THE full list of Ayrshire events that will be taking place next month as part of Scotland’s annual Doors Open Days festival has been revealed.
Highlights of this year’s festival include a chance to see inside a former pub which has been repurposed as a community and exhibition space, an opportunity to visit the operating centre of a hydro electric scheme, a guided tour of Commonwealth war graves, and the chance to see inside more than a dozen of the area's churches.
All of this year’s Ayrshire events are being held on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 – the second of three weekends in which the Doors Open Days festival is taking place in cities, towns and villages across Scotland.
The Ayrshire programme is being arranged by volunteers from the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society and has received financial support from Destination Ayrshire to allow several venues which would normally charge for admission to open their doors to the public free of charge.
A total of 45 venues across Ayrshire are taking part in the 2022 festival, several for the first time.
Events and venues include the following…
North Ayrshire
A guided tour of Saltcoats themed on Captain Betsy Miller, Britain’s first female ship’s captain (book spaces on 01294 464174)
Guided tours of the Skelmorlie Secret Bunker (book on 07513 504115)
The Scottish Maritime Museum’s Sea Monsters exhibition
Kilwinning Abbey Church and Tower (pictured above)
Clark Memorial Church in Largs
Fairlie Parish Church
St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ardrossan
South Ayrshire
Tower of St John’s in Ayr
Tarbolton Masonic Lodge
The Local (Ayrshire Housing), Ayr
Nethermills Hydro Scheme operating centre on the River Ayr (book on 01292 525512 – places must be booked before 4pm on Friday, September 9)
Ayr Cemetery guided walk with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (book on 07425 816198)
Guided walk looking at Ayr’s letter boxes (book on 01292 261289)
St Meddan’s Parish Church, Troon
Troon Old Parish Church
The Stumpy Tower, Girvan
East Ayrshire
National Burns Memorial House, Mauchline
Auchinleck House (pictured above)
Auchinleck Parish Church
Stair Parish Church and Stair Community Centre
St Marnock’s Parish Church, Kilmarnock
Kay Park Parish Church, Kilmarnock
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock
New Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock
Dunlop Kirk
The Portland, Galston
Barr Castle, Galston
Brochures with full details of the Ayrshire programme can be found at all council public counters and libraries across the county.
For full details of dates and opening times for the festival, which is co-ordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust, see doorsopendays.org.uk and search for the council area or venue you’re interested in.
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