Doors Open Day in Central Fife goes digital this weekend

The move comes as organisers of the annual event respond to the current concerns surrounding Covid-19 by making Doors Open Days 2020 more digital so that people can continue to safely explore Scotland’s buildings, spaces and places.

A limited number of venues, including Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, will still be open for physical visits this year, but organisers expect most people will enjoy the sites from the comfort of their armchair.

Everything will be hosted on the Doors Open Days website (www.doorsopendays.org.uk), where people can explore nooks and crannies in venues large and small.

In Central Fife this Sunday the participating venues are: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk and Graveyard, Burntisland Heritage Trust, Earthship Fife, Kinghorn, St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Kirkcaldy, Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society, St Drostan’s in Markinch and Silverbirn Flax Mill, Leven.

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk will be opening its doors between 10am and 3pm this Saturday and between 12.30pm and 3pm on Sunday. There will also be a virtual tour.

Kirk visitors are asked to wear a face covering and follow social distancing and hygiene regulations as they view the “Stories From Stones” exhibition and climb the ancient 15th century belltower.

At 2pm on Saturday there will be a guided walk around Adam Smith’s Kirkcaldy, starting outside the Old Kirk tower and at 2pm on Sunday, there will be a guided tour of “Stories from Stones”. Both groups are limited to five people at a time. Book by phoning 01592 265499. A virtual tour will be available from Saturday on www.kirkcaldyoldkirktrust.org.uk

All the activities are free but donations towards the upkeep of the Kirk and the current Tower Restoration Project are welcome.

Burntisland Heritage Trust has posted a number of videos on a You Tube channel - including one based on its cancelled 2020 exhibition ‘Portrait of a Town’. Other videos include: Burntisland Here and Then. Visit www.burntisland.net.

People can also take an online tour of the Wemyss Caves, watch a 4D laser scan reconstruction and videos telling the caves story and information on a new museum and visitor centre. Visit wemyss caves.org