Please join us in Scotland’s beautiful capital of Edinburgh for a weekend of fun and fellowship, celebrating our mutual connection with the Law School.
The 2014 PCLES Conference will take place in Edinburgh from Friday, 27th June, to Sunday, 29th June. There will be kilts, bagpipes, and of course, whisky aplenty!
There will also be a special academic program to learn about Scotland’s unique political and legal system at a time when it is considering whether or not it wishes to remain a part of the United Kingdom.
We are also arranging an optional extension program for those who would like to extend their trip in order to experience Scotland’s rural beauty. This trip will leave Edinburgh Monday, 30th June, and return late in the evening on Wednesday, 2nd July.
*REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*
Please contact Alan Bates (abates@monckton.com) with any questions regarding this year’s PLES event in Edinburgh.
Friday, 27th June:
7:00 - 10:30 PM: Arrival reception with whisky cocktails and canapes. Meet and greet your fellow alums, and mingle with old and new friends…
Saturday, 28th June:
Morning: Walking tour (including a visit to
Edinburgh Castle)
Lunch: Central Edinburgh restaurant
From 3 PM: Depart Edinburgh by coach to visit a Scotch whisky distillery, followed by a traditional Scottish grand dinner in a castle in the East Lothian countryside
Sunday, 29th June:
Late morning:
Option 1: Academic programme
Panel discussion on the topic: “Constitutionalism, Legitimacy and Rights - Common European visions versus national values and experience”
Panelists will include serving and recent members of the judiciary
Option 2: Cultural visit
Visit to the National Gallery of Scotland
Noon: Buffet lunch - Central Edinburgh restaurant
Optional add-on activity:
Afternoon: (For those who can stay long enough - not included in conference price)
Boat trip to visit Inchcolm Island and its ruined abbey
*REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*
Please contact Alan Bates (abates@monckton.com) with any questions regarding this year’s PLES event.
Conference Fee
£310 per person (£260 for children under 16 years of age)
£285 per personfor recent graduates (Class of 2010 or after) and their guests.
Please reserve your hotel accommodation as soon as possible.
* REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*
Optional extension programme*
We have organized a 3-day extension programme to visit Skye, the Highlands, and Loch Ness, using our own private tour bus and guide.
Day 1 - Monday 30th June
Leave Edinburgh in the early morning and make our first stop at the picturesque conservation village of Luss, on the “Bonny, Bonny” banks of Loch Lomond.
Traveling north via Tyndrum, we pass over the atmospheric Rannoch Moor before enjoying time to walk and admire the dramatic Glencoe Valley, site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan.
After lunch in the Fort William area, we pause for photos at Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then stop to admire Glen Garry and the stunning Five Sisters of Kintail mountain range.
This day’s journey ends in the charming village of Portree, on the Isle of Skye, where we check into our hotel (where we will be spending two nights).
Day 2 - Tuesday 1st July
After breakfast, we depart Portree for a full day’s touring - options include a visit to Talisker distillery and Dunvegan Castle, or (if the group prefers) a trip to the island of Uig and a stop to visit the unique Black Houses, ancient dwellings of the Scottish Highlanders.
We continue our journey where we can view Duntulum Castle, take photos of Kilt Rock, and perhaps enjoy a walk at the Lealt Falls.
Our day ends with the opportunity to admire the Old Man of Storr, before we return to Portree.
Day 3 - Wednesday 2nd July
We commence our descent via the much-admired Eilean Donan Castle, backdrop for the movie “Highlander” (interior closed in winter), then move on to the pretty loch-side village of Fort Augustus for lunch and views of Loch Ness.
Our journey south continues over Laggan and the Grampian mountains with our last stop, for refreshments, in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, before returning to Edinburgh.
You will need to arrange to spend the night of Wednesday, 2nd July, in Edinburgh (or transfer to Glasgow if preferred).
*If you wish to take up this optional extension programme, please contact Alan Bates GL’02 as soon as possible: abates@monckton.com.
Costs will depend on the number of people, but like to be around £400 per person, including two nights’ hotel accommodation.
*REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*
Main conference hotel:
Nira Caledonia Hotel (4 star hotel, central Edinburgh)
(We have reserved the whole hotel for PCLES,
Nira Caledonia - Edinburgh
but it is quite a small hotel and will book out quickly. If there are no rooms left, please reserve at the additional hotel shown further below, or at another hotel of your choice.)
Room rates (guaranteed only for bookings made before 17 March 2014):
Single: £125.00
Petite Double: £170.00
Executive Double: £190.00
Suite: £210.00
Jacuzzi Suite: £240.00
To reserve, please email reservations@niracaledonia.com or call Emma Dickson on +44 (0)131 225 2720, quoting reference “PCLES.”
Additional hotel:
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel (4 star hotel, central Edinburgh)
Room rates (guaranteed only for bookings made before 16 April 2014):
Single: £200.00
Double/Twin occupancy: £210
To reserve, please call +44 (0)131 441 0423, or reserve via the website, quoting reference “PLES.”
Other options:
Accommodation in Edinburgh in late June is in very high demand. You are advised to make reservations as soon as possible. Good value options are available through Expedia and other hotel booking websites. For anyone who prefers a very low cost “youth hostel” option, we recommend Budget Backpackers: http://budgetbackpackers.com.
