Browse Items (4104 total)

The Lighthouse, built by Robert Stevenson, took two years to build; work commenced in 1828 and the Lighthouse was first lit on 26th March 1830. The tower stands 26 metres high and the light is 99 metres above sea level. On a clear night, the light…

The archaeologists at Newbarns have been working since 2002 on a multi-period site, starting with Neolithic burials and ending with Medieval features. Find out what happened in prehistoric times when a person died. Where did they go? A chance to…

Back in 1916 "energetic townsman" George Couldson brough the movies to Newton Stewart in the silent days of magic lantern shows and tinkling pianos. It must have gone down well, for in 1933 the Galloway Gazette advertised the grand opening of the…

Today, North Clutag is an ordinatry working dairy farm, but in the 1930's it was home to an extraordinary man. John McNeilie, who wrote under the pen name of Ian Niall, spent his boyhood days here. He scandalised the local community by publishing…

Little did anyone know that the boy born here in 1795 would go on to become one of the most prolific writers and social commentators of the 19th century.The unassuming exterior of this wee house in Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, belies its significance…

The Oasis Youth Centre has its own state of the art recording studio, performance area, chill-out area, multi-media area and kitchen. It’s open Monday to Friday, and is used by lots of young people, sometimes for informal drop-ins, but also for the…

Cross the fifteenth century Devorgilla Bridge to the Old Bridge House. Built in 1660 into the sandstone of the bridge itself, Dumfries’ oldest house is now a museum of everyday life in the town. You can see the family kitchen, nursery and bedroom of…

A chance to see the armed horsemen of the �Borderers�, a Border Reiver Living History group enacting the skills and traditions of 16C in the evocative setting of Old Buittle Tower. Built c 1500 for the Gordons of Lochinvar, this L-shaped tower house…

Perched high over Scotland’s most southerly village of Drummore, the 17th century Parish Church of Kirkmaiden has a rich history involving the Covenanters, witches and an unusual graveyard. The church became known as Kirk Covenant due to its…

Old Place of Monreith is a typical, plain, lowland laird's house, still nominally fortified, at the end of a long track. It was once the home of the Maxwells, including the famous beauty Jean, later Duchess of Gordon, and the ancestors of Sir…

Purpose built and opened in 1848, this handsome neo-Tudor building was Wigtown’s prison for 30 years. It was then adapted for use as the town Police Station with a house for the policeman and remained as such until after World War II when it…

Tucked away in the spa town of Moffat is the Old Well Theatre, where the Upper Annandale Dramatic Society has deployed the greasepaint and wowed the crowds for over sixty years. Audiences can enjoy a variety of events at the theatre, including plays,…

Now owned by Historic Scotland, this charming mid-15C towerhouse stands in a delightful green dell. Its circular construction continues to puzzle historians since though round towers are common in Ireland, Orchardton is architecturally unique in…

By Goldie & Child of London with W & R Ingram of Glasgow as executant architects. Picturesque wood and glass porch, notable stained glass windows.

A rare opportunity to explore the historic Queen of the South football ground. Football has been played here since 19C, and Queen of the South was formed in 1919, when they bought the ground for �1,500. The current main stand dates from 1964, and was…

Tudor-style school built in 1844- 45, with later additions. Photographic exhibition of Penpont school - and scholars, in days gone-by.

Pre-booked guided tours only. A rare chance to experience an undeveloped site rich in industrial archaeology on a tour led by a professional archaeologist who has just completed a survey here on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway Museums Services. You…

The View Cafe is a community space open to the public, to raise revenue and help sustain the lifeboat. The Rescue Service is 40 years old this year and as it is independently run, needs to raise funds to keep the lifeboat in the water throughout the…

Portpatrick was once the busiest sea crossing to Ireland, and is noted for the ferocity of its winter storms. Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1877 at the request of local residents. Today it is home to the new Tamar Class…

Highly original 1979 design. Brown brick buttresses zigzagging up a hillside location. Nature Garden.

Pay a visit to the offices of Primrose and Gordon Solicitors, founded 1782, making it the oldest legal practice in South West Scotland. The splendid Georgian office was designed by Walter Newall and known to poet Robert Burns. Many impressive…

We are all becoming more aware of Climate Change and Global Warming, but as Peak Oil approaches, and with fuel and energy costs set to spiral out of control in the future, we all need to reduce our energy consumption and think about our options for…

Gather at Hoddom Castle for a led walk with the Hoddom Ranger to Repentance Tower. He will guide you through woodland and then up a short but steep climb to the Tower on the ancient beacon hill of Trailtrow. Repentance Tower was built by John…

Operating from the largest town in south west Scotland, Stranraer lifeboat station is one of 22 inshore lifeboat stations in Scotland. It has an inshore D class lifeboat

Situated in the town’s eighteenth century watermill on the west bank of the River Nith, the Robert Burns Centre tells the story of the poet’s last years spent in the bustling streets and lively atmosphere in Dumfries. The exhibition is illuminated by…

‘the smallest film theatre in Scotland’The Centre is run by the Local Authority and is home to an exhibition about the poet Robert Burns and his life in the town as well as a 69 seat cinema which shows predominantly independent, documentary and…

Ellisland, the rural home of National Bard Robert Burns, set in stunning landscape beside the river Nith. The site inspired Burns to write some of his most famous works, including Tam o’Shanter and Auld Lang Syne. It is unique in Burns heritage,…

It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet spent the last years of his life. He died here in 1796 at the age of just thirty seven. The Burns Mausoleum is only a short walk away. The…

Ruthwell Church is the home of the world famous Ruthwell Cross. This Anglian Cross dates from the 7th Century and has carved on it part of a poem written in runes, said to be one of the earliest written examples of the English language. The church…

Simple brick built Gothic style church by J Garden Brown.

Evening's guided Heritage Walk to explore this historic small town, with its wynds, its handsome Tollbooth, the oldest post office in Scotland, and the gaunt ruins of Sanquhar Castle in the old Deer Park at the entrance to the town. STB access…

Pyramid-roofed, 1980s design. Exhibitions on local life and lead-mining children of the Industrial Revolution.

Discover Sanquhar’s world famous knitting tradition and the story of the miners of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel. How did the ordinary people of Upper Nithsdale live and work in times past? Archaeology, artworks and audio-visual displays all tell these…

Owned by Reid and Taylor Limited of Langholm, the gallery houses its own collection of art as well as providing space for visiting artists. Attractively situated by the River Esk, the Gallery will host the Langholm Children's Treefest Art Exhibition…

A very unusual survival of an eighteenth century windmill and an adjoining horse gin, all set within the context of a steading with byres dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. A fascinating chance to see such buildings in the process of…

Be a guest of Clan Hannay for the day, tour of tower and grounds including our 12th century motte, see the kitchen fire in operation and hear how life was lived on this ancient site, hear about our future plans for restoration.Learn more about the…

Picturesque Southerness Lighthouse stands at the foot of the old part of Southerness village. This is the oldest surviving complete lighthouse in Scotland and was once home to the lighthouse keeper night after night, as he ensured safety from the…

Whithorn, famous as the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, For a twentieth century view, visit the church of St Ninian, St Martin and St John, by Goodhart-Rendel, Broadbent and Curtis.

A church for the people of Dumfries has stood on this site since 1100, and the one you see today dates from 1742. The church is of handsome dark red sandstone, with a steepled tower. Inside is a very fine collection of 19-20C stained glass windows.…

The Stewarty Museum will be open in order to promote the new Kirkcudbright Galleries due to open in the former Town Hall building in March 2018. Building work started at the end of 2016 to transform the 19th century Town Hall in Kirkcudbright into a…

Space, light, air, metal 'trees' and real birds, that's 'Street', the 200 metre-long spine of the new wing of Stranraer Academy. Work began in 1995. It was officially opened in January 1999. Facilities are considered to be second to none in Scotland.…

Stranraer's historic Old Town Hall, built in 1776, is the home of Stranraer Museum. Step inside and discover Wigtownshire's fascinating past.Inside Stranraer Museum see one of Scotland's oldest ploughs, a recognised collection of archaeology plus…

A family owned Sulwath Brewers real ale brewery. The traditional brewing methods used here have helped to create a thriving business selling to connoisseur markets all over Britain. Sulwath is the ancient name for the Solway estuary and who can think…

Converted from a nineteenth century farmhouse, the Sulwath Centre was opened in April 2009 to promote lifelong learning on the Solway. Located in the heart of Mersehead RSPB Nature Reserve, the Centre incorporates education and training rooms,…

Joseph Thomson, a famous explorer of Africa, was born in this cottage in 1858. When his father bought the house in 1856, he used his master building skills to add a cantilever staircase to access two bedrooms which he developed in the roof space to…

A Jacobean-style sandstone manor house by 19C architect William Burn. Given new life - and new buildings, as an agricultural college. Modern courtyard block 1984-91.

The oldest bookshop in Scotland’s Book Town is a Georgian gem of a building housing a labyrinth of old books, with shelves that stretch for over a mile. The range of stock includes all subjects.

The CatStrand is an award-winning arts and community centre in the heart of the Glenkens, presenting a high quality programme of arts events and activities, workshops and learning as well as information for locals and tourists. 2018 The CatStrand is…

The story of the Crichton begins in 1823 with the death of Dr James Crichton of Friars Carse who left to his widow, Elizabeth, the then considerable sum of around £100,000 to be used for charitable purposes. With the help of her friend, the Rev Henry…

A Victorian hospital with a difference, the Crichton was founded by Mrs Elizabeth Crichton in memory of her husband, an East India Company doctor. It came to boast its own ballroom, 85 acres of grounds laid out with seed and cuttings from The Royal…

Leave the tarmac and take a walk, a cycle or even a drive on the wild side of Galloway on waymarked tracks. Look out for red squirrel, buzzard and deer, and superb views of the Galloway hills. Kirroughtree Forest Drive (from Visitor Centre off A75…

In 1796, Burns wrote: "... the Globe Tavern here, which these many years has been my Howff ..." Established in 1610, The Globe Inn, Dumfries has long been associated with Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. The Globe Inn is an important historic…

Beautifully situated high up Forrest Glen, the Green House is a timber-framed, turf roofed eco house entirely run on solar and hydro power. Incorporating highly energy-efficient design features, and built wherever possible of natural sustainable…

Fellow villagers thought Kirkpatrick MacMillan mad for dreaming up the idea. He rode his cumbersome machine 68 miles over rough roads from his home to Glasgow to visit his two school teacher brothers. In June 1842 the inventor was fined 5 shillings…

Built in 1785 as a cotton mill powered by the great mill wheel, the 'Roaring Birtwistle', the Mill on the Fleet is now restored as a visitor centre in an idyllic riverside setting. Exhibition gallery, picture gallery, riverside cafe and local crafts…

Newton Stewart Museum is situated in York Road, Newton Stewart in the imposing building which was formerly St John’s Church.The building houses a comprehensive collection of artefacts from all walks of life, i.e. costumes nursery, cameras, World War…

What happened in prehistoric times when a person died? Where did they go? Visit the archeological site at Newbarns and discover for yourself the beliefs of our Stone Age ancestors, which included reincarnation and afterlife. Stout footwear…

The last couple of years has brought dramatic change to Saint Andrews Primary School, originally a Roman Catholic school run by nuns. This handsome red sandstone Victorian building has received an injection of new life in the form of eight small…

"The Amiablest and Kindliest of Men"Thomas Carlyle on Henry Duncan, founder of the Ruthwell Savings Bank.Tucked away in the pretty Dumfriesshire village of Ruthwell on the Solway, you will find the very room where the Trustee Savings Bank originated.…

This listed (Grade B) steading has been converted from a ruin to a home over the last 25 years. The transformation has included many ‘green’ and sustainable features such as recycled materials (many found on site), sheep’s wool insulation, solar…

The oldest theatre in Scotland, the Theatre Royal is in the heart of Dumfries and first opened its doors in 1792. It has strong associations with the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns, who wrote several pieces specifically for its stage. The…

The Tolbooth was once the Town Council meeting place and office, the Court and Prison. Now holds contemporary art and crafts exhibitions and tells the story of the Kirkcudbright 'art colony'.

Hidden Treasures, Museum of Lead Mining, is situated in Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland. Here you can explore the Visitor Centre, take a tour into the dark inside the Lead Mine and see how people lived here in three period Cottages…

Volunteers at Westerkirk Parish Church welcome visitors to view the beautiful windows designed by Alex Haynes of Brampton Glass. The twelve windows represent the flora and fauna of Eskdale throughout the twelve months of the year and were donated by…

Westerkirk Parish Church sits above the Esk at Bentpath. It was designed in 1880 by James Burnet, but in a style current 50 years earlier, with pinnacled tower, lancet windows and buttresses. Inside are unique modern stained glass windows that depict…

Visit one of the oldest lending libraries in Scotland - an historic community library founded in 1793 by the antimony miners who worked at Glendinning. In 1834 famous engineer Thomas Telford gave a large bequest to the library for the buying of…

Excavations near Whithorn from 2015 to the present, carried out by AOC Archaeology, have revealed the timberwork and architectural detail for a group of Iron Age houses, which were discovered in an unprecedented state of preservation owing to…

Whithorn is associated with Scotland's first Saint, Ninian. The Christian settlement became a famous pilgrimage site with commoners and kings visiting the shrine of St Ninian. The routes across the sea bore trade goods as well as pilgrims.

The Wigtown Martyrs Trail and Martyrs’ Cell, Wigtown County Buildings. Meet in the whitewashed Martyrs’ Cell inside Wigtown County Buildings to join The Wigtown Martyrs’ Trail.Scotland’s Booktown is an ancient Royal Burgh with an infamous role in our…

200-year-old sandstone-built granary, modified repeatedly as the needs of agriculture evolved, now given new lease of life through sensitive conversion to provide facilities to this internationally important nature reserve. Access to Old Granary.…

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre is a 1,500 acre wild nature reserve with observatories, towers and hides overlooking the home of thousands of wintering wildfowl. A rugged and beautiful destination offering open space and…

A free guided walk lasting approximately 2 hours led by members of the Abertay Historical Society Fieldwork Division. Open to all who are interested in discovering more about local history. We will be exploring lesser known aspects of Broughty Ferry…

Avertical World is Tayside’s dedicated indoor climbing centre, based in the former St Mary Magdalene Church. The climbing take advantage of the vaulted ceilings and the church’s old basement to create a unique local climbing facility.Open for over 16…

This is an opportunity to see behind the scenes of one of Dundee's community fire stations. As well as getting the opportunity to see a working fire station in action, Fire-fighters will be on hand to provide fire safety advice, offer free Home Fire…

We’ll look at the built environments within the Botanic Garden – the hot and cool glasshouses housing the rainforest and desert environments, the award-winning visitor centre, the fascinating gardens of evolution and genetics and the energy-neutral…

A rare chance to explore the underground ammunition magazine at Broughty castle. Shells and cartridges were once stored here to feed the 4.7 inch Quick Fire Costal Defence guns on the Ramparts above.Visitor are advised that due to the historic nature…

Step on the Stage where so many stars have appeared. From Elton John, David Bowie, The Cure, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Bjork, The Proclaimers, Stereophonics to name but a few. See behind the scenes of Dundee’s…

Our allotment site has been in existence since the 1940s when the need arose to grow your own for the war effort.Originally farmland, the allotments have evolved over the years to the present day where we now have 71 plots of assorted sizes in use.…

District 10 is a highly sustainable office building made of shipping containers providing work space for start-up creative industry companies. Commended in the Scottish Design Awards the game Tetris wraps around the outside of the building promoting…

Dundee Art Societys private picture collection will be on show plus artists will be working on their own work throughout the weekend. Dundee Art Society has been part of the art centre in the city since the late 19th Century. Local businessmen came…

Drop in to see this marvellous building with a unique design; the first purpose built mosque in North East Scotland using traditional Scottish materials and energy efficient construction techniques. On each corner is a rounded tower with a minaret…

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dundee City Archives we will be offering special tours behind the scenes at the archives. Tours will include a chance to get up close with some original documents covering Dundee’s history from the 14th century to…

Walk: Hidden Gems based on works of WG Lamond - Schools, Churches, Domestic Buildings - Finishes City Centre.

Our Church will be open between 1030am and 1400pm on Saturday 14th.September when we will be decorating the Church for Harvest. There may be organ recitals during this period. Tea and coffee will be served in the Welcome Hall.The Church will also be…

Drop in to our projection booth during Doors Open Days and get a behind the scenes look at how we put films on our screens. Discover more about cinema technology and its development and see a part of DCA that’s rarely open to the public. Tour our…

Dundee Museum of Transport opened on Market Street in April 2014 after three years of building renovation and preparation. The Museum has a fantastic collection of vehicles and models and a growing collection of local transport-related objects for…

Founded in about 1190 it is the Parish Church for the City of Dundee hosting Civic Services such as the Kirkin’ of the Council, Guildry Services and the Civic Remembrance Day Service. It boasts a fully detailed Black Watch War Memorial and Merchant…

Dundee Sheriff Court building is an imposing listed building designed in 1833 by Edinburgh architect George Angus and completed in 1863 by William Scott. It was extensively renovated in 1996 and officially opened by the Princess Royal in 1997.This…

St Mark’s Church was built between 1868 and 1869. It was designed by Pilkington and Bell in a free Gothic style typical of Frederick T Pilkington. The church was extended in 1879 by Ireland and MacLaren. Featuring superb stained-glass windows and a…

Gilfillan Memorial Church will be available for visitors to look round. Guides will be on hand and refreshments are available at all times. We usually manange to have a display of materials from the Church archive and we hope to have an organ…

At nearly 200 years old, HMS Unicorn is one of the world’s most remarkable historic ships and preserved as a museum and visitor attraction in Dundee with four atmospheric decks for visitors to explore.So step back in time and learn about life at sea,…

One of the most beautiful Masonic Lodges in the area and part of Broughty History for over 150 years, many local men have joined over those years. The hall has been used by the public for many years for local functions and was used by the military…

The Maggie’s centre is Dundee provides emotion, practical and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends. World famious Architect Frank Gehry said of Maggie’s Dundee “There is a Yiddish expression Heymish, it means homelike,…

Come and explore our city centre church complex! Learn about our stained glass windows and their donors, listen to our organist playing (Saturday 14:00-15:00) and enjoy the peace of our garden.

Originally the Morgan Hospital founded by John Morgan (1760-1850) of Balgay House modelled on George Heriots Hospital Institute in Edinburgh. This imposing landmark building of tremendous architectural significance was designed by Architects Peddie…

NCR has had a significant presence in the Dundee since 1946. Now located in the Discovery Centre off the Kingsway. This is a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of the NCR research and development centre for banking solutions. Home to over…

One of the country's best aquatic facilities offering:4 flumes (3D holograms and sound effects), and the Cannonball which drops you 3.8 metresLeisure Pool: rapid river, wave pool and seated bubble bedsDive Pool:1, 3 & 5 metre diving boards50/25…

An opportunity to view behind the scenes activities at a busy, charity animal welfare hospital. There will be tours of the building and fun things to do.

Only the massive tower and highest spire in Dundee give any hint of the splendour within Dundee’s Episcopal Cathedral. Famous Victorian architect, Gilbert Scott, uses ingenuity to create grandeur on the constricted site of Castle rock. Come and see a…

St Salvador’s, commissioned at an early stage in Bodley’s long career, shows the beginning of interest in a simple English gothic style, an ideal basis for coloured decoration. Its design is a progress from west to east, starting with the low…