Historic buildings, churches, museums, castles and unusual locations across Ayrshire will open their doors to the public next month as part of Doors Open Days 2026.
The 37th annual celebration of Scotland’s built heritage will take place across Ayrshire on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with 51 venues participating throughout North, East and South Ayrshire.
Several buildings will be joining the programme for the first time, while a number of popular locations will return following periods of closure.
North Ayrshire
Kilbirnie Auld Kirk Heritage Centre will make a welcome return under new ownership, while visitors will also be able to explore Ardrossan Castle and Portencross Castle with guidance from local heritage groups.
Largs Community Church, previously known as Clark Memorial Church, will showcase its collection of high-quality stained glass.
Guided tours of Skelmorlie Secret Bunker will also be available to book. Visitors entering the underground operations room must be able to negotiate a 15-foot vertical steel ladder. An accessible, fully equipped replica monitoring post and a small museum will be available above ground.
North Ayrshire Heritage Centre in Saltcoats will host an exhibition titled Bound by the Sea: The Three Towns and the Merchant Navy, featuring exhibits from the Scottish Maritime Museum.
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire’s programme includes a wide range of churches, historic buildings, museums and community venues.
Kilmaurs Lodge St Maurs No. 1398 will open alongside the Glencairn Aisle, which dates from 1600, and the Kilmaurs Jougs, formerly known as the Tolbooth.
In Kilmarnock, visitors will be able to see the spectacular painted chancel inside Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Nearby, The Club, a private gentlemen’s club founded in 1884, will provide an opportunity to see one of Ayrshire’s finest billiard rooms.
Dunlop Kirk will display its remarkable series of 26 stained-glass windows, an unusual feature for a rural village church.
Hurlford Masonic Lodge No. 505 will participate for the first time, while Irvine Valley Parish Churches in Galston and Darvel will return to the programme.
The National Burns Memorial Homes in Mauchline will welcome visitors, along with the National Burns Memorial Tower, where Elaine Johnston’s gallery will be open throughout the weekend.
Loudoun Kirk and Barr Castle in Galston will reopen following a period of roof repairs. Visitors will be able to see a recently restored window inscribed by Robert Burns, which was featured on the BBC programme The Repair Shop.
Auchinleck House is expected to prove popular once again. The historic property was rescued by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and later furnished by the Landmark Trust as holiday accommodation for up to 13 people. Admission will be through timed tickets booked on the Landmark Trust website.
Other participating East Ayrshire venues include Stair Parish Church, Fenwick Parish Church and Lochgoin Covenanters’ Museum.
Cumnock’s venues include the privately operated Heritage Centre and Trinity Church, which is currently the focus of a development trust campaign.
East Ayrshire’s four museums have recently introduced seven-day opening and will also participate in the weekend. They are The Dick Institute and Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, Burns House Museum in Mauchline and The Baird Institute in Cumnock.
South Ayrshire
The Tower of St John’s in Ayr will again offer visitors views across the town and surrounding area, while Ayr Gaiety will provide behind-the-scenes tours.
Visitors will also have the chance to explore the austere former police cells beneath Ayr Town Hall or take a self-guided tour of Ayr’s Carnegie Library.
Tours of Ayrshire Archives headquarters, Rozelle House and the South Ayrshire Museum Store are already fully booked.
Places have also been filled for tours of the historic wine cellars now used by Corney and Barrow. Built in 1766 and celebrating their 260th anniversary, they are described as Scotland’s oldest continuously working wine cellars.
In Troon, St Ninian’s Episcopal Church will open its doors and invite visitors to look out for the ten mice hidden within the building.
In Girvan, visitors will be able to explore Stumpy Tower and see the Victorian garden at Whitewin House.
A guided walk will also take place around Dunure Cemetery, where representatives from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will share the stories behind some of its most interesting headstones.
Free event supported by volunteers
Ayrshire Doors Open Days is organised by volunteers from Kyle and Carrick Civic Society, with assistance from the volunteers who steward the participating buildings.
Financial support is provided by North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and other benefactors, allowing the public to visit participating venues free of charge.
The event is nationally coordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust.
Historic buildings, churches, museums, castles and unusual locations across Ayrshire will open their doors to the public next month as part of Doors Open Days 2026.
The 37th annual celebration of Scotland’s built heritage will take place across Ayrshire on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with 51 venues participating throughout North, East and South Ayrshire.
Several buildings will be joining the programme for the first time, while a number of popular locations will return following periods of closure.
North Ayrshire
Kilbirnie Auld Kirk Heritage Centre will make a welcome return under new ownership, while visitors will also be able to explore Ardrossan Castle and Portencross Castle with guidance from local heritage groups.
Largs Community Church, previously known as Clark Memorial Church, will showcase its collection of high-quality stained glass.
Guided tours of Skelmorlie Secret Bunker will also be available to book. Visitors entering the underground operations room must be able to negotiate a 15-foot vertical steel ladder. An accessible, fully equipped replica monitoring post and a small museum will be available above ground.
North Ayrshire Heritage Centre in Saltcoats will host an exhibition titled Bound by the Sea: The Three Towns and the Merchant Navy, featuring exhibits from the Scottish Maritime Museum.
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire’s programme includes a wide range of churches, historic buildings, museums and community venues.
Kilmaurs Lodge St Maurs No. 1398 will open alongside the Glencairn Aisle, which dates from 1600, and the Kilmaurs Jougs, formerly known as the Tolbooth.
In Kilmarnock, visitors will be able to see the spectacular painted chancel inside Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Nearby, The Club, a private gentlemen’s club founded in 1884, will provide an opportunity to see one of Ayrshire’s finest billiard rooms.
Dunlop Kirk will display its remarkable series of 26 stained-glass windows, an unusual feature for a rural village church.
Hurlford Masonic Lodge No. 505 will participate for the first time, while Irvine Valley Parish Churches in Galston and Darvel will return to the programme.
The National Burns Memorial Homes in Mauchline will welcome visitors, along with the National Burns Memorial Tower, where Elaine Johnston’s gallery will be open throughout the weekend.
Loudoun Kirk and Barr Castle in Galston will reopen following a period of roof repairs. Visitors will be able to see a recently restored window inscribed by Robert Burns, which was featured on the BBC programme The Repair Shop.
Auchinleck House is expected to prove popular once again. The historic property was rescued by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and later furnished by the Landmark Trust as holiday accommodation for up to 13 people. Admission will be through timed tickets booked on the Landmark Trust website.
Other participating East Ayrshire venues include Stair Parish Church, Fenwick Parish Church and Lochgoin Covenanters’ Museum.
Cumnock’s venues include the privately operated Heritage Centre and Trinity Church, which is currently the focus of a development trust campaign.
East Ayrshire’s four museums have recently introduced seven-day opening and will also participate in the weekend. They are The Dick Institute and Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, Burns House Museum in Mauchline and The Baird Institute in Cumnock.
South Ayrshire
The Tower of St John’s in Ayr will again offer visitors views across the town and surrounding area, while Ayr Gaiety will provide behind-the-scenes tours.
Visitors will also have the chance to explore the austere former police cells beneath Ayr Town Hall or take a self-guided tour of Ayr’s Carnegie Library.
Tours of Ayrshire Archives headquarters, Rozelle House and the South Ayrshire Museum Store are already fully booked.
Places have also been filled for tours of the historic wine cellars now used by Corney and Barrow. Built in 1766 and celebrating their 260th anniversary, they are described as Scotland’s oldest continuously working wine cellars.
In Troon, St Ninian’s Episcopal Church will open its doors and invite visitors to look out for the ten mice hidden within the building.
In Girvan, visitors will be able to explore Stumpy Tower and see the Victorian garden at Whitewin House.
A guided walk will also take place around Dunure Cemetery, where representatives from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will share the stories behind some of its most interesting headstones.
Free event supported by volunteers
Ayrshire Doors Open Days is organised by volunteers from Kyle and Carrick Civic Society, with assistance from the volunteers who steward the participating buildings.
Financial support is provided by North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and other benefactors, allowing the public to visit participating venues free of charge.
The event is nationally coordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust.
Brochures are available from libraries and council public counters throughout Ayrshire. Opening days, times, accessibility information and booking requirements vary between venues and should be checked before travelling.
Further information is available from the Doors Open Days website and the Doors Open Days Ayrshire Facebook page.
Brochures are available from libraries and council public counters throughout Ayrshire. Opening days, times, accessibility information and booking requirements vary between venues and should be checked before travelling.
Further information is available from the Doors Open Days website and the Doors Open Days Ayrshire Facebook page.