At long last we exited the motorway just as we crossed the border from England into Scotland, and the coaches were soon cutting across rolling countryside which gradually changed from pastures to open woodland and then into thick forest. After another half an hour winding through the thick forest the coaches abruptly slowed down and turned left up a side road for about five hundred metres before we came to a halt in front of a large pair of iron gates, on either side stretching out as far as the eye could see were eight foot high brick walls. Slowly the gates opened and the coaches drove through. Dave looked round at us asking if we were impressed, Callum spoke for all of us when he said that he didn’t know if he was impressed or intimidated. Nodding in agreement Dave confirmed that he understood, after all he had felt the same way when he’d first arrived but all would be explained during the welcome meeting. Facing the front again he left us in peace to admire the passing scenery, for several miles the thick woods continued before slowly thinning to open woodland. Then finally we could see our destination, a huge castle and beyond it a large long lake with a wooded island rising from the middle of the lake. In the distance the surrounding forests met the shores of the lake creating a typically Scottish idyllic setting.

The castle was gloomily imposing, four stories high with turreted towers at each corner, and a grand entrance at the front with a sweeping gravel driveway bordered at regular intervals by life size marble statues of nude males in athletic poses. I don’t know if it was just my imagination but the features of some of the statues looked vaguely familiar, I made a mental note to myself to examine them later.

The coaches slowed to a halt in front of the entrance and we disembarked (somewhat stiffly) and collected our luggage before slowly congregating in the main lobby. Once assembled Tom clapped his hands to gain everyone’s attention then informed the students that their dormitories were to be found on the first and second floors and they could choose which beds to occupy. Turning to us members of staff he told us we had a small dormitory of our own up on the third floor sufficiently separated from the students to afford privacy and peace during what would probably prove to be a rowdy experience, above all students were prohibited from entering. Tom told everyone to take their luggage to their dormitories, unpack, freshen up and meet back down here in 30 minutes where we would be introduced to the staff and a briefing session would be held.

We looked at each other, took hold of our bags and followed Tom up the grand spiral staircase, along with sixty students all jostling trying to get up the stairs first to bag the best beds. Leaving the students behind on the second floor we climbed the stairs to the third floor and I had a chance to admire the starkly minimalist decor which complemented the dark wood flooring and skirting boards. At the top