Heriot Watt Uni Holidays/Vacations

I was looking at the HW term dates so that I know when I could go away for holidays. After each consolidation week, there's a big gap before the exams and assessments. Could I go away during those times or am I supposed to stay and study? Thanks.

I assume you're looking at https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/apply/uk/academic-calendar.htm
I think you're misreading the calendar there. The "consolidation weeks" come in the middle of the teaching dates. I suspect they're a similar concept to what some universities call "reading weeks".
So in the "September Semester", teaching runs from 9th September to 29th November, with the consolidation week coming part way through. 29th November is a Friday, and the exam and assessment period starts the following Monday (2nd December).
Similarly, the "January Semester" has teaching from 13th January to 4th April, with the consolidation week again coming part way through that period. After 4th April, there's a two-week break (which includes Easter) followed immediately by the April exam and assessment period.
So to answer your question -- you'll be expected to stay and study because those periods are used for teaching.

I was looking at the HW term dates so that I know when I could go away for holidays. After each consolidation week, there's a big gap before the exams and assessments. Could I go away during those times or am I supposed to stay and study? Thanks.

Hello, thank you so much for your question
The dates for the academic year can be found here- Academic calendar - Heriot-Watt University (hw.ac.uk)
The Welcome Week is the Fresher's Week, which I would definitely recommend being there for!
The parts which say 'consolidation week' are Reading weeks, In these weeks classes are stopped, but you are expected to catch up on the semester's work and complete missing assignments. I would recommend staying at university during these weeks, or at least for the first one in the first semester!
The dates for the end of the year are related to your specific course and exam dates. Your lecturers will know more about these in the second semester.
Hope that clears a few bits up for you! Let me know if you have any more questions.
All the best,
Lucy
3rd year languages student