where you can enjoy freshly baked treats. All in all, The Park Hotel offers a relaxed and pleasant experience with a perfect location for exploring both the nature and the town.

Surroundings

Peebles is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, which makes it an ideal place for hiking, cycling and fishing. The River Tweed is especially famous for its salmon and attracts many anglers. And that is why we also offer a fly-fishing line at the same time as the Scotland from the inside line. (See our offerings)

Peebles has many historic buildings, including Peebles Old Parish Church, which dates back to the 12th century, and the former Cross Kirk, founded by King David I of Scotland in 1261.

Folk high school in the Scottish Highlands with hiking on the programme

Scotland is known for its beautiful nature, and we have developed the folk high school course ”Hiking and folk high school in the Scottish Highlands”, where we focus on hiking and the very special nature experiences you get in the magnificent setting of the Highlands.

For the hiking courses in Scotland we have chosen to stay in the mountainous region of Angus in the eastern part, a couple of hours' drive north of Edinburgh. Angus is famous for its five glens, The 5 Angus Glens, which cut in and form clefts in the Highland mountains, and where there is a wide range of hiking trails.

The folk high school is located in one of the most beautiful of the five glens, Glen Clova, which is part of the Cairngorms National Park, Great Britain's largest national park. Three of our hikes take place in the national park, where we explore the glens and the mountains surrounding them.

Between the hikes we get a series of talks about Scotland and meet a nature guide who tells us about the Cairngorms National Park.

On several of the courses in Scotland we have teamed up with a talented local Danish speaker and tour leader, Camilla Kornerup. Camilla is married to an Englishman and lives in Edinburgh. Camilla often travels around Scotland and has gradually built up a really good network in the country, which we benefit from.

The course has become a huge success since we started it in 2023. That is why we now run two of them in the summer. Our advice to you: don't wait too long to sign up, as it can easily sell out quickly again.

Knitting course in Scotland

Sheep, wool and yarn – that's just Scotland. That is why it is so obvious to run knitting courses in Scotland. The town we stay near, Peebles, has several really good wool shops and generally lovely things in wool and other kinds of yarn.

On the course “Knitting in Scotland” it is knitwear designer Annette Danielsen who is responsible for all the knitting instruction.

Course leader Sisse Skovbakke is responsible for all the talks about Scotland – and of course the piano and singing. Sisse is a dyed-in-the-wool “closet Scot”. She has travelled in the country countless times and loves everything about Scotland and the Scots. If it had not been for Brexit, which put a spanner in the works for her plans, she would have moved to Scotland to live. Sisse Skovbakke is, incidentally, also on all the Scotland from the inside courses with course leader Camilla Kornerup. Here she plays the piano and sings folk high school songs with you.