Frequently asked questions
We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and organised these into four sections below (general conference questions; registration questions; travel questions, and accommodation questions).
General conference questions
1. Where is the conference being held?
The main conference venue is Perth Concert Hall. This is where Plenary talks, the poster session, some breakout sessions and lunches will be held. The main reception desk will also be located here and will be available for delegates who have questions.
A location map of this venue can be found here.
There are also breakout sessions in, Perth Museum and Art Gallery (located next door to Perth Concert Hall) and The Royal George Hotel within a 5 minute walk of Perth Concert Hall).
2. What are the dates of the conference?
The conference is from Sunday 4th October to Thursday 8th October.
Sunday is the day of the field trips which will be leaving from Perth Concert Hall at 0830/0900 and returning between 1700 and 1800. If you would like to go on one of the field trips you must book and pay for this when you register for the conference.
Monday is the beginning of the plenary talks and sessions.
3. What social events are being held as part of the conference?
We will be hosting field tripsto different locations across Scotland which will include a visit to a local winery or distillery, a ceilidh and conference dinner. If you would like to take part in any of these events you must book and pay for them when you register for the conference.
4. Can I see a list of sessions and speakers before I arrive in Perth?
A programme for the event is currently being compiled. We will send out an email to all delegates when this is made available online.
A USB drive will also be provided when you arrive in Perth which will hold all of the abstracts accepted for the conference.
5. Can I get an invitation letter to help me apply for a visa application?
Yes. Invitation letters will be provided on request by authors who have been accepted to present papers or have otherwise been accepted to participate in sessions (i.e. accepted poster authors/session chairs).
If you wish to attend the conference but have not been accepted to present a paper or poster, you must register and pay to attend the conference prior to receiving an inviation letter.
Please contact the conference secretariat (mountains.2015.perth@uhi.ac.uk) to request an invitation letter.
Registration questions
1. Do all attendees need to register?
Yes. All attendees, whether presenting in the conference or not, must register for the event.
The deadline for registration is 31st August, however, we ask all accepted presenters – whether oral, round table or poster – to register as soon as possible to help finalise the sessions and the conference programme. The conference organisers reserve the right to remove/replace papers from the conference if presenters do not register by this date.
2. How do I register for the conference?
Registration for the conference is open. Please read the registration guidelines carefully before you start the registration process.
Registration is completed online.
3. My credit/debit card is not being accepted on PayPal, what should I do?
There are a number of things to double check first: Is all the information on your card (numbers and names) entered correctly? Is your card valid to be used on PayPal? The following is a list of cards accepted:
- Visa / Delta / Electron
- MasterCard / Eurocard
- Maestro.
Debit cards (also known as bank cards) are accepted if they have a Visa or MasterCard logo.
If you have checked all of this and are still having trouble with your card being accepted contact the Conference Secretariat (mountains.2015.perth@uhi.ac.uk) who will try and resolve this.
4. Can I pay for the conference extras when I arrive in Perth?
Due to the limited places for some of the conference extras, we will not be able to accommodate all of the delegates at each of the events. We therefore ask that delegates select and pay for all of the extras that they would like to take part in when they register for the conference.
5. Can I get a refund?
Refunds will incur a £20 administration charge. No refunds will be possible after 15th September 2015.
Travel questions
1. Will you book my flights and accommodation?
No, you must book and pay for your flights and accommodation yourself.
If you have been awarded funding you must still pay and book for your flights. The money that you were awarded will be paid to you when you attend the conference in Perth.
2. Are there any airport transfers being provided?
Yes, there is a transfer service being provided between Edinburgh airport and Perth.
If you would like to take advantage of the transfer then you must book this when you register for the conference. There is the option to book a single transfer (either Edinburgh to Perth or Perth to Edinburgh) or a return transfer (both Edinburgh to Perth and Perth to Edinburgh).
We will contact delegates who have requested an airport transfer closer to the time of the conference to get their flight details so we can confirm the time and number of transfers.
Public transport between Edinburgh and Perth is regular and a similar price to the transfer we are offering, but please note this may not be a direct service and you may need to change.
If you are arriving to Scotland via another airport there will not be a transfer service and you will need to organise the internal travel yourself.
3. I am leaving on Friday, will there be an airport transfer put on then?
If enough delegates request a transfer service for Friday then a service will be provided. We will contact delegates who have requested an airport transfer closer to the time of the conference to get their flight details so we can confirm the time and number of transfers.
Accommodation questions
1. I only have a limited budget, where are the cheapest places to stay in Perth?
We have provided a list of hotels which have a special booking rate for the conference.
This list, however, is not exhaustive. There are a number of Bed & Breakfast (B & B)/Guest House and other accommodation options in Perth which you can search for via the Visit Scotland website. This will provide a range of accommodation to fit different budgets. We have also included other links to cheaper accommodation in Perth on our accommodation page
2. I would like to extend my stay in Scotland, should I book accommodation in advance?
Yes. Although you will be out of the ‘peak’ tourist season, accommodation in different parts of the country can still get booked up.
We highly recommend extending your stay in Scotland, if you are able to as early autumn can be a lovely time to be in Scotland.
You can find out more information about extending your stay here.
VisitScotland have also provided a conference delegate newsletter - 'Take Time Out to Discover Scotland!'