The programme of events for the free 2022 Scottish Borders Doors Open Days festival on 3 and 4 September has been revealed today.
The aim of Doors Open Days, now in its 33rd year nationally, is to raise awareness of Scotland’s built and cultural heritage and ensure it is accessible to everyone.
Locally, it is also a chance to celebrate what makes the Scottish Borders special by showcasing not only the heritage, culture and places for which the region is already famous, but also some of the more unusual gems still waiting to be discovered.
This year local events, co-ordinated by us but delivered by a range of partner organisations and individuals, will take place online and in person at venues throughout the region. This builds on the success of last year’s hybrid festival which welcomed over half a million virtual visitors from around the world to online events as part of the national programme.
Just some of the events taking place include:
- free tours of Riddell Estate’s wild garden and the General’s Tower
- the chance to explore Borders College’s Hawick Campus, including the award winning Eco Room and advanced manufacturing hub, where a showcase of sustainable and robotic technologies will also be available
- the opportunity to get behind the scenes at the Scottish Borders Archive at the Heritage Hub in Hawick
- a tour the 200 year old grandstand at Kelso Racecourse, Scotland’s oldest sporting building.
Access the full programme of events
Full details of all the events and activities taking place both locally and nationally - including how to book - are available on the Doors Open Days website.
You can get more information and download an overview of the events happening across the Borders on our website.
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Executive Member for Community and Business Development
“Doors Open Days is a fantastic opportunity for local people and visitors to explore some of the unique built heritage we have across the area, and hear the incredible stories associated with these places and the people behind them.
“Many of the venues taking part are not normally open to the public, or are offering special free events as part of the festival, and I’d like to thank all those putting on events for their support. There really is an incredible range of events on offer so please take a look at the programme and start planning for a very special weekend.”
Dr Susan O’Connor, Director of Scottish Civic Trust and Doors Open Days National Co-ordinator
“Doors Open Days offers visitors the opportunity to play ‘tourist’ in their own town for free, as they uncover new experiences and revisit old favourites right on their doorstep. This year, we hope our visitors take this opportunity to make new memories with their friends and families, while they celebrate the stories that have shaped Scotland.”
More information
- Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates Scotland's places, history and culture, new and old. Each September, the festival offers access to over a thousand sites and events across Scotland. The aim of Doors Open Days is to ensure that Scotland’s built and cultural heritage is made accessible to people living in and visiting the country. Doors Open Days is supported by Historic Environment Scotland, and is part of European Heritage Days. For more information about Doors Open Days: www.doorsopendays.org.uk
- Scottish Civic Trust’s mission is to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement and empower its communities. Founded in 1967, the Civic Trust supports people to connect with their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. In its infancy, it successfully campaigned for the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town and was instrumental in the revitalisation of New Lanark – both now part of Scotland’s network of six World Heritage Sites. In addition to these major milestones, Scottish Civic Trust was also the first to bring Doors Open Day to the UK, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. For more information about the Scottish Civic Trust: www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk.
- Doors Open Days in the Scottish Borders is co-ordinated by our Heritage & Design Team, whose expertise includes natural heritage, built heritage, placemaking and design. They have supported a number of Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes including the one currently running in Hawick. They also run the well-regarded Scottish Borders Design Awards. We have taken part in Doors Open Days most years since the initiative began.