Get into buildings this September

7th June 2010

Property owners or managers of old or new fascinating buildings in the Highlands are being invited to welcome people of all ages to "get into" their establishments during the 20th annual Doors Open Days being held this September.

Co-ordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust, Doors Open Days takes place every September and offers free access to buildings and sites normally closed to the public (or that usually charge for entry).

Highland programme co-ordinators, The Highland Council and Inverness City Heritage Trust, are keen to include a wide range of interesting buildings in the 2010 event programme - from stately homes and historic churches to state-of-the-art modern facilities and "green" buildings.

Alison Tanner, Inverness City Heritage Trust said "We are really happy to support this annual event across the Highlands. As well as allowing visitors into some of the oldest buildings in the Highlands, we hope that that visitors will be able to see round some of the more exciting and innovative new buildings, potentially our historic buildings of the future.

She added: "The event hopefully has something for everyone and is an excellent opportunity to get to see what really goes on in the buildings that you pass every day. Each year, we try and attract new buildings to the event and are always looking for suggestions of new or interesting things to open. If anyone would like to open their own building or to suggest buildings they would like to see inside, please get in touch and we will try our best to make this happen in our 20th year, 2010."

Buildings already confirmed for the 2010 programme include Inverness Town House, Strathpeffer Upper Pump Room, Wardlaw Mausoleum, Glachbeg Croft Centre, Invergordon Lifeboat Station, the Jim Savage-Lowden Observatory and Inverness Sheriff Court.

Doors Open Days takes place throughout Scotland and is part of European Heritage Days. For more information visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk . The Highland Door Open Day programme will be available to download from www.highland.gov.uk in August 2010.

For further information about taking part in the event, please contact Alison Tanner, Inverness City Heritage Trust on 01463 724384, e-mail: Alison.tanner[AT]highland.gov.uk