Visitors will get a chance to see inside historic Kinneil House in Bo’ness this Saturday (September 15).
The mansion – dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries – will be open for free tours to support the national Doors Open Days festival and the local Big Roman Week.
There will be Roman activities in the surrounding Kinneil Estate during the afternoon. The Estate includes the remains of a Roman fortlet.
Kinneil House boasts some of the best Renaissance wall paintings in Scotland, and was built along the line of the Roman Antonine Wall.
Anyone wanting to go on a tour inside the House should visit Kinneil Museum – the red-roofed building in front of Kinneil House. Tickets and allocated tour times will be available on the day from the Museum. The first tours will be at noon – and thereafter every 15 minutes or so, with the last admission at 3.30 p.m.
VISITING KINNEIL HOUSE? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHEN: Open days usually take place around eight times a year. See the homepage of the Kinneil site – www.kinneil.org – for the latest dates. Normally there are no tours inside the House over the winter months (November to February) – however the Museum IS open during throughout the year.
HOW: For 2018, book a timed tour of the House by visiting Kinneil Museum – the red-roofed building in front of the big mansion – on the day of the open day. Tours normally run every 15 minutes from noon, leaving from the museum and walking the short distance into the House. Last admission to the mansion is 3.30 p.m. Volunteer guides will be on hand to take the tours and to answer any questions. Additional volunteers are in the museum to help you. The Museum opens early around noon on open days (normally it opens at 12.30 p.m.).
COST: Admission to the House and the Museum is free of charge. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
ADVANCE TICKETS: Currently tour tickets are only available on the day from the museum. You can’t book tickets in advance or online. Numbers on each tour are limited for health and safety reasons.
ACCESS: The House is around 500 years old in parts – and doesn’t have a lift. Everyone can get access to the oldest section, the Tower House (albeit just to a platform inside the tower). For the Palace section, you have to go down a few stairs to reach the ground floor. There is also one flight of stairs up to the star attractions, the painted rooms. There are two further flights of stairs to displays on the top floor …. Neighbouring Kinneil Museum also has stairs; however, there is a ramped access to the ground floor and an accessible toilet. The Museum also has an iPad with images of rooms inside Kinneil House …. Key paths around the Estate are also accessible using wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
PARKING: In front of the House and museum. If in doubt, ask one of the volunteers across the site.
PHOTOGRAPHY: No flash photography is allowed in the painted rooms at Kinneil.
REFRESHMENTS: A stall selling drinks and sweet treats is normally operational during open days. There may also be other refreshments on sale during special events. If you want a meal, you can find cafes and restaurants around Bo’ness.
OTHER THINGS TO SEE: The museum offers displays and maps about the surrounding Estate, which also boasts a Roman fortlet and the ruins of a medieval church. There is also a wealth of other attractions in Bo’ness.
DIRECTIONS: The postcode is EH51 0PR.
MAP: http://j.mp/2x5hLES
Kinneil 
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