Want to peek inside some Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland doors this weekend?

The 2013 Highland Doors Open Days programme gets underway in Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland this weekend (Saturday 14th September) with a total of 9 venues in Cromarty, Easter Ross, Wester Ross and Sutherland opening their doors to the public for free visits and special activities. 

Helen Smith of Rowan Tree Consulting, who coordinates the Highland programme on behalf of The Highland Council, said: “Anyone looking for an interesting day or half-day out this weekend will be spoilt for choice on Saturday, with tried-and-tested favourites appearing on the programme alongside buildings taking part for the first time.   Whatever your age, this is an opportunity which only comes round one a year, so why not make the most of it?  There is a chance to have a great experience exploring four building in the historic and picturesque burgh of Cromarty.  Or you could head over to Gairloch to visit Gairloch Heritage Museum and have a go at spinning and carding before going on to Inverasdale for fantastic exhibitions about the old primary school and the Russian Arctic Convoys,not to mention some delicious home baking.  Or why not combine Edderton Old Parish Church and the Kyle of Sutherland Heritage Centre which is housed in a historic church where there are old churches and some enigmatic Pictish stones to admire? Combine these with a trip to Ballone Castle and you’ll be stepping back into the intriguing landscape of Pictish and medieval times. ”

Buildings opening their doors this Saturday are:

• Ballone Castle, Portmahomack: Lachie and Annie Stewart spent six years restoring the castle into a family home.  There will be guided tours throughout the day.

• Cromarty Courthouse Museum, Cromarty, with its museum, cells and exercise yard for prisoners

• Cromarty Lighthouse, Cromarty, now a University of Aberdeen centre for marine research

•  East Church, Cromarty, recently restored and dating back to medieval and post-reformation times

• Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum, Cromarty:  where you can find out about the life and work of this famous 19th century son of Cromarty and enjoy some beautiful small gardens

•  Edderton Old Church, Edderton, which has changed very little since 1821. Look out for the 9th century Pictish Edderton cross slab in the graveyard and the “Edderton Ark” inside

• Kyle of Sutherland Heritage Centre, Ardgay, housed in the former parish church with its unique ceiling, interesting grave slabs and Pictish grave marker, and exhibition about the area’s history and wildlife

• Gairloch Heritage Museum, Gairloch – where you can find out about the area’s fascinating history,  enjoy the last day of Ed Duncan’s stunning photographic exhibition, and try your hand at carding and spinning

• Inverasdale School, near Gairloch – this Victorian former primary school now houses a fascinating display about more than 100 years of schooling as well as a wonderful exhibition designed by the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum Project with memorabilia, map and artefacts offering a unique picture of the involvement of the armed forces and the community in the vital convoys to Russia during WWII.  Home baking will be available too.

Highland Doors Open Days continues for the last two weekends in September with events in  Inverness, Caithness, Badenoch & Strathspey, and Lochaber.  For further information, look out for copies of the Highland Doors Open Days programme in libraries, service points and visitor information centres or go to /  Doors Open Days take place throughout Scotland and is part of European Heritage Days.

Full details of all the events are available from The Highland Council’s Website  /