25 August 2017
Aberdeenshire doors swing open - Doors Open Day 2017
Doors in both North and South Aberdeenshire will swing wide open on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September, 2017, in celebration of ‘Doors Open Day’.
This year’s Aberdeenshire Doors Open Day will be focused in South Aberdeenshire. Spanning Kincardine, Mearns & Lower Deeside and will be held on Saturday 16th September.
If the architectural jewels of the South Shire aren’t enough, in celebration of the Scottish Government’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, Sunday 17th September will see Portsoy, Banff, Fraserburgh and Macduff taking up the Doors Open mantle.
In South Aberdeenshire, buildings across Banchory, Drumoak and Stonehaven will open to the public, some of them for the first time. There will be the chance for a guided tour of Deeside Brewery, demonstrations at Stonehaven Fire Station as well as the Stonehaven RNLI Life Boat Station. Also on offer is the opportunity to take part in a Poetry Walk at St Cyrus Nature Reserve as well as the chance to see inside Kinneff Old Kirk, where once the Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden.
In all the South of Aberdeenshire will offer you the chance to experience 15 unique spaces some of which are not usually open to the public. To ensure that you can plan your day we have produced a table with journey times between locations which can be found in the brochure.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Peter Argyle, said: “Doors Open Day is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the hidden architectural and historical gems that we are lucky enough to have in our area.
“I am particularly pleased to see that some of our local businesses are geting on board and I think that a tour of a craft brewery will be a great way to spend an hour or two.
“I am also delighted to see that the National Trust are taking part for the first time this year, opening up Drum Castle to the public with nearly 700 years of history contained within its walls there should be plenty to interest everyone.”
“Of course none of this would be possible without the many volunteers that give up thier time to ensure the succes of Doors Open Day and all I can say is a big, heartfelt, thank you to them all”
On Sunday the 17th September it will be the North’s turn to shine. If you have ever wondered what it was like to work in a meal mill, then wonder no more as Sandhaven’s meal mill will be open for you to take a look around. In Portsoy you will have the opportunity to turn your hand to woodworking in the newly completed boatbuilding shed. Or if you would like to catch sight of a magnificent view then why not climb to the top of the Macduff War memorial and cast your eye over the magnificent Banffshire coastline and the towns of Banff and Macduff?
Vice-chairman of the committee, Cllr John Cox, said: “It is a great idea to highlight both the North and South of the Shire in this way and thankfully a detailed leaflet has been produced with maps, facts and other useful information such as parking details and most importantly where refreshments will be available!
“Each venue will be doing something different, some will be offering tours others will only be open at specific times, so please check the leaflet, which is available on the council’s website, or visit the council’s Facebook page.”
If you are heading out this Doors Open Weekend then please let us know by posting on our Facebook page with your photos and anecdotes! https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireDoorsOpenDays/
Across the Shire 38 properties will be taking part in Doors Open 2017 and a full listing of all the venues taking part is available on the website. Some will be offering tours, others exhibitions, some refreshments, and others with great activities for the kids!
Brochures have been distributed across Aberdeen City and Shire, and we look forward to seeing you out and about!
Further information is available on our website http://bit.ly/ShireDoD17 and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireDoorsOpenDays/
Doors Open Day is Scotland’s largest free annual architectural event. It is coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust and is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union alongside Scottish Archaeology Month. Both events are supported by Historic Environment Scotland.
A full list of venues taking part in the event and up to date information including details of opening times, how to book tours and any additions and programme amendments and be found on the national website, Aberdeenshire Council’s website and on our dedicated Facebook page.