East Lothian Archaeology and Heritage Fortnight 2026
2026-08-29 - 2026-09-13
East Lothian Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight is organised annually by East Lothian Council Archaeology Service. It takes place in the first half of September, and is part of Archaeology Scotland’s Scottish Archaeology Month.
We have a fantastic programme this year with nearly 60 exciting events, including talks, guided walks, re-enactments, exhibitions and workshops, or tune in online to a series of presentations. Follow the link to explore the programme of events.
Join us in this celebration of East Lothian’s fascinating history and archaeology.

Kilmartin Glen Guided Walks
2026-09-01 - 2026-09-30 | Kilmartin Museum, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RQ, United Kingdom
Kilmartin Glen Guided Walks are FREE and take place every Wednesday at 1:00pm.
On our volunteer-led Guided Glen Walks you will visit many of the amazing ancient sites in Kilmartin Glen, including the Linear Cairn Cemetery, Nether Largie South Chambered Cairn and Temple Wood Stone Circle. They are a fun and friendly way to discover what makes this landscape so special!
Each walk lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours, using paths and crossing grassy fields, which can be muddy. Weatherproof clothing and footwear are highly recommended.
We’re very sorry, but the dogs allowed on our guided walks are registered assistance.
Under 18s are welcome to join us as long as they are accompanied by an adult and the walk content is suitable for age 10 and over.
Numbers are limited to 20 people, so booking is essential! Please book a place at: www.kilmartin.org/guided-walks-wednesday

Marion Campbell Library Tours at Kilmartin Museum
2026-09-01 - 2026-09-30 | Kilmartin Museum, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RQ, United Kingdom
Step into a story carved in time…
Discover the magic of the Marion Campbell Library, where every corner whispers history.
Kilmartin Museum is very proud to house the Marion Campbell Library. This valuable resource contains a wealth of books and journals about local archaeology, history and natural history. The Library is dedicated to Marion Campbell in honour of her founding book bequest.
The Marion Campbell Library Tours are FREE and are held:-
Tuesday 11:00am – 11:30am & 11:45am – 12:15pm
Thursday 1:30pm – 2:00pm & 2:15pm – 2:45pm
Sunday 11:00am – 11:30am & 11:45pm – 12:15pm
Numbers are limited to 6 people, so booking is essential! To book visit – https://www.kilmartin.org/marion-campbell-library-tours
The tour itself takes approximately 30mins and is led by one of our knowledgeable Visitor Experience Assistants.
The library is on the first floor of the museum, access is via two flights of stairs and there is also a lift available.
We are sorry, but the only dogs which are allowed on our tour are registered assistance dogs.

Dunollie Castle Tours
2026-09-01 - 2026-09-30 | Dunollie Museum Castle & Grounds, Oban, PA34 5TT, United Kingdom
Follow one of our Tour Guides and immerse yourself in Dunollie’s History from the Iron age, to Somerled and the birth of the Clan MacDougall, throughout the Jacobite uprisings and until the present day.
Tours last approximately 1 hour and take place almost entirely outdoors. They start at 11.30am and 2pm, Tues-Fri.
Please note, the second half of the Tour involves going up the steep castle path.
To book visit: https://dunollie.org/get-involved/#book

Exhibition: Archaeology and Empire
2026-09-01 09:30 - 2026-09-16 18:00 (Europe/London) | Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, Top of the Town, Stirling, United Kingdom
This exhibition explores Scotland’s complex imperial history and how the legacy is embedded in some of our oldest sites. Curated by Dr Cat Dunn, the exhibition explores how the historic landscapes of the Highlands, Dumfries and Galloway, the Western Isles, and Orkney, have connections to Scotland’s imperial ambitions and forced displacement of people.
Combining archival material with newly commissioned artwork from Dr Alberta Whittle, Matthew Arthur Williams, and Tilda Williams-Kelly, with writing from Harvey Dimond, the exhibition uses diverse lenses to open up space for dialogue, reflection and re-imagining.

Stenness and Barnhouse Walk
2026-09-01 10:00 - 2026-09-30 11:00 | Stones of Stenness Circle and Henge, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney, United Kingdom
Join the Rangers for a walk around one of the oldest stone circles and the nearby Neolthic settlement of Barnhouse.
Find out about the close connection of both these sites and their part in the story of Neolithic life in Orkney and beyond.
These walks are dog-friendly. Please keep your dog on a lead throughout.
Good to know:

Car parking is next to the Stones and it is a short walk from there to the Barnhouse settlement
The route is fairly flat but can be muddy underfoot
Warm and waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear advised
There is no shelter or toilets on site

Guided Tours of The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses
2026-09-01 10:00 - 2026-09-30 16:00 | The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Kinnaird Head, Stevenson Road, Fraserburgh, AB43 9DU, United Kingdom
Have you ever seen a full-size lighthouse built right through the middle of a 16th century castle? No, we thought not; it’s tour time!
Come and share in the wonder of this truly unique castle, understand the lifestyle and courage of our lighthouse keepers and marvel at the sophisticated engineering that saved lives. Our guides are fully trained and love to laugh.
Tours last 45 minutes and take place at start on the hour from 10am – 3pm. Prices start from £10.50.
For more information visit: https://lighthousemuseum.org.uk/

Dunollie Explorers: Children’s Self-Led Activity Trail
2026-09-01 10:00 - 2026-09-30 16:00 | Dunollie Museum Castle & Grounds, Oban, PA34 5TT, United Kingdom
Tues-Sun, 10am-4pm
Calling on all young explorers and intrepid adventurers!
Follow the Garden Trail through Dunollie’s enchanting woodland grounds and hunt down all 9 hidden items – use your magnifying glasses and torch to track them down like a true explorer!
This activity is aimed at children aged 4-11 years. Pick up your explorers pack at reception.
Cost included in Entry Ticket

Dunollie’s Mythical Creatures Trail: Children’s Self-Led QR Trail
2026-09-01 10:00 - 2026-09-30 16:00 | Dunollie Museum Castle & Grounds, Oban, PA34 5TT, United Kingdom
Tues-Sun, 10am-4pm
See Dunollie in a whole new light by following this trail with your family (suitable for ages 3-15).
​Find out about some of the magical creatures of Scottish Folklore and as you explore Dunollie’s enchanting grounds and discover the surrounding landscapes.
£3 & Entry Fee

Exhibition: Tartan & Turmoil - The Angus Jacobite Story
2026-09-01 10:30 - 2026-09-30 16:00 | Montrose Museum, Panmure Place, Montrose, DD10 8HF, United Kingdom
Step into a world of intrigue, loyalty, and rebellion at Montrose Museum, as we reveal the pivotal role Angus played in the Jacobite cause. From the bustling port of Montrose – once branded ‘the most disloyal and disaffected town in Scotland’ – gold, weapons, and secret reinforcements slipped across the sea from Europe to fuel the rising.
Encounter treasures once owned by Stuart kings, intimate letters penned by Angus rebels, rare weaponry, and humble everyday objects that carry the weight of extraordinary stories. Meet not only lords, lairds and ladies, but the butchers, weavers, fishermen, innkeepers, and servants whose courage and conviction led them to fight for the doomed Jacobite cause.
Entrance is free. No need to book.

Conquer the Tower at the Signal Tower Museum!
2026-09-01 12:00 - 2026-09-30 13:00 | Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan, Arbroath, DD11 1PU, United Kingdom
Renovations of the Arbroath Signal Tower mean that we can now welcome visitors to climb the dramatic spiral staircase and visit the tower room during our guided tower tours. Find out how Light Keepers at the Signal Tower shore station communicated with the Bell Rock Lighthouse 11 miles out to sea before radio.
Virtual tours via our VR headsets or tablets provide virtual access to previously inaccessible parts of the building and virtual tours in Gaelic, Polish, Romanian and English are available for those who don’t want to climb the 70 steps.
Tours take place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at noon and can be booked on arrival, admission to the museum and tour is free but donations are most welcome.
For more information visit: https://angusalive.scot/events/

Ring of Brodgar Walk
2026-09-01 13:00 - 2026-09-24 14:00 | Ring of Brodgar Stone Circel and Henge, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney, United Kingdom
Join the HES rangers to learn more about the ring and the wider landscape in which it sits.
Find out just how much effort went into creating this wonderful site and what people think about it today.
These walks are dog-friendly. Please keep your dog on a lead throughout.
Good to know:

There is parking available and two disabled bays closer to the site
The route around the site can be uneven in places and muddy at times
Warm and waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear advised
There is no shelter or toilets on site

Hillfort Under Attack: The Burnswark VR Experience - Every Saturday in September
2026-09-01 13:00 - 2026-09-30 14:00 | Trimontium Trust Museum, Market Square, Melrose, TD6 9PN, United Kingdom
A HILLFORT AWAKENS TO THE MIGHT OF ROME
Introducing a first -of-its-kind immersive experience- a cinematic recreation of a Roman assault on the native hill fort of Burnswark, where silence fell harder than swords. Through cutting-edge visuals, atmospheric sound and haunting storytelling, witness one of the most significant and sobering moments on Scotland’s ancient frontier. A dramatic and thought-provoking window into life and conflict on the edge of the empire…
Place our VR set on your head and learn more about the story of our native peoples and their experience at the mercy of the Roman Invaders here in the South of Scotland.
If you’ve already seen our Trimontium VR, this experience will show you the other side of the story, through the eyes of the native peoples.
Booking in advance is essential.
Please note the minimum age for children is 8 years due to the content and design of the experience.
Your ticket also includes entry to gallery so there is no need to buy a separate ticket for a museum visit.

Trimontium Guided Walk - Every Thursday in September
2026-09-01 13:30 - 2026-09-30 16:30 | Trimontium Trust Museum, Market Square, Melrose, TD6 9PN, United Kingdom
Join us on our long running and ever popular guided walks to the Trimontium Fort site. You can choose whether to do the full walk from Melrose to Trimontium, or the shorter walk of the main site.
Find out what life was like at the fort – for those who lived and worked there. Your guide will share what clues have been found to tell us about life at the fort through the fascinating discoveries made during various archaeological digs over the last century. Throughout, you will be surrounded by the stunning, Scottish Borders landscape, views of the River Tweed and iconic Eildon Hills.

Full Walk: 1.30pm | Short Walk: 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Full Trimontium Walk: Duration 3.5 hours
Meeting at the Trimontium Museum in the heart of Melrose, your guide will take you on a leisurely walk past the historic Melrose Abbey and the ancient village of Newstead, sharing gems of local history and connections to the Trimontium Fort site.
At the end of the walk, your guide can escort you back to Melrose if you wish, returning around 4.30pm
Short Trimontium Walk: Duration 1.5 hours
Meeting at the top of Newstead village, just off the A6091 and beside the bus stop, walkers who wish to do the shorter, circular walk of the fort site, can join the walk guide at 2.30pm. Focussing on the history and archaeology of the Roman Fort Site, this is a circular route, ending back at Newstead Village.
Useful Information
For both the full walk and short walk, we suggest you bring a drink, wear sturdy footwear suitable for paths and fields, and dress for the changeable Borders weather! Dogs are welcome on the walk, just make sure you have water for them, especially on warm days. There are no toilets en route, except those that nature provides.
For the short walk, parking is available on the verge of the gated road, opposite the meeting point. Please do not park in any area reserved for residents. Public transport can also be used to reach the short walk start point. For up-to-date bus information, please go to https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk.
If you don’t feel able to join the walk, you can drive to Newstead or the Leaderfoot Viewpoint and walk a fairly easy route through the main part of the fort site, using our information boards to guide you. Maps can be obtained from the Trimontium Museum, Market Square, Melrose (open daily 10am-4.30pm.)
Booking for walks is essential.
Drop-ins are accepted on the day if space is available, although short walk participants must inform the museum if they plan to join in Newstead so we can inform the walk guide.
