How would you like a guided tour of the Earl of Moray’s family home at Darnaway Castle? Or would you prefer to see inside the luxury accommodation of Dalvey House?
You could do both and more on Doors Open Day next month, when these and many more local buildings normally closed to the public will open up for the day.
Everyone will get the chance to peek behind the scenes at some of the finest architectural showpieces in the area.
Doors Open Day, on Saturday 21 September, is a regular annual feature where historical buildings open their doors to the public, and this year, the locations include Darnaway Castle, Dalvey House and Dyke Church, to name a few.
More than half of the properties throwing their doors open in Moray are in the Forres area, demonstrating the rich and cultural heritage concentrated right here on our doorstep.
Owners of properties which are regularly open to the public, such as Nelson’s Tower, are also joining in, using Doors Open Day as an opportunity to highlight venues that some local people have never experienced despite being on their doorstep.
Entry to all of the locations is free of charge, but please check the website for details as not all are suitable for wheelchairs, and some require booking.
The full list of Forres locations:
AJ Engineering – A rare chance to see inside the engineering workshop as the company celebrates 20 years in business.
Darnaway Castle – Most local people know of this building, but a private road prevents the public from seeing the beautiful A-listed home of the Earls of Moray.
Dalvey House – Likewise, this 18th-century Georgian mansion is hidden by trees but is largely used as a luxury venue for holidaying tourists and wedding parties.
Falconer Museum Store – This unimposing building at the back of a car park houses all the goodies that won’t fit in the Falconer Museum, allowing them to rotate ‘stock’ regularly and to house the amazing collections started by Hugh Falconer and his brother all those years ago.
Nelson’s Tower – Regularly open to the public in the summer months, but if you haven’t been, now’s your chance
And that’s not all. In the Forres area, there’s also:
- St John’s Church, Forres
- Newbold House, Forres
- Findhorn Eco-village
- Ice House, Findhorn
- Tolbooth, Forres
- Parish Church and Mausoleum, Dyke
- Cluny Hill College, Forres
And there are many more throughout Moray, such as Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Innes House, Covesea Lighthouse. All properties are listed on the Doors Open Day website.