THERE will be a chance to look behind the doors of some of the most interesting places of cultural and historic interest in Clackmannanshire for free during Doors Open Days.
The event takes place over the weekend of September 24-25, and is a chance to visit 25 places which are not often open to the public or usually charge for entry.
Many different types of buildings are open over the weekend, from the recently conserved Alva Ice House to Alloa Fire Station.
Several churches are in the programme, including Sauchie and Coalsnaughton Parish for the first time.
There is also a chance to see paintings from the fine Mar and Kellie collection at Hilton Farm, where a newly arrived portrait of Walter Coningsby Erskine,10th Earl of Mar, who inherited the Alloa estate from his cousin in 1866, is now on display.
A new heritage walk around Clackmannan will mark the launch of the Clackmannan Heritage Trail.
The walks will be led by members of Clackmannan Development Trust and will look at the Stone of Mannan, the Mercat Cross, the remains of the Tolbooth and other buildings and sites which help to tell the story of the town from which the county takes its name.
The ever-popular Clackmannan and Sauchie Towers will also feature again.
Council leader Bobby McGill said: “Doors Open Days 2016 in Clackmannanshire gives local people and visitors the chance to see inside some of our fascinating buildings and to learn more about our built heritage.
“There’s a chance to see everything from the impressive Sheriff Court building to the Mountain Rescue Team Post, as well as Burnfoot Hill and Rhodders Wind Farm, and I’d urge everyone to go online to see what buildings they can look around.”
The programme includes a number of other properties, including Resonate Arts House, Dollar Museum, Tullibody Heritage Centre and the Coach House Theatre, as well as the Speirs Centre, where there will be guided tours of the building, a chance to see the Raise Your Glass!
Celebrating Scotland and Clackmannanshire’s Brewing Heritage exhibition and go on a tour of the breweries which once existed in Alloa.
Doors Open Days is promoted nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust and is part of European Heritage Days alongside Scottish Archaeology Month, co-ordinated by Archaeology Scotland. Doors Open Days 2016 is supported by Historic Environment Scotland.
Full details of the Doors Open Days weekend can be found in the brochure, which is available on ClacksWeb and the Doors Open Days website.
Booking is essential.