HISTORY lovers are being urged to make a date with Kinneil Estate in 2011.
The Bo’ness parkland – part of a World Heritage Site – is featured on a free downloadable calendar, launched this week. Simply visit the Kinneil website – www.kinneil.org.uk – to get your free copy. (Scroll to the bottom of this feature to get the download link).
The charity The Friends of Kinneil has also revealed the dates of free open afternoons at the impressive Kinneil House, the centrepiece of the park, in the forthcoming year.
The group works in conjunction with Historic Scotland to give visitors free tours inside the historic mansion, which boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland.
There will be five open days in 2011: April 16 and 17, June 26, August 28, and October 30. Each event will run from noon to 4 p.m. (except October 30, when the House will close its doors at 3 p.m.) The last admissions will be 30 minutes before closing time.
The Friends group is also planning a sixth visit to co-incide with a summer walk, likely to be held in July.
Maria Ford, the chair of The Friends of Kinneil, said: “Open afternoons at Kinneil House are always popular, but the wider estate is a great place to visit at any time of the year.
“The park boasts the ruins of a medieval church, there’s a cottage that was used by James Watt and the remains of a Roman fortlet. There are also acres of woodlands to explore – and a regular walking group to join if you fancy some company.
“Whilst you can only see inside Kinneil House on special open afternoons, you can visit the neighbouring Kinneil Museum – in the stable block of the House – throughout the year. It’s open from Mondays to Saturdays from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and boasts a free audio visual show, a shop area, and some great exhibits. It’s also a great place to heat up on a cold winter’s day!”
Mrs Ford said the new downloadable calendar tries to capture some of the many facets of the historic estate, photographed throughout the seasons.
“Kinneil’s a beautiful place to visit and we hope the new 2011 calendar will encourage local people to keep coming to the estate in the forthcoming year. There’s lots to see and do.
“Just click the link on our website – www.kinneil.org.uk – and download the file. You’ll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the calendar, and it should print on any home colour or black and white printer.”
The Friends of Kinneil was set in 2006 to promote and support the development of Kinneil Estate, on the western edge of Bo’ness. Anyone interested in joining the charity can find out more at www.kinneil.org.uk/friends
In 2008, the estate – which features the remains of the Roman Antonine Wall – was named as part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site.
DOWNLOAD THE 2011 CALENDAR HERE (pdf, 3.3mb). You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print out the Calendar. It should be installed on your PC. If it’s not, download for free from www.adobe.com/reader
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