Various venues across Courier Country September 1 - 23

IT HAS been running for over 20 years and now the popular Doors Open Days event is celebrating another milestone – the opening of more than 1,000 doors!

The national event co-ordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust will be the biggest in its 23-year history with around 1050 buildings taking part.

Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free annual architectural event and it encourages people to take an interest in architecture and heritage, revealing examples of Scotland’s magnificent built heritage to visitors and tourists.

It runs for the whole of September with towns, cities and regions opening buildings on specif ic weekends. The areas covered in Courier Country include: Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross, East Fife and St Andrews, Central Fife and Kirkcaldy and West Fife and Dunfermline.

Doors Open Days focuses on giving free access to sites normally closed to the public but visitor attractions also feature, by removing entry fees and putting on new events and exhibitions. In the past castles, private homes, civic buildings and businesses have participated.

The event began in 1990 during the Glasgow City of Culture celebrations and included just two areas: Glasgow and Ayr. Impressed by the level of enthusiasm shown by the public – or perhaps their sheer nosiness! – many others joined and it has steadily grown from there.

Doors Open Day co-ordinator Abigail Daly said: “This is going to be our biggest year. It’s the first time we’ve gone over 1000 buildings. It has been such a Balmerino Abbey, East Fife is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and was founded by Queen Ermengarde in 1229. Although these beautiful and tranquil grounds are open throughout the year, for Doors Open Day the site will ring with unusual tales of local history, thanks to storyteller Sylvia Troon. (Open all day, September 2 with storytelling 1.30 - 2.30pm and 3pm - 4.30pm). Doors Open Days is part of Angus Heritage Week (September 7-14) and will feature many different events including storytelling, walks, talks and tours. Highlights include Forfar Guide Dog Centre, which is a new purpose-built training centre for guided dogs. At any one time 80-100 dogs can be going through their training. Guided tours will be given but please note that no pet dogs or rehomed guide dogs can be brought on this occasion! (11am - 4pm, September 8 - 9). St Serf ’s Caves, Dysart House, are natural chambered caves in the grounds of a Carmelite Monastery. They are said to have been used by St Serf, or Servanus, as a retreat from the world in the 6th century. Here, it is said he was “victorious in his battle with the De’il” and it was likened to Jesus’s 40-day sojourn in the desert. That may also have provided Dysart with its name. With seats carved in its three “rooms” and romantic stone entrances added, the place exudes ancient, peaceful charm. Sisters from the monastery will be on hand to answer questions. (1pm - 5pm, September 9). Surely one of the more unusual open days this year is at Dunfermline Crematorium. Set in a peaceful woodland setting with commemorative facilities and formal lawn this modern crematorium, built in 1973, serves all of West Fife. Staff will demonstrate what happens behind the scenes throughout the day. Claypotts Castle, Broughty Ferry is a small, but perfectly formed castle built in the 16th century and owned by several important families. Owned by Historic Scotland, but rarely open to the public, junior tour guides from the local Claypotts Castle School will lead tours of the castle in period costume! (Open 10am - 4pm, tours between 10am - 1pm, September 22). The Old Schoolhouse at Cottown was built in the mid-18th century with earth walls and a Tay reed thatch roof. The category A listed building survives as one of the finest examples of a vernacular earth cottage in Scotland. Abandoned as a dwelling in 1985, the property was bought by the National Trust for Scotland in 1993. A programme of repairs and regular maintenance has ensured its continued survival, though establishing a viable end-use has proven challenging. Following a period of monitoring and research the NTS is about to embark on a programme of works which it is hoped will bring the Old Schoolhouse back into use as a home. (11am - 4pm, September 22).

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