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Original content on this web page was created by students enrolled in the journalism study abroad course "Travel Reporting: England and Scotland Off the Beaten Path" in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University. Students immersed themselves in English and Scottish culture for two weeks while also creating original content for multiple platforms including social media, print, audio, broadcast, photo, and online. We hope you enjoy this video and all the original content.
Inspired by Atlas Obscura, MTSU journalism students told stories about not only the iconic sites in England and Scotland, but also the places and people that adventurous travelers find only when they take the road less traveled. This group of talented and engaged students went off the beaten path in and around England and Scotland. If you travel to England or Scotland, we hope we inspire you to discover this beautiful city in a most unique way.
Off the Beaten Path continues. Join us as we engage the world. Here's to the next adventure! - Dr. Christine Eschenfelder
England and Scotland From our Perspective:
A Photo Travel Journal
Reflection by Elise Sandlin
I'm already missing the UK. When we all joked about "missing our plane" to stay, I really meant it. This travel abroad trip came at a time in my life where I needed new perspective in a new place with new people. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.I've always dreamed about going to London, England, and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this trip. However, I didn't expect the camaraderie and cultural immersion that I would experience along the way.
Dr. E and Dan have a gift for letting their students enjoy another country and all it has to offer without shoving the work down our throats so much that it becomes too stressful to really experience where we are. I loved the stories I got to work on, as well as being in front of the camera for one of the first times as a journalism student, but I was also able to soak in the culture and enjoy the experiences the country had to offer.
The Hub
Photo by Roni Portzen
This tall gothic spire is a public arts and events building - the highest point in central Edinburgh, at the top of the Royal Mile
Photo edited by TJ Myers
To my surprise, I loved Scotland even more than I loved England. Edinburgh, Scotland, is a journey back in time, with its cobblestone streets and the timeless castle overlooking the city from the mountaintop. The Scottish Highlands, a breathtaking mountain range about an hour from Edinburgh, was definitely a favorite exploration of mine. I love hiking and heights, so wandering into the mountains for a beautiful ocean view was so special.
In multiple places we visited, I often thought "this building has been around longer than my entire country." Immersing myself into this kind of history was such a moving experience. Locals along the way, like Andy in the Pub in England or Victor, our tour guide, in Scotland, among countless others, from waitresses to pedestrians we passed on the street for a few minutes, all made us feel like we belonged as part of their UK family. It's a place I could definitely see myself going back to (maybe moving to) one day.
I'm sad the trip is over but the memories, friendships, and experiences I will treasure forever.
Reflection by Cameron Eschenfelder
Although my time in the United Kingdom was brief, I enjoyed every minute of the trip. Looking back, I remember the grand structures of England like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, as well as the countryside and cobbled streets of ancient Scotland. It’s funny how different seeing a picture of a place is as opposed to visiting; And how after visiting, you might see photos of the place and go “Hey, I’ve been there.” There’s a unique
sense of home once you’ve actually experienced a city first hand, and I believe I’ve achieved that feeling for London and Edinburugh. Already I find my social media pages blasting posts about traveling the world and I can connect with some of the images. Memories are vitally important to life, so here are some of my favorite or just vivid memories of London and Edinburgh, respectively: Walking down the street in England for the first timeHaving high tea in the large British museum’s fancy cafe
Seeing all the shops that differ from America such as Tesco or TK-Maxx.
Sitting on the top deck of a large red bus and seeing iconic sites in London
Taking photos by Big Ben, experiencing massive Cathedrals with beautiful art. Taking a day trip to Bath and the Roman Baths and noting how I should return, visiting StoneHenge, visiting Buckingham Palace, drinking at a pub with local Londoners. Meeting an old man and talking with him about traveling the world and his favorite memories and Going to Kings Cross Station (which was very different from the movie).
My first glimpse of the Scottish lands and walking down the cobbled roads in wonder and seeing the school that inspired Harry Potter. Meeting Victor, our delightful tour guide, meeting Greyfrairs Bobby and rubbing his nose. Going anywhere in Scotland and being met with a smile. Going on a wild bus ride through the High and Lowlands, meeting some local Highland Coos, visiting a remote whiskey distillery. Meeting up with our friend Victor for a last tour and goodbye.
While some people could visit the United Kingdom, I believe I truly experienced it. Right now, I could fly back to either country and be met by familiar streets and stores–but more than that–familiar faces and people I would consider my friends; I consider creating stories like these
as truly living and I thank the trip to Europe for helping me experience that.
Reflection by Karli Sutton
Wow. How to describe an indescribable experience? This summer I had the once in a lifetime experience of being able to travel to the United Kingdom with the intention of immersing myself in vibrant culture and coming home with a multitude of stories to tell, and I believe that I achieved that tenfold. Where do I even begin? Of course given that this was my first experience outside of the country, I was rightfully nervous before we left. However, as soon as we landed across the pond and I was thrown head first into the bustling cities of London and Edinburgh, I immediately felt at home. Navigating felt like second nature, and the luxury of everything being so close knit made exploring all the more exciting, especially given the freedom that we had throughout the entire trip. What was organized for us though was full of rich history and exciting sights to see, and I already know that these are memories that I will be holding with me for the rest of my life.
I believe that as a journalist it’s already within my nature to want to search and explore the world, allowing for myself to soak up as much knowledge as possible, and I’m so glad that this trip was the start of my ever traveling journey. From a young age asAmericans we are exposed to so many different cultures and ways of life that the idea of anything different seems, for lack of a better term, so foreign. The most we see of other countries is what is expressed to us on our screens, and now having been somewhere
myself I can say without a shadow of a doubt that we are never being fed the full picture. That’s why I believe this trip and the basis of our study is so important: to find and tell the stories that aren’t being told, so that those who can’t travel there can still understand and experience what the world has to offer in its fullest. I will never forget the sweet smell of London, the beautiful sights of Bath, the fresh air in the Scottish Highlands, and the deep history of Edinburgh. All I can think of for the future is when I would be able to go back.
Christine, I want to thank you so dearly for this experience as a whole, and
everything that you did in order to provide it. Thank you for your patience and guidance, as well as your non-stop commitment to all of us no matter the cost, you truly are a wonderful educator and provider.
Reflection by Marley Hughes
I had a keen interest in the United Kingdom going back to my many viewings of Mary Poppins in my early childhood years, up to my teenage years when I became interested in the nation’s government, media, and customs. I remember joining the Air Force JROTC unit at my high school after seeing unrelated videos of the British Royal Guard online, just an example of the impact my interest in Britain has had on my life. In the autumn of 2022, a tumultuous period of my life which included transferring to Middle Tennessee State University after having graduated from a community college I had studied at for years prior, I learned of a special opportunity that pertained to my major in Journalism. It promised to take journalism students like me “Off the Beaten Path” in England and Scotland, just like it had done for other students in the summer of 2022. It would be no question as to whether I would have liked to be part of this opportunity, but it was now a question of what England and Scotland would be like.
All I knew up until the day we flew out was that we would be staying in London and Edinburgh for a few nights each, all the while we would be taking day trips to other parts of England and Scotland. I had no clue beyond that framing as to what these places would be like beyond what I already knew about the United Kingdom, and what culture shock I would be facing once I arrived. When we arrived at Heathrow Airport in London, I was fatigued from several hours of flight and no sleep, but even then, I had the accomplished feeling of being in a nation’s capital at all, let alone a capital city as grand as London. It was then, for the nights we were in London, I discovered there was not any culture shock at all, I was home. My fondest memory being in London would have to be the minor day trip we took to the Camden Town neighborhood, which turned out to be a hotbed of counterculture in what was otherwise a stoic city.
I loved London, but the moment we stepped foot into Edinburgh, I knew what was more like at home to me. Helped by the daytrip to the Scottish Highlands, I discovered the amount of culture Edinburgh had in comparison to London, how Edinburgh seemed more genuine than a place more touristy like London. In fact, it seemed every village in the country we stopped by during our day trips felt more like home than those two cities. They reminded me of home in a way, which was strange given this trip to the United Kingdom is the furthest I have ever been from home. I have been back home for some time, but it is not the same home as those British localities were; I want to go home.
Reflection by Kira Fullington
Studying abroad is something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do during my college career. As I got my first passport, walked into the airport for the first time, and boarded onto my first plane ride I knew it was the best decision I could have ever made. I had created a whole montage of ideas in my head of what traveling across the country would be like, and this trip exceeded every one of my expectations. Traveling to London and Scotland was not only very eye opening but it somehow felt like home. Public Transportation was something very new to me, but by the time we got back to the states I missed it. Learning how to navigate through the tube was interesting, yet exciting. Along with transportation, I was most curious about currency. Not only did I come home with several British Pounds, it was interesting to see how their economical system works. The British Pound was something I was not familiar with, but it turned out to be its own separate history lesson that I am still learning about. The city of London was busy yet so amazing. Each historic site brought something new to learn, a beautiful view, and even some sparkly jewels. Parts of London as well as Scotland felt like the busy cities around us in the United States, full of people and busy streets.
Going beyond these busy streets was by far my favorite part of our trip. An hour-long ride to the Highlands gave the biggest sense of home, surrounded by mountains and my favorite part… the hairy coos. There was an atmosphere in Scotland that gave a southern charm feel. The people were so nice and inviting into their homeland. Along our journey through the Highlands of Scotland we not only experienced an eventful hike down a large mountain, we got to visit a small town. It reminded me of the town I grew up in, small and full of community.I could write about the trip for days on end, and I feel like I did not even cover half of it. On this trip I was able to experience so many firsts in my life with the best group of people. I learned and tried to surround myself within the culture, even trying Haggis.
My advice after traveling abroad to anyone would be… Try all the food, get to know the culture, and take a moment to appreciate what is around you.
Reflection by Roni Portzen
What an amazing trip. I have always had a passion for traveling and this study abroad trip gave me the opportunity to visit places that have been on my bucket list since I was little. Looking back at this trip, I realize now how special it truly was. I made so many memories that I know I will remember forever. We had such an amazing group on this trip and I know that we will forever be friends due to this trip. The people were amazing, the food was fantastic, the sites and culture were absolutely remarkable. I am so grateful for this opportunity to travel outside of the States but also grateful for the people I was able to travel with.This trip truly made me realize how important traveling is. We were able to experience new sights, foods, and meet new people. I am usually someone who doesn’t like to talk to new people just because of my anxiety but this trip really made me open up and I made so many new friends throughout the trip.
One of my favorite parts throughout the trip was all of the sightseeing we got to do. We learned so much about the history of each place and got to visit so many different museums. I found the day trip to Bath to be very interesting and it was really cool to see the town. I also loved that we got to tour the castles and learn so much about their history. It amazes me how beautiful the architecture is in each city and it really makes me wish that we still built buildings that way because it’s just so gorgeous. One thing that really stood out to me and that I really enjoyed was our guided tour by Victor. He had so much history and knowledge about Edinburgh and he was so much fun to be around. I also loved how he took our personal interests and made sure he addressed each of us.
This trip was more than anything I could have expected. It really brought to my attention just how much I want to travel throughout my life and how important it is to experience different cultures. I don't think I can really put into words what this trip means to me and how much fun I have every single day. It really changed how I view the world and the way I will tell and find stories in the future. I am sad to be home and I plan on going back to experience it all again. I suggest to anyone that has any interest in traveling and wanting to be a journalist to take this course with Christine and Dan Eschenfelder because they have truly made me a better journalist and person on this trip.
Reflection by Ryan Martinolich
Ten days seems like a long time to spend overseas away from home, but I beg to differ. Whether you are venturing off by yourself to new places or have a good group of like-minded adventurers, there is no such thing as too much time spent on your journey. Even without being able to partake in my favorite pass-time, golf, in England and Scotland, I could find myself spending weeks to a few months traversing parts of the British Isles. There is just so much to explore, to enjoy, and to be entertained by across the pond. However, given our time frame, we maximized in seeing all the wonders and pleasures into our trip through London and Edinburgh that we could. The Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, riding double-decker buses, Castle Edinburgh, scotch tastings in the highlands, watching the highland games, and standing on the grounds of The Old Course of St. Andrews is more than anyone could’ve asked to enjoy in our stay, along with all the memories that were made along the way.
You could spend a month in London, and I don’t think you could enjoy all that it has to offer. Theatres, The British Museum, numerous double-decker bus tours, canal tours, historical sites and architecture, and so much more, there is unlimited potential in what your experience could be. The Tower of London was a spectacle, seeing the Traitors’ Gate, The Crown Jewels, and learning the history of those who were kept in The Tower itself was incredible. While London was great, the day trip outside of London was just as amazing. Witnessing the marvel Stonehenge, seeing the unusual and mysterious structure itself was unreal. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, I don’t think aliens had anything to do with it, but it is interesting to think of its complexity and how it came to be given how ancient it truly is. How do you follow that up, you go to Bath and see the Roman bathhouses and walk along the hot springs and expose yourself to their supposed healing powers. The smell of sulfur from the mineral water, the steam and heat coming off the spring, along with the remnants of the ancient bathhouse, transports you to a time in history you didn’t know you wanted to experience.
I had previously visited Scotland on a golf excursion after high school graduation with my family, with me and my dad enjoying eight rounds of golf across Scotland, and of course one of them being The Old Course. This was the first time I had done just about everything but golf in Scotland. The closest I had been to the city of Edinburgh was golfing at Gullane Golf Club, about 20 miles northeast of Edinburgh. I had never experienced Castle Edinburgh and its sites and features, such as the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Mons Meg, a nearly eight-ton cannon that sits atop the castle walls, certainly a frightening sight and sound for the enemy. Walking the Royal Mile with Victor was a treat, especially getting to enjoy the Greyfriars Bobby, something that I had never heard of or knew the story behind the terrier that guarded his owner’s grave. Another treat I found myself wanting more of was at Glengoyne Distillery. I usually enjoy bourbon as my choice liquor, but Glengoyne’s scotch was a great change of pace, as both their 10- and 15-year-old whisky offered so much flavor despite being low in proof. I could have spent an entire afternoon trying their entire selection, except their 50-year aged whisky, since that bottle, converted from pounds to dollars, would be $29,000! Just one dram might have put me out of budget.
Our day in St. Andrews was incredible. Watching Scottish highland games in Scotland at St. Andrews, just a couple hundred yards The Old Course was a spectacle. Seeing athletes competing in the caber toss, the stone throw, hammer throw, and other competitions and having the games’ backdrop being the oldest golf courses was surreal. What also adds excitement is when you’re standing in the middle of the competition grounds, seeing the athletes toss these rather heavy instruments as far as they can, without breaking a sweat, then watching said item fall within yards of you, and feeling the vibration in the ground as the item that was thrown comes crashing down. Following those experiences is tough, until you spend just a few minutes at The Old Course. Now as I said, I have already had the privilege and pleasure of playing on St. Andrews, walking across the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole, and enjoying the golf course firsthand. Having said that, being there a second time was unbelievable, as very few people can say they’ve been to the grounds of The Old Course more than once. For a guy like me, it’s like standing on consecrated ground, it’s a holy place. All of it just gets added to the bank of memories I have that I hope I can add to if and when I get ten more days, or longer, on the British Isles
