Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 26 > Doors Open Days
~~ Doors Open Days: Nosey is nice! by Abigail Daly ~~
Every September, over 1000 buildings and archaeological sites throughout Scotland open their doors to the public. Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month are free events, which take in everything from canoe-trips exploring underwater archaeology to tours around ultra-modern arts venues.
But what makes the events so special is that they are mostly run by volunteers. Last year over 4000 people gave up their time for free, and the numbers are growing all the time. It may be a cliche that the Scots are friendly, but Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month seem to bear it out!
Buildings and sites will be opening up in many rural locations - in fact every local authority area will have something happening - so visitors to even the most remote places have a good chance of finding an event.
The types of events and buildings are also incredibly varied: everything from gold-panning and cycling, to distilleries and lifeboat stations. Families will find plenty to occupy themselves with special children's
programmes running and hands-on activities that will get young ones involved.
The two events are part of the European Heritage Days initiative, which sees over 20 million people in 49 countries visit cultural and heritage sites for free every September.
It aims to bring communities closer together through opening up sites normally closed to the public and making information about our shared heritage freely available. So remember: if you are travelling in Europe this September, find out what European Heritage Days are running in your area.
Highlights are hard to select simply because there is so much in the programme! However, the following list is a good selection, which I hope will give a good measure of the range of events on offer.
A great family day out has to be "The Iron Giants' challenge", at Strone near Dunoon (Saturday 15th September, 1-4pm). You will be able to try your hand at surviving during the Iron Age using the tools and equipment of the time and listen to storytellers' tall tales of Giants.
Portpatrick Lifeboat Station in Dumfries and Galloway was established 130 years ago to serve the stormy waters around the Southwest of Scotland (Saturday 29th-Sunday 30th September, 12.30-4.00pm).
Sited in the picturesque Portpatrick, now made famous thanks to BBC drama series 'Two Thousand Acres of Sky', the station will be open for you to have a look round and even, weather permitting, get on the 'Mary Irene Millar' boat herself! Meet the crew and find out about the station's history.
An excavation will take place at Culzean Country Park, Ayrshire (10th-16th September, 9.30am-4.30pm), in search of the home of the freed slave Scipio Kennedy who lived in the castle grounds.
Scipio Kennedy lived with the Kennedy family at Culzean during the 1700s, first as a slave and then as a paid servant. The excavation will search for evidence of his home and visitors to the country park are welcome to watch the excavation and ask questions!
The Leadhills community in South Lanarkshire has gone one better and is opening its whole village (Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September)! This picturesque, historical town owes its existence to the rich mineral deposits in the areas.
With the earliest recorded mining in the 13th century, gold has been panned and lead mined for centuries. Many buildings will be open throughout the weekend offering activities, refreshments and entertainment.
East Lothian Archaeology Week (8th-17th September) and Highland Archaeology Fortnight (from 29th September) are running hundreds of events, which include excavation open days, exhibitions, talks, guided tours of ancient sites and historic villages, hands-on family activities and even whisky-tasting! For more information, see the full Doors Open Days programme.
Abigail Daly
Outreach Projects Coordinator
Scottish Civic Trust
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