Chance for a peek behind the scenes in September

The Highland Doors Open Days programme for 2013 has just been launched with a mix of tried-and-tested favourites and new places to visit this year. 

There’s a total of 34 venues in the Highland programme – in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness, Badenoch & Strathspey and Lochaber - over four weekends in September starting on Saturday 7th September. 

Venues in the spotlight include historic and beautiful churches, an observatory, a sheriff court, a castle, a lighthouse, the award-winning Highland Archive and Registration Centre (Inverness), Maggie’s Highlands (Inverness) and some marvellous museums and heritage centres in Inverness, Ross & Cromarty, Caithness and Sutherland.  

Anyone interested in historic steam railways has a treat in store, with the Aviemore engine shed of the Strathspey Steam Railway throwing its doors open on Saturday 28th September for free guided tours, bookable in advance and suitable for anyone of 5 years of age or over.  And there’s an extra bonus in the shape of discounted travel on the steam railway that day.

Other must-sees making their first appearance in the Highland programme in 2013 include Abernethy Old Kirk, Nethy Bridge, with its unusual “horseshoe” pews; the  fascinating MAKAR workshop near Inverness where ecological buildings are designed and manufactured; Dunolly House (Inverness) which was built at the eastern-most tip of the Caledonian Canal in the early 19th century for engineers inspecting the building of the canal; guided tours of the Caledonian Canal’s  impressive flights of  locks at Muirtown  (Inverness) and Neptune’s Staircase (Banavie); and – a first for the Highlands – a virtual tour of the ambitious new Inverness Campus development.

For those who enjoy stories of turbulent times in the Highlands, the costumed re-enactment of stories about the Fraser clan at Wardlaw Mausoleum, Kirkhill, on Saturday 7th September should fit the bill.

Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee, Councillor Thomas Prag said: “We are delighted with the range of venues appearing in the programme this year, and we would like to thank all the local organisations and volunteers who make the programme possible. Doors Open Days events are a great opportunity to see and learn about some of the Highlands architectural and historical gems, all with free admission, and many with special tours, exhibitions, activities or music.  I’ve already highlighted a few of the buildings I want to visit asI’ve always wondered what actually goes on behind their closed doors. With a spotlight on a different Highland area each weekend, why not put together your own itinerary for some fascinating days out during September?”

Doors Open Days takes place throughout Scotland and is part of European Heritage Days.

Please see the Highland Doors Open Days programme for further details – available online at  http://www.www.highland.gov.uk/ or from local libraries, museums, service points and visitor information centres.