Venues across Midlothian will be opening their doors on Saturday 8 September for our annual Doors Open Day. It promises to be a fantastic day out so now’s the time to circle the date in your diaries.
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Each year during September, buildings across Scotland which are not open to the public, or which normally charge for entry, open their doors free of charge to visitors. Doors Open Day, part of European Heritage Days, aims to encourage greater understanding of the fascinating architectural and cultural heritage of Midlothian.
Doors Open Day is organised by Midlothian Council and is co-ordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust with support from Archaeology Scotland and Historic Scotland.
Over 30 venues throughout Midlothian will be participating in this year's Doors Open Day. Venues participating for the first time this year include St Mungo's Church, Penicuik Town Hall, The Lost Garden of Penicuik, Lodge Rosslyn St Clair No 606 and the Wildlife Information Centre. Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend will be offering free chairlift rides on the day and there will also be a range of free workshops at Dalkeith Arts Centre.
Cllr Owen Thompson, Midlothian Council Deputy Leader, said: "I am delighted with the diverse range of venues taking part in Doors Open Day on 8 September. I am grateful to all the participants and I'm sure it will be a fantastic day out for all the family. This year's events offer a wide range of exciting opportunities for you to savour the cultural and architectural heritage of Midlothian."
Highlights of this year's programme will include:
* Free guided tours of the grounds of Arniston House in Gorebridge.
* Ever wanted to try your hand at archaeology? Professional archaeologists will be running hands-on activities throughout the day at Cousland Smiddy.
* Take a behind the scenes tour of the National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange.
* St Mungo's Church will be opening its doors to the public with an exhibition in the church hall demonstrating the work of the church, which dates back to 1770.
For further information on Midlothian Doors Open Day phone 271 3465 or email doorsopendays@midlothian.gov.uk . Full details of the 2012 programme, once finalised, will also be published on our website at www.midlothian.gov.uk/doorsopendays, www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk/doorsopendays and http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/
Midlothian is served by a wide range of high frequency local and regional bus services - for further information check out Lothian Buses at http://www.lothianbuses.com/ or visit the Traveline Scotland website at http://www.travelinescotland.com/ . You can also find out more about the wide range of visitor attractions in Midlothian on the Visit Midlothian website at http://www.visitmidlothian.org.uk/
