East Lothian In Scotland,uk, Hosts Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight 2025: A Celebration Of History And Discovery

Published on August 18, 2025

East Lothian is preparing to big a rich | programme of activities arsenic nan Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight returns from 30 August to 14 September 2025. Organized by East Lothian Council’s Archaeology Service successful business pinch Archaeology Scotland, nan arena forms portion of Scottish Archaeology Month and brings together complete 60 opportunities for visitors to measurement into nan past.

The show spans guided walks, re-enactments, excavations, exhibitions, workshops, and talks. It provides some residents and visitors pinch a chance to prosecute pinch East Lothian’s layered history, from Ice Age settlements and Roman remains to medieval castles and wartime airfields.

Musselburgh’s Hidden History

Musselburgh will play a cardinal domiciled successful nan celebrations. A walking circuit connected Sunday, 31 August 2025, from 14:00 to 15:30, invites participants to travel done 6,000 years of history. The way explores archaeological sites crossed nan town, opening pinch nan first settlers who arrived aft nan retreat of nan Ice Age and moving done to Roman life, including remains of nan astir northerly amphitheatre successful nan empire.

The locomotion covers astir 2 kilometres and is designed to beryllium accessible, pinch ramps supporting wheelchair users. It is free to attend, though donations are welcome. Booking is required to unafraid a place.

Tours of Loretto School

On 7 and 14 September, from 14:30 to 16:00, visitors will beryllium capable to circuit nan field of Loretto School, Scotland’s oldest boarding school. The guided acquisition focuses connected 2 historical buildings: Pinkie House and Loretto Chapel.

Pinkie House dates backmost to nan 14th century, pinch description s carried retired successful nan 15th and early 17th hundreds of years by Alexander Seton. The building is location to nan Painted Gallery, featuring 1 of Scotland’s finest painted ceilings, created successful 1630. In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed present aft nan Battle of Prestonpans.

Loretto Chapel, commissioned successful 1892 and remodeled successful 1964, contains memorials to erstwhile pupils and an organ installed successful 1989. The circuit highlights some nan taste and architectural bequest of these sites. While free to attend, these tours require advance booking, and entree involves steep staircases.

Commemoration of nan Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

The Old Musselburgh Club will people nan Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (1547) pinch its yearly ceremonial astatine nan memorial chromatic connected Salters Road, Wallyford, connected Wednesday, 10 September astatine 13:00. The commemoration will beryllium preceded by a battlefield walk, opening astatine nan Roman Bridge successful Musselburgh astatine 11:00. These events are unfastened to each and do not require booking.

Roman Inveresk Survey

A geophysical study unfastened day will return spot astatine Lewisvale Park, Musselburgh, connected Thursday, 11 September, 10:00–15:00. Conducted by Historic Environment Scotland, nan study investigates nan protect ditches surrounding nan Roman Vicus, aliases civilian settlement, astatine Inveresk. Visitors tin meet nan team, watch an world guidance study successful advancement astatine nan westbound of nan cricket pitch, and position results from earlier studies.

Wider Programme Across East Lothian

The 2025 Fortnight extends good beyond Musselburgh. Highlights include:

• 1722 Waggonway Project: Excavations, finds handling, surviving history, and demonstrations of wood carving and quill penning (5–6 September).
• Walking Tours: Routes covering nan 1745 Trail from Dunbar to Prestonpans, Aberlady Bay’s WWII history, North Berwick’s heritage, Gullane’s past, Haddington history walks, and battlefield tours successful Prestonpans.
• Heritage Workshops: Classes successful fresco painting, sessions connected interpreting aged maps, building preservation workshops, and a mini accepted skills show successful Dunbar.
• Guided Site Tours: Experiences astatine Lennoxlove House, Prestongrange, Cockenzie Harbour, and different notable practice locations.
• Talks and Online Presentations: Sessions covering section history, seasoned stories, and archaeological research.

Event Schedule astatine a Glance

How to Book

Most events are free to attend, though galore require booking to negociate numbers. The process is straightforward:

1. Visit nan charismatic booking portal: East Lothian Booking Live
2. Browse nan listings: Explore each Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight events by day and category.
3. Select your event: Each introduction includes location, entree details, and requirements.
4. Complete your booking: Reserve your free spot online. Some events invited donations.
5. Need help? Contact nan East Lothian Council Archaeology Service astatine [email protected] aliases telephone 01620 827039.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight reflects nan spot of East Lothian’s taste identity. From Ice Age landscapes to Roman legacies, medieval battles to business stories, nan programme celebrates nan extent of section history.

With its operation of guided tours, hands-on experiences, commemorations, and workshops, nan show offers thing for everyone. Visitors are encouraged to book early for celebrated events and to return advantage of nan chance to research sites that are seldom unfastened to nan public.

As nan region prepares for thousands of visitors, nan Fortnight promises not only to showcase East Lothian’s past but besides to fortify its domiciled arsenic a hub for practice tourism successful Scotland.

[Source: East Lothian Courier]