02 September 2023

Volunteer opportunities to dig at this impressive Iron Age site in Caithness. Sponsored by UHI Archaeology Institute and Yarrow Heritage Trust. Volunteers of all levels of expertise are welcome. Email enquiries.orca@uhi.ac.uk or heritage@yarrowsheritagetrust.co.uk to find out how to get involved.

02 September 2023

Open Day at the Highland Archive Centre. The building is open to visit to see various displays. There will also be tours of the behind the scenes where booking is necssary: book via archives@highlifehighland.com or 01349 781130

Further details on Doors Open Day website

02 September 2023

Kirkmichael is an award-winning restoration of medieval kirk and kirkyard, with unique display and interpretation of medieval ornate crosses. It is beautifully situated beside Udale Bay, and is managed by the Kirkmichael Trust who also maintain the massive website resource “Story behind the Stone”, setting out the history of the estates and families associated with every memorial in the older part of Kirkmichael: https://www.kirkmichael.info/StoryBehind.html

Guided tours of Kirkmichael, inside and outside, at noon and 3pm on Saturday 2 September 2023, and display of small finds. The tours to include gravestones depicting the trades and status of the families in the area.

Tours at 12pm and 3pm. No booking necesary. Further details on the Doors Open Day website.

02 September 2023

As part of Doors Open Day, St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tain will be open Saturday, 2nd Sept. 10-4pm and Sunday 3rd Sept. 2-4pm. No booking needed. Further details on the Doors Open Day website.

Technically St. Andrew’s is described as:- First Pointed Gothic with wide tracery, hood-moulded windows. It has a bell tower and porch with halls and a vestry behind. The interior is of very simple satisfying design with stained glass windows. The earliest stained glass, dated 1884, was made by Ballantyne and Gardner, a well-known firm of Edinburgh stained glass makers. The later glass is by A. L. Ward in 1910 and by W. Wilson in 1955 and 1961.

St. Andrew’s houses fine examples of the work of Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson. In 1936 Robert installed a carved reredos. At the same time he fitted the altar rails. In 1967 the vestry commissioned this grandson to carve a lectern and later to fashion a pulpit. A lengthy enough mouse-hunting journey for anyone!

Tours of the Church which features stained glass by a variety of artists and carved oak furniture by Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson, the earliest pieces by Robert himself and later pieced by his descendants.  Younger visitors will enjoy trying to find the trademark carved mice all around the church.  The organ is particularly fine. It was built by Hamilton and Muller, Edinburgh and has never been modified, though it was restored some years ago.  From time to time, during the opening hours, the organ will be played. Guided tours will be available throughout the opening hours or visitors may wander around reading from notices adjacent to each point of interest.

Facilities