Castle Conservation in Scotland
- Learn hands-on skills and work alongside a Masonry Conservation expert
- Visit the remarkable Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute
- Spend an evening with community members and jammers at the local pub
Dounens was noted by cartographers as far back as 1590, with Dunans becoming the home of the Fletcher clan around 1725. The remarkable A-listed Telford bridge has provided access to the site since 1815. Architect Andrew Kerr transformed the manor house into a mock castle in 1864, and it was largely destroyed by fire in 2001.
The goal is to bring the castle back for public use, with community event spaces on the ground floor and self-catering apartments on the upper floors to provide a sustainable future. AiP jammers work with Eland Stuart, learning the art of repointing with lime mortar to continue conservation efforts.
Dunans recently bought back 250 acres of the ancient Fletcher estate and you will help efforts to restore a native woodland.
Saturday: Meet AiP group in Glasgow for lunch; take van to Dunans at 3pm and settle into lodging.
Sunday: Day long excursion to sites such as Bute or Inverary.
Monday-Wednesday am: Tour of Dunans, skills training with Eland Stuart, repointing work on castle or bridge.
Wednesday pm: Excursion to sites on the Cowal Peninsula.
Thursday-Friday: Repointing work continues.
Saturday: Jammers depart for Glasgow; airport drop off 11am.
Pickup provided at Glasgow Airport (GLA).
Pickup also available at hotels in the historic center of Glasgow, if you arrive prior to Saturday.
The van leaves for Dunans at 3pm Saturday, so schedule your flight to arrive prior to that time.
Airport drop off is provided on Saturday of departure. Drop off is around 11 am, so schedule your departing flight accordingly.
September in western Scotland brings equal chance of sunny mild days or rainy days. We’ll look for sun and plan for rain. Daytime highs average around 69°F (15°C) with lows averaging about 48°F (9°C). Midges largely disappear by mid-September.
Rain gear is essential. Plan to bring waterproof/water resistant shoes, and waterproof jacket and pants. A waterproof hat may be helpful in addition to the jacket hood.
It can feel quite chilly working outside, so consider bringing sweaters to go under a down vest and/or down jacket. This can go under your rain jacket. Silk long underwear, wool socks and insulated work gloves can all help you stay comfortable. Sturdy close-toed shoes are required. You may want to dress up a bit for visits to the village and other site seeing, but plan for comfort.
Your fee includes:
• Ground transportation between Glasgow Airport & Dunans Castle
• Lodging during your session
• Meals from dinner on Saturday of arrival through breakfast on day of departure, except meals on excursions
• Excursions
• Instruction from on-site expert
All participants are responsible for:
• Travel to Glasgow
• Visa if required
• Meals during excursions
• Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage. Send AiP proof of purchase.
Total payment must be received at least 45 days prior to the project start date.
- If your choice of session is not available, you will be notified immediately, and you may choose between enrolling in another session with places available or receiving a full refund.
- A non-refundable 50% deposit is required at the time of registration. The deposit may be applied toward attending another project only if you cancel more than 45 days prior to the project start date.
- If you cancel more than 45 days before the start of the project and have paid the fee in full, you will receive a refund of 50% of the fee. The remaining 50% is nonrefundable.
- No refund is possible within 45 days of project start or during the project.
- All payments made to Adventures in Preservation by the participant to attend a project will be refunded if Adventures in Preservation cancels the project.
- Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended.