Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes Courses and Classes

SWRI Study Tours - A Home From Home

The Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) offer many different courses and classes. SWRI study tours are a great way to meet new people, travel as part of a group and to have an adventure with friends. They operate on an annual basis, both abroad and to other parts of the UK and are open to any of the 25,000 SWRI members throughout Scotland.

Many SWRI members of all ages and circumstances attend the Study groups every year such as avid study tour enthusiast Molly Fleming who is a member of the Berwickshire Federation and has attended every Study Tour since 1997 visiting places such as Vienna, Scandinavia, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands and York.

SWRI Study Tours

Molly says, “SWRI Study tours offer me the opportunity to constantly meet new people and catch up with old acquaintances. Unusually this year I am the only member from Berwickshire attending the tour, this isn’t a problem as I know more than half the participants anyway. Once you have tried a study tour you are likely to repeat the experience.”

“Study tours offer the opportunity for me to go on holiday outwith my family and meet enthusiastic people like myself. The tours are very well organised and offer good value for money, I would recommend going on a study tour to anyone with a little time and a sense of adventure; they will have a thoroughly enjoyable experience whilst meeting many different characters with one common purpose, the enjoyment of an interesting holiday.”

May Addison a widow from Ayrshire and member of the SWRI for 20 years shares her thoughts on the study tours, “As I live on my own the study tours offer me the perfect opportunity to get away on holiday. Every detail of the trips organisation has been taken into account, you couldn’t ask for a better holiday.”

“Study tours offer me the chance to get away and meet like minded people in similar circumstances to myself, whether they are newcomers to the trip or regulars that I have previously met, it is a great opportunity to make new friends and visit new places.”

May continues, “The trips are interesting, entertaining and well organised, featuring outings to many places of local interest. The beauty of a study tour is that there is always something on to keep one occupied and new people to share the experiences with.”

The 2006 Study Tour commences on Sunday 21 May where 48 SWRI members will set off for Ireland visiting both the North and the South, taking in both local and historical sites and the opportunity to meet up with members of sister organisations such as the Irish Countrywomen's Association, also a member society of Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).

The SWRI encourages members to participate in many different activities such as attending classes, events or simply to enjoy the friendship of fellow members at monthly meetings. If you are interested in finding out more study tours and all of the activities available to SWRI members call the National Headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724