A day of open doors

East Lothian’s historical and architectural heritage goes on display free of charge on Sunday 12 September during Doors Open Day, a European Heritage Day organised by the Council in partnership with the Scottish Civic Trust.

Visitors are asked to note that some attractions listed below must be booked by phoning 01620 827873 or by emailing doorsopenday@eastlothian.gov.uk, or as indicated under specific events in the programme. Places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Doors Open Day takes place throughout Scotland and forms part of European Heritage Days. Information about the national programme can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk.

The following organisations and individuals have agreed to take part in the programme of events this year:

Amisfield Walled Garden, Amisfield Park, Haddington

Amisfield House was demolished in 1928 but its wonderful Walled Garden is A-listed and encloses eight acres. The Summer House is B-listed. Guided tours on the hour from 11.00 to 16:00. To access the garden please turn south off the A199 about one mile east of Haddington at the Stevenson-Hailes junction and look out for two big stone pillars on the right. Booking required.

Carberry Hill Historic Tour

Local history expert Alan Stephens will lead a walk around the recently-created Queen Mary's Mount trail on Carberry Hill. This will include the historic site where Mary, Queen of Scots was confronted by the Confederate Lords after the battle of Pinkie and eventually gave in to their demands. Visitors will also see the remains of an ancient Iron Age hill fort. Meet at the start of the walk beyond Inwood Garden (near Carberry Candles) at 2.15pm. The paths can be muddy so sturdy shoes are advisable. The walk is about one and half miles long with some of it is uphill. Numbers are restricted to 15. Booking required.

Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland

Visit the home of the Edinburgh Malt at Glenkinchie Distillery view a fascinating exhibition on distilling then have a guided tour round the distillery and finish off with a dram or two at the bar. We are open for tours between 12.00 and 16.00. (Please note: children under eight are not permitted round the production area for health and safety reasons). Booking required, please phone 01875 342 004.

Haddington Town House grand piano

An open invitation to all pianists of all ages, amateur or professional, to play Haddington Concert Society’s magnificent Bösendorfer concert-grand piano in its home at the Town House, at the west end of Haddington High Street. Play music with the richness and brilliance you will only experience with a full-size instrument. So, just come along between 10.00 and 16.00 and take your turn to play the piano played and praised by international soloists such as Valerie Tryon and John Lill. No booking required.

MacArthur’s Store, Dunbar Harbour

MacArthur’s Store is a 17th century warehouse situated on the quayside of the old Cromwell Harbour in Dunbar. The Dunbar Harbour Trust has managed its restoration as fishermen’s stores and as an office and meeting place for the Trust. There will be tours at 9.30, 11.00, 12.30 and 14.00. Booking required.

Musselburgh Links

Friends of Musselburgh Links are holding an open day at the new Stables Pavilion at Musselburgh Racecourse, Linkfield Road, from 12 to 4 pm. Displays will include the history of the Golf Course and the development of the reclaimed land. Information will also be available on the local birdlife, the John Muir Way and other related activities. No booking required.

Musselburgh Old Town Hall

The old tolbooth or town hall at the east end of the High Street in Musselburgh was built around 1590. Originally it was a fortified building used as a prison and courtroom, similar to the Canongate Tolbooth in Edinburgh. Over the centuries it was altered and added to, reflecting changing social and political circumstances. On display is an old clock given to the burgh by the Dutch states in 1496.There will be an exhibition with no booking required in the foyer, and five tours of the building on the hour from 11 am to 3pm with a minimum of six persons per tour. Booking required.

National Museum of Flight

Visitors will have free access to Scotland’s national museum of aviation at East Fortune from 10:00 to 17:00 including two new exhibitions The Jet Age and Fantastic Flight, and also limited access in small groups to the famous Concorde supersonic airliner. The museum is based at the former airfield of East Fortune that played a key role in the two World Wars.The original hangars house aircraft that represent the history of flight. No booking required.

Pinkie House Tour, Loretto School, Musselburgh

Local history expert Stephen Edwards will lead a tour of Pinkie House including the famous painted ceiling in the Long Gallery and conclude with a visit to the Loretto School Chapel which is a 19thC building with a significant 20th century addition by Sir Robert Matthew.

The tour will start at 2 pm meeting at the main school entrance (adjacent to St Peter's Church) at the east end of the High Street. Numbers are restricted to 20 people and the tour will last about two hours. Booking required.

St. Mary’s Church, Haddington

St. Mary’s Church, sitting alongside the River Tyne near Nungate Bridge in Haddington, is one of the three great pre-Reformation churches surviving in the Lothians, the others are St. Giles’ in Edinburgh and St Michael’s at Linlithgow. The church is a source of great pride in the local community which organised its restoration in the 1970s after its partial destruction by an English army in 1548. The church is open from 13.30 to 16.00 and can be reached from Sidegate or Church Street. No booking required.

The Scottish Flag Heritage Centre, Athelstaneford

The village of Athelstaneford is the birthplace of Scotland's national flag, the St Andrew's Cross or Saltire. Visitors to the Flag Heritage Centre, which lies behind the Parish Church on the village’s main street, can enjoy an audio-visual presentation (choice of seven languages) explaining the traditional origins of the flag associated with a 9th century battle fought close by the village. The centre occupies a restored doocot dating from 1583. A guide from the Scottish Flag Trust will be present between 13.00 and 18.00 to explain the history of the flag and the site. No booking required.

The Council advises that visitors should be aware that they enter buildings and other sites and take part in activities at their own risk and neither East Lothian Council nor the owners of the buildings and properties are liable for any accident or damage incurred.