Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories, new and old.
Every September you can explore hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland for free. Some open up once a year, some just once a lifetime.
Here are some of the historic vessels and Shipshape Network projects taking part in this year's event:
HMS Unicorn (Dundee)
27 + 28 September 2025 (10:00 - 16:00)
At almost 200 years old, HMS Unicorn is one of the world's most remarkable historic ships and the last surviving wooden warship left in Scotland. Built for the Royal Navy and launched in 1824, HMS Unicorn is now preserved as a historic ship and visitor attraction in Dundee. As one of the world's six oldest ships and with four atmospheric decks to explore, HMS Unicorn is great fun for all the family and suitable for all ages. So come aboard and step back in time to learn about life at sea, the history of the Navy in Dundee and warships in ‘the Golden Age of Sail’. For Doors Open Days enjoy free entry to the ship with volunteers and staff on hand to show people around and tell them about the history.
https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/dundee/hms-unicorn
The Tall Ship Glenlee at Riverside Museum (Glasow)
20 September 2025 (10:00 - 16:30)
The Tall Ship Glenlee is a historic, Clyde-built, steel-hulled, square-rigged sailing ship, now a museum, visitor attraction and events space in Glasgow. Launched in 1896, it served as a cargo vessel, sailing around the globe multiple times, before being repurposed as a Spanish naval training ship. Restored to its original glory, it offers visitors a chance to explore its history and maritime life on the River Clyde.
For the festival on board we will have crafts, shuffleboard, and face painting for kids held by our education team; Caulking demonstrations held by our crew; Free shows around the event space; Free tours that begin outside and take you all around the ship; along with an open bar!
https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/glasgow/the-tall-ship-glenlee-at-riverside-museum
The Swan LK243 (Scalloway)
19 + 20 September 2025 (11:00 - 16:00)
A huge amount of time, effort and funding fully restored this iconic boat to what she is today over 6 years. Since then Swan has been providing public sailing trips each summer, taking part in Tall Ships Races around Europe and operating as a sail training vessel – introducing a new generation of young Shetlanders to the benefits of maritime heritage, sail training and international opportunities!
Swan Trustees invite the public on board to find out more about our boat’s history and Shetland’s maritime heritage. Learn about the possibilities for sail training experiences, and volunteering opportunities on board and on shore.
Take a peek in the engine room, the saloon and the galley, and see how much space each sailor has in a bunk! Guided tours of the boat can be provided on request.
Hear stories from Trustees and crew members about sailing on board and see how you can be involved with a living piece of Shetland’s history.
There will be opportunity to sign up to volunteering roles, or just find out more about what is available to suit every level of skill and ability.
https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/shetland/the-swan-lk243-scalloway
Portsoy Boat Shed (Aberdeenshire)
21 September 2025 (12:00 - 16:00)
In the late 1800s Portsoy had several active boat builders and sail making in the Sail Loft on the Back Green. In 2004, the Boat Festival Trust began its policy of working with children to teach and revive basic principles of wooden boat building. Through outreach projects coordinated by the Boat Festival Trust, children have created over 60 dinghies and several small boats called Curraghs and a North Sea Faering and a St Ayles Skiff. It was subsequently identified that a permanent premises was essential to the continued teaching of boat crafting skills and Portsoy Maritime Heritage gifted derelict buildings on the Old Harbour to Portsoy Community Enterprise, who thanks to funding of half a million pounds, transformed the building into the Boatshed.
The Boatshed, built upon the ruins of a former boatshed/store, was fully renovated and opened in 2015. It is now home to a group of enthusiastic boatbuilding volunteers with a passion for wooden boat building who use the purposely designed workshop space, equipped with tools, for community boatbuilding projects and school boatbuilding sessions, ensuring the skills of traditional boatbuilding remain active.
You will find a friendly welcome and a hearty chat as the team share their skills, knowledge and learning. Come along and see them at work.
https://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/aberdeenshire/portsoy-boat-shed
Zone Scotland