Archaeology Tours
Become a Time Traveller and explore Scotland’s archaeology
From a Viking-era drinking hall to a Roman arena for training soldiers to the skeleton of a 1,400-year-old Pict, Scotland’s history is rich in archaeology.
Here is a sample of just some of the tours you could do:
TOUR 1
DAY TRIP – EDINBURGH BASED – BY FOOT
Starting at the National Museum of Edinburgh we can spend a morning exploring together artefacts of Ancient Rome found in Scotland. These include a recent discovery of a hoard of silver as well as the carved head of a lioness hauled from a nearby waterway. If you have children in your group we can explore the many educational resources on offer – you may find yourself taking photos of them dressed in Roman uniform or helping to build a Roman fort!
In the afternoon we can drive out to the hill fort of Traprain Law and see where the silver ‘find’ was unearthed. You’ll hear how archaeologists have revised their theories about what the silver was used for and how it came to find its way to this spot.
EDINBURGH & LOTHIAN BASED
As the tour above, we can start at the National Museum of Edinburgh and spend a morning exploring together artefacts of Ancient Rome found in Scotland. These include a recent discovery of a hoard of silver and the ‘Cramond lioness’. In the afternoon we can drive out to the hill fort of Traprain Law and see where the silver hoard was unearthed. You’ll hear how archaeologists have revised their theories about what the silver was used for and how it came to find its way to this spot. Or we could take a trip to Cramond and walk along the causeway to see where the sculptured head of a lion was hauled from the water in 1997.
TOUR 2
DAY TRIP – GLASGOW – THE ROMANS AND THE MIDDLE AGES
On a trip to the city of Glasgow, ‘The Dear Green Place’, we can visit the Govan Stones – early medieval carved stones now displayed at Govan Old Parish Church– some of which
were discovered by a 14 year old schoolboy on his first ever dig!
Later we can go to the remains of a Roman bath-house at Bearsden and from there go and walk part of the Antonine Wall, a turf fortification on stone foundations, built by the Romans on the orders of Emperor Hadrian The wall was designed as a frontier for the empire and a barrier to the fierce, raiding Caledonian tribes. Let’s hope we don’t run into any!
TOUR 3
DAY TRIP – ROME AND THE BORDERS
Contrary to popular belief, the Romans did come to Scotland and they did stay!
You’ll see evidence of this on a trip to Melrose in the beautiful Scottish Borders where a fort complex known as ‘Trimontium’ is located. With a view of the three Eildon hills (Latin: trium montium, three hills) this remarkable site has much to reveal about the Romans. Let’s go and see where they would have mounted their chariots to do some training in the circular stadium known as the ‘Circus’. And for extra value, we might even be able to fit in a trip to the breathtaking ruins of Melrose Abbey…
EXTENDED ARCHAELOGICAL TOURS
We can take you to exciting sites such as Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of the village, with 150 of them being prehistoric.
Or we can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Ring of Brodgar on the island of Orkney or the Neolithic Callanish stones on Lewis. Perhaps a visit to a recostructed ancient loch dwelling is of interest – then the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay is a must!
You’ll need more time for these adventures as they involve driving to areas of Scotland much further afield and travelling on ferries across to the islands. Quite an adventure!
Contact us if you would like some advice on how to do this and how we at More2Scotland can help you.
Feel free to mix and match the tours above so you can create your own archaeological adventure.
All of our walking tours can be tailored to what you want to see and experience.
If you’re unsure, then let us help you. We can devise a tour that takes in your interests and favoured sights. Leave it to us and we’ll slot in a few secret places off the well-trodden paths.