THE full list of Ayrshire events that will be taking place next month as part of Scotland’s annual Doors Open Days festival has been revealed.

Highlights of this year’s festival include a chance to see inside a former pub which has been repurposed as a community and exhibition space, an opportunity to visit the operating centre of a hydro electric scheme, a guided tour of Commonwealth war graves, and the chance to see inside more than a dozen of the area's churches.

All of this year’s Ayrshire events are being held on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 – the second of three weekends in which the Doors Open Days festival is taking place in cities, towns and villages across Scotland.

The Ayrshire programme is being arranged by volunteers from the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society and has received financial support from Destination Ayrshire to allow several venues which would normally charge for admission to open their doors to the public free of charge.

A total of 45 venues across Ayrshire are taking part in the 2022 festival, several for the first time.

Events and venues include the following…

Irvine Times: Kilwinning Abbey (Image - Street View)Kilwinning Abbey (Image - Street View)

North Ayrshire

A guided tour of Saltcoats themed on Captain Betsy Miller, Britain’s first female ship’s captain (book spaces on 01294 464174)

Guided tours of the Skelmorlie Secret Bunker (book on 07513 504115)

The Scottish Maritime Museum’s Sea Monsters exhibition

Kilwinning Abbey Church and Tower (pictured above)

Clark Memorial Church in Largs

Fairlie Parish Church

St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ardrossan

Irvine Times: The Tower of St John's in Ayr (Image - Street View)The Tower of St John's in Ayr (Image - Street View)

South Ayrshire

Tower of St John’s in Ayr

Tarbolton Masonic Lodge

The Local (Ayrshire Housing), Ayr

Nethermills Hydro Scheme operating centre on the River Ayr (book on 01292 525512 – places must be booked before 4pm on Friday, September 9)

Ayr Cemetery guided walk with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (book on 07425 816198)

Guided walk looking at Ayr’s letter boxes (book on 01292 261289)

St Meddan’s Parish Church, Troon

Troon Old Parish Church

The Stumpy Tower, Girvan

Irvine Times: Auchinleck House (Photo - Jim McLatchie)Auchinleck House (Photo - Jim McLatchie)

East Ayrshire

National Burns Memorial House, Mauchline

Auchinleck House (pictured above)

Auchinleck Parish Church

Stair Parish Church and Stair Community Centre

St Marnock’s Parish Church, Kilmarnock

Kay Park Parish Church, Kilmarnock

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock

New Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock

Dunlop Kirk

The Portland, Galston

Barr Castle, Galston

Brochures with full details of the Ayrshire programme can be found at all council public counters and libraries across the county.

For full details of dates and opening times for the festival, which is co-ordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust, see doorsopendays.org.uk and search for the council area or venue you’re interested in.