Doors Open Days announce 2018 programme

Today, the national Doors Open Days 2018 programme was launched in Dundee. Throughout September, in every corner of Scotland, interesting buildings will be made open to the public and free to enter, many of them where public access is not usually permitted while others are being opened up to the public for the first time.

“Doors Open Days is a fantastic opportunity for communities up and down the country to show off the best of their buildings,” Susan O’Connor, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, one of Doors Open Days' chief supporters. “We’re thrilled with the range of architectural wonders on display this year and we can’t wait to enjoy as many sites as possible.”

You can nosey around castles, churches, mosques, have a look in local fire stations, offices, museums, theatres and sports clubs. There are even a few distilleries (Kennetpans in Clackmannanshire and Clydeside Distillery in Finnieston) taking part this year. As Claire Drummond, Head of Charitable Giving at Aberdeen Standard Investments, another supporter of the project, notes: “Doors Open Day satisfies the curiosity – and dare I say the nosiness – in all of us. What lurks behind the doors that we pass every day? What fascinating history does that building hold? How does the work done behind those doors support our everyday living?”

A new element in this year’s Doors Open Day is the Braw Buildings Project, which has been created to mark Scotland’s Year of Young People. The initiative gives over 50 18-25 year-olds the chance to discover more of Scotland through a free overnight stay in Youth Hostels in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Pitlochry and Stirling during Doors Open Days – the young people then share their experience through Doors Open Days' website and social media channels.

You can visit a Winery and Ciderhouse in Perth, an historic artists house in Angus, a “secret bunker” in Skelmorlie, a candle-factory in Glasgow, and Adam Smith’s birthplace in Kirkcaldy – there is something for everyone!

In addition you’ll find talks, tours and heritage trails. Running throughout each weekend of September, the full programmes of events can be found at doorsopendays.org.uk