Sixteen venues in far north to open their doors for weekend of 'living heritage'
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Sixteen venues across Caithness and Sutherland will be taking part in next month's Doors Open Days festival, the theme this year being "living heritage".
The annual programme aims to ensure that Scotland’s built and cultural heritage is made accessible to everyone living in and visiting the country, with venues throwing open their doors free of charge during September.
The Doors Open Days programme is organised by the Scottish Civic Trust in association with regional coordinators.
In the far north, the weekend of September 16/17 will see venues ranging from churches to heritage centres as well as a distillery, an old railway station and two Masonic lodges welcoming visitors. Some will be open on both days, while others will open on either the Saturday or Sunday.
Caithness and north Sutherland coordinator Ian Leith said: “Across Caithness and Sutherland, we have 16 venues spread over the weekend of September 16 and 17. The range of venues is again wonderfully varied and geographically diverse, with something for everyone.
"We have two new venues this year. St Andrew’s Parish Church in Golspie which was built in 1737 will be open and members of the church will be there to explain its history.
"The other new venue is the 8 Doors Distillery at John O’Groats. They will be doing tours where you can get an introduction to the distillation process and see where the casks are stored.
"The recently revamped Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill was unable to join us last year but this time you can join one of its tours.
"Two Masonic lodges were also unable to open their doors last year but will this year welcome visitors – St Fergus Lodge in Wick and John O’Groat Lodge at Castletown.
"How about a trip to peek inside the Dunbeath Icehouse and Salmon Bothy? Thrumster Railway Station now has new lighting. See behind the doors of Wick Heritage Museum’s Cowie’s building and get into the Nucleus stores.
"While in Castletown you can visit the Castlehill Heritage Centre and book a tour of the Castletown Mill. You can then pop along to the John O’Groats Mill.
"In Thurso the North Coast Visitor Centre has many interesting displays, while St Peter and the Holy Rood Church is planning a talk on the Saturday afternoon.
"Also in Thurso there is the opportunity to visit Old St Peter’s Kirk with its fascinating collection of ancient gravestones.
"It’s only a short hop out to Halkirk where the Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Centre will be open on both the Saturday and Sunday."
The King officially opened 8 Doors Distillery during a visit to John O'Groats earlier this month.
Martin and Claire Murray, who run Dunnet Bay Distillers, are planning to turn Castletown Mill into a whisky distillery and visitor centre.
Full details about each venue can be found on the Doors Open Days website at https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/find-a-building
List of venues in Caithness and Sutherland:
- 8 Doors Distillery (September 16/17, 11am to 5pm both days)
- Castlehill Heritage Centre (September 16/17, 2pm to 4pm both days)
- Castletown Mill (September 16, 11am to 2pm)
- Dunbeath Icehouse and Salmon Bothy (September 16/17, 11am to 3pm both days)
- Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Centre (September 16/17, 1pm to 4pm both days)
- John O’Groat Lodge of Freemasons, Castletown (September 17, 10am to 3pm)
- John O’Groats Mill (September 16, 11am to 3pm)
- North Coast Visitor Centre, Thurso (September 16, 10am to 4pm)
- Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives (September 17, 10am to 3pm)
- Old St Peter’s Kirk, Thurso (September 16/17, 10am to 4pm both days)
- Thrumster Railway Station (September 16, noon to 4pm)
- St Andrew’s Parish Church, Golspie (September 16, 10am to 4pm)
- St Peter and the Holy Rood Episcopal Church, Thurso (September 16/17, 11am to 4.30pm on Saturday and noon to 4pm on Sunday)
- St Fergus Lodge of Freemasons, Wick (September 17, 10am to noon)
- Strathnaver Museum, Bettyhill (September 16, 10am to 5pm)
- Wick Heritage Museum – Cowie’s building (September 17, 11am to 4pm)
