Over the Term 2 holidays, the PLC Pipe Band embarked on their first solo international tour, spending nearly two weeks travelling across Scotland.

The tour began in Glasgow, where the band participated in a workshop with world-class tutors at the National Piping Centre before giving their first Scottish performance at the Glasgow Women’s Library. As the UK’s only accredited museum dedicated to women’s lives, history, and achievements, the library was a fitting venue, particularly in the year of PLC’s 150th anniversary.

In the days that followed, the band witnessed a behind-the-scenes rehearsal with a top Grade 1 pipe band, enjoyed a boat cruise on the stunning Loch Lomond, performed in the picturesque grounds of Dunollie Castle, and even surprised tourists with a pop-up performance in the breathtaking Glencoe Valley.

Next, the group spent two nights in the idyllic town of Portree on the Isle of Skye, where they were invited to perform as special guests alongside the Isle of Skye Pipe Band in a street parade through the town centre. This was a real highlight for the 500-odd tourists who gathered to watch the two bands play together that evening.

After a full day exploring the Isle of Skye with acclaimed tour guide Alistair MacKay, the band returned to the mainland, spending a night in Inverness before embarking on a historical and educational tour of the Culloden Battlefield.

From Culloden, they continued south to Braemar, where they spent an important afternoon rehearsing at the Braemar Highland Games Centre, a significant landmark in the piping world. After an overnight stay in Braemar, the group made their way to Edinburgh, stopping at Balmoral Castle en route (no sightings of King Charles, though the rare appearance of Scottish sunshine was noted and appreciated).

In Edinburgh, the band took to the global stage for the first time, competing in one of the world's premier events, the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships. PLC performed exceptionally well, placing 5th overall against some of the best school bands the Northern Hemisphere has to offer. Most notably, the drum corps placed 1st, becoming the first all-girls band to be crowned United Kingdom Drumming Champions, an outstanding achievement and a testament to the band’s years of hard work and dedication.

With the competition behind them, the band enjoyed their final day in Edinburgh, taking in iconic sights such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, and capping it off with a well-earned meal of world-famous Jollibee chicken in Princes Street Gardens. A celebratory band dinner followed, with heartfelt speeches from students and teachers marking the end of an unforgettable journey.

While the long flight home was always going to be a challenge, it offered the perfect time for reflection on an extraordinary two weeks of music, culture, and lasting memories.