What is it?
A guided tour is the practice of an individual leading a group of people around a point of interest and giving them information about it, which can cover topics such as religious significance, cultural history and how it relates to other locations and events in history.
What does it involve?
Attending a guided tour basically just involves paying attention! All the work is done for you in finding out the facts and presenting them in an interesting manner; the role of the participant just calls for a level of interest in your surroundings and an eagerness to learn!
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Tour guides can be extremely educational - physically interacting with the place while learning about its history will provide a different kind of academic experience to the classroom by giving the students something more tangible to focus on.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn't need any equipment for a guided tour, but check beforehand to make sure; some tours involve their participants even further by getting them to write down their own thoughts, or make drawings - so you may need to ensure students have something to write on!
Who is it suitable for?
Guided Tours are suitable for pretty much anybody if you pick the right one - smaller children will find it harder to focus on more complex subjects and will need more visual aids, but if they are engaged correctly they will have a great time! Likewise, teenage students will get bored if the subject isn't engaging enough, so make sure to choose the tour appropriate for the age and interests of the group.
Costs?
Around £20 or less per person, but it can vary greatly depending on the location of the tour - for example, a minibus tour around a park will cost more than a short walk around a country manor! Make sure to shop around to get an idea of the prices in your area.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
A guided tour should be suitable for all ages, but students with condtions such has ADHD may have trouble focusing for an extended period of time - make sure to be aware of the specific needs of your group.
How do we include?
Many guided tours have disabled access for those with limited physical movement, but it would be wise to doublecheck beforehand. Those who are deaf and blind can also be included in guided tours but may need more specialist staff - again, you will need to check with the specific establishments.
Doing it abroad?
There are points of public interest all around the world, so wherever you can find something well known chances are there will be a guided tour available! Foreign tours may be conducted in another language though, so make sure to confirm the specifications of the tour before booking it.
Main website:
This website gives a good overview of places where you can go for a tour guide, but you're best looking at the specific areas around you to find out details!
The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery collects objects, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Forfar together with the work of past and contemporary artists reflecting the rich art heritage of Angus.
The collection consists of several thousand objects, paintings and drawings gifted or bequeathed to the museum.
Located in the old Town House in Kirriemuir, the museum describes the social, architectural and political history of the town and the Angus glens, using touch screen technology and CD-ROMS.
This beautiful Georgian house was built in the 18th century for David Erskine, a judge of the Scottish Court of Session.
House of Dun is just 3 miles from Montrose and its picturesque unspoilt beaches and around 45 minutes' drive from Aberdeen.
A richly diverse collection forms an encyclopaedic view of past Glen life: a kitchen; dairy and farming equipment; a parlour; costume display; children’s room; bothy; and superb archives covering every aspect of the Glen’s social history.
Many cities across the UK have some form of Transport Museum as a home for their transport history, vehicles, memorabilia, etc. so please join with us and support our campaign to bring our heritage home.
The Royal Research Ship Discovery returned to her home port of Dundee in 1986 where she was greeted by thousands lining the shores of the River Tay. In 1993 Discovery Point opened as a purpose built museum, visitor centre and conference venue playing host to over 150,000 visitors per year from both the public and business communities.
Broughty Castle sits imposingly at the mouth of the River Tay. Built in 1496 on a rocky promontory, it has faced many sieges and battles.
Located on the ground floor of the former Brechin Town House, on the west side of the High Street in the centre of the town, Brechin Museum has displays highlighting the history of the town from the 10th century through to the present day.
Signal Tower Museum is located near Arbroath’s picturesque and busy harbour, in a complex of buildings originally used as the shore station and family accommodation for the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Built in 1813, Signal Tower served the lighthouse until 1955.
The museum’s displays are worldwide in scope, from protozoa to the great whales, including taxidermy, skeletal material, study skins, fluid-preserved specimens and models. Visitors are warmly welcomed to the museum, and there is no charge for admission, though we ask that children are accompanied by a responsible adult.
The Pathology and Forensic Medicine Collection provides an historical record of disease types and causes of death in north-east Scotland. It demonstrates both pathological conditions and traumatic pathology. Changing displays of the permanent collection can be seen outside the Medical Library, The Polwarth Building at the Foresterhill campus.
King’s Museum lies at the heart of the University's Old Aberdeen campus. As well as being Scotland's newest museum, it may also be the oldest as its origins lie in a museum collection established in King's College in 1727.
Resulting from over 200 years of collecting, the Natural Philosophy Collection of Scientific Instruments is one of the most diverse collections in any British University. The earliest material dates from the mid-18th century and the collection ranges from the simplest demonstration pieces to those that were state-of-the-art research equipment.
Established in the 1870s, the Anatomy Museum has a wide-ranging collection used extensively for medical teaching and training, including skeletal material, fluid-preserved specimens of human tissue, historical and modern models and works on paper. Of special interest are a set of 19th century anatomical watercolours and a series of anatomical drawings by Alberto Morrocco.
The centre offers an interesting insight into the social and natural history of Tomintoul and Glenlivet. It includes a reconstructed farmhouse kitchen and blacksmith’s workshop. The centre is open seasonally from April until the end of October.
Schools
The Tolbooth Museum is one of Aberdeen's oldest buildings and one of the best-preserved 17th century gaols in Scotland. It features displays on local history and the development of crime and punishment through the centuries. The Tolbooth Museum provides a unique experience in the form of its atmospheric 17th and 18th century cells, original doors and barred windows.
Collection of football memorabilia associated with Aberdeen Football Club and it’s supporters. Please note that viewings are currently by appointment only.
A 250-year-old but ‘n ben cottage furnished as a home of about a century ago.
Session Cottage is open by arrangement only.
Provost Skene's House is temporarily closed to the Public
The House will be closed during the development of Marischal Square. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The House
Since the restoration of this fascinating building in 2008, the museum and exhibition space is housed in what were the ground floor ice house chambers used in the salmon fishing operation. There is a small Bothy area complete with bunks where fishermen would have slept. This now houses our genealogy facility.
The Centre is housed in part of a Victorian school dating from 1837. The Corbett Museum offers changing displays relating to the history of the area – domestic and farming, peoples and their trades, education and the kirk. Visitors can view the extensive photographic archive and browse the comprehensive collection of newspaper cuttings.
The Nelson Tower was built by the Forres Trafalgar Club in commemoration of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Tower was opened in 1812 and is the most northerly of all Britain’s Nelson monuments. Visitors may climb to the top of the octagonal tower and enjoy spectacular views across the Moray Firth.
Kinnaird Head was the first lighthouse to be built by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1787 and the only lighthouse to be built on top of a fortified castle. In 1824, the lighthouse was reconstructed inside Kinnaird Castle by Robert Stevenson, engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Relive the great days of steam trains at the former Maud Railway Station. Sound effects add to the nostalgia of varied displays of railway memorabilia. GNSR memorabilia; photographs of Maud railway heydays; browsing corner with books and photographs.
Maud Railway Museum is housed in the former station buildings at Maud Junction in rural Aberdeenshire.
Situated in the Railway Station building, the volunteer-run museum encompasses both railway and local Insch history, including a scale model of the railway, photographs, artefacts, archive material and everyday stories of how life used to be in Insch.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.