The Burn 2010

Ruined tower

Where can you find a pyramid, an all-American pioneer cabin and a ruined tower within walking distance of one another?

Answer: The Burn. A historic stately home situated in the Scottish Highlands which, since the 1940s, has been used as an educational retreat for students from all corners of the globe.

Our trip to The Burn is like going back in time – forget iPhones and Facebook – treasure hunts and tea in the library are the order of the day here.

As well as the pyramid, The Burn’s grounds hold a variety of adventurous possibilities. After you have conquered the labyrinth and survived the underground tunnel why not make like Bill Murray and try a little ghost-busting – The Burn is rumoured to be haunted by a few of its former residents!

The only spirits in here are the 70 proof variety!

After enjoying a carbolicious meal, there is nothing better than relaxing next to the fire with a bottle of wine, courtesy of The Burn’s own little bijoux bar.

Then come the games and the FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

For a taste of The Burn experience check out our video.

The Burn: a place for students to grow and learn and bond next to a roaring fire in a beautifully restored country manor. The estate comprises a 190 acre park and woodland on the banks of the River North Esk, near Fettercairn, north Scotland.

Walking in a winter wonderland!

Reflections by Nan Yin

I started to look forward to the Burn journey just after Derek showed me the Burn website. In the picture on the home page, the little small antique house stands in beautiful green and light red plants, which caught my heart instantly. That what I imagined about the Highlands, peaceful and beautiful.

Then I couldn’t wait to tell my friends in China about the journey, showing them the picture, and expressing my anticipation.

Finally, after long days of waiting, the day came. We left for the Burn by mini bus on 2nd February, 2010, when it snowed in the morning, what a cold forecast!

After about two hours’ driving, we arrived the destination. Although the house and the scene outside in the late winter were totally different from what I had seen in the autumnal picture, the historic inside settings of the house and the hospitable Burn members made up for the little bleak scene soon.

The warm fireplace, the family pictures, the old bathroom… all of these attracted me who was visiting a foreign retreat for the first time.

The short hiking in the afternoon reminded me of the Scottish movie scene I watched in China. The slight steep cliff, the ravine, the colourful water, the slushy narrow road, the strong wind and the sheep reminded me that I was in the Highlands of Scotland now. And running through the dark tunnel gave a perfect ending to the short exploring journey.

Then I spent two full, exciting and tired days in the Burn. The food in the Burn was so brilliant – I cannot forget the black pudding, sausages (I think most of us were a little surprised to find two kinds of sausages for breakfast), and the plentiful tea times (although I really preferred to use chopsticks not a fork to eat the pasta). It seemed that we kept eating through the whole day there.

The other thing impressed me deeply was the team building games the tutors organized, which made me really feel closer to my foreign classmates. I actively participated in Guess Who, Quiz, Treasure Hunt, as well as other games. I still remember my classmates’ splendid performances in Guess Who and Guess the Song too – some of them are really talented performers, capable of making everyone laugh.

The Burn visit has ended, but the wonderful memories will never disappear in my mind. It’s a journey full of Fun, Fun, Fun!