Adventure Details
EXCURSIONS, IMMERSION, AND OTHER FUN
Take the ferry to the Isle of Bute where you’ll enjoy amazing coastal views and historic sites such as Mount Stuart House and more.
Explore remarkable natural & historic sites along the Cowal peninsula.
Enjoy an exciting daylong excursion to the beautiful seaside town of Oban.
Become part of the community for an evening as we sing with the community choir, followed by a visit to the local pub.
Project Instructor
ELAND STUART
Eland Stuart is a master at saving Scotland’s built heritage. He has taken historic cottages from rubble back to their charming original configuration. Eland has a degree in Archaeology from the University of Glasgow. He also trained with the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA), building in dry stone rubble with no mortar, and gained expertise with lime at the Scottish Lime Centre.
Eland gained a Masonry Conservation qualification with Historic Environment Scotland and the Stonemasonry Department at the College of Building and Printing in Glasgow. He is a talented instructor, taking volunteers from novice to confidence.
Project Funders
AiP is actively seeking sponsors. Join us in saving Dunans remarkable Telford bridge and restoring the "castle".
Project Partners
DUNANS CASTLE LTD
Dunans Castle Ltd is committed to creating a sustainable business that contributes to the betterment of its local community. All profits are invested in restoration of the site, running the company, improving employment opportunities, and making a positive impact on the community as a whole.
Through its actions, Dunans Castle Ltd aims to improve local facilities and work with local partners to improve economic opportunities. Importantly, Dunans Castle is also committed to addressing the identified problem of access to cultural events in the area, specifically theater, cinema and museums.
Cost*
1 week:
DBL Rm US$1790
SGL Rm +US$400
2 weeks:
DBL Rm US$3400
SGL Rm +US$800
*Costs are per person.
Discounts!
Join us for one adventure in preservation, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on all subsequent adventures.
Additional Cost Information
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.
Proof of Covid 19 vaccination
DUNANS CASTLE
GLENDARUEL, COWAL PENINSULA, SCOTLAND
Conservation at the Castle
September 2023 is full! Join us in 2024 in April or September.
Learn hands-on conservation skills as you repoint both castle walls and Telford bridge and help save the architectural heritage of Scotland.
Argyll in the autumn is spectacular, with colorful woodlands and miles of amazing coastline. In the midst of this, across Thomas Telford’s 1815 bridge, sits Dunans manor house and “castle”.
As you cross the bridge, you’ll see the results of three years of hands-on conservation by AiP jammers. Working with masonry conservators, jammers succeeded in beautifully restoring the bridge’s upper walls and, at this point, two of three dramatic arches.
At the castle, it’s time to begin conservation of the stone walls and magical turret! Debris from the massive fire is cleared, and Dunans is ready for your arrival in September
Unique Bridge and Castle Conservation Experience in Scotland
As long ago as 1590, cartographers noted a property on their maps called Dounens. This location became known as Dunans, and beginning around 1725, served as home to the Fletcher clan for over 200 years. Architect Andrew Kerr transformed the Dunans manor house into a mock castle in 1864. This unique and dramatic baronial house was largely destroyed by fire in 2001, leaving only the stone walls and the pre-Victorian west wing intact.
The A-listed Dunans Bridge that leads to the manor was designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1815 to allow easy access. Telford was one of Scotland’s greatest civil engineers and bridge builders. The arches, gargoyles and eight hexagonal piers, as well as its sheer height of 16 meters (52 feet), make it unique and of national importance.
Project and Need
After the fire, Dunans was purchased by an owner with conservation in mind. Dunans Castle Limited, a Social Enterprise, was formed. Once work is completed the castle will be public, with event spaces on the ground floor for community use and self-catering apartments on the upper two floors to provide a sustainable future.
Dunans woodlands are being harvested and will be replanted as a native woodland. This will result in 26,000 tons of carbon being sequestered by the new plantings, and will contribute to the wellbeing of biodiversity in the area.
Dunans and AiP are looking for passionate preservationists to take advantage of this valuable program of hands-on training. Eland Stuart, an expert in traditional building and a fantastic teacher, is onsite each day teaching the methods and magic of lime mortar repointing.
This might be the perfect opportunity for you!
Awesome week! Our accommodations were wonderful. The experiences working on the bridge were terrific! Learned a lot about techniques, work ethics, and the benefits of working as a group for a common cause. - 2022
Lodging and Meals
Lodging is at Tighnariddon located on the shore of Loch Riddon, a spectacular sea loch just 10 minutes from Dunans. Tighnariddon has two self-catering cottages, Shelduck Cottage with 3 ensuite bedrooms on 2 floors; and Teal Cottage with two ensuite bedrooms. The isle of Bute is nearby, where we’ll tour remarkable historic sites.
Delicious meals are prepared by a caterer, made from local produce and meat, much raised on their own farm. Lunch is served at the work site, and dinner served as a group meal at Tighnariddon. Breakfast food is provided for jammers to prepare. Options for vegetarians are provided upon request.
Schedule
Week 1:
Saturday, Sept 16: Meet AiP group in Glasgow for lunch & sightseeing; take van to Dunans at 3pm and settle into lodging.
Sun, Sept 17: Day long excursion to Bute.
Mon-Wed am, Sept 18-20: Tour of Dunans, skills training with Eland Stuart, repointing work on castle and bridge.
Wed pm, Sept 20: Excursion to sites on the Cowal Peninsula.
Thurs-Fri, Sept 21-22: Work continues on castle and bridge.
Sat, Sept 23: Week 1 jammers depart for Glasgow; airport drop off 11am.
Week 2:
Saturday, Sept 23: Week 2 jammers meet in Glasgow for lunch & sightseeing; take van to Dunans at 3pm and settle into lodging.
Sun, Sept 24: Day long excursion to Oban.
Mon-Wed am, Sept 25-27: Tour of Dunans, skills training with Eland Stuart, repointing work on castle and bridge.
Wed pm, Sept 27: Excursion to sites on the Cowal Peninsula.
Thurs-Fri, Sept 28-29: Work continues on castle and bridge.
Sat, Sept 30: Depart for Glasgow; airport drop off at 11am.
Each day after breakfast, work begins at 9:15 am with a discussion of the day’s tasks and demonstration of skills as needed. There are breaks for tea and lunch; work ends about 5pm. Various evening activities are planned throughout the week.
Come to Scotland with AiP – travel, learn and preserve as you support this valuable social enterprise!
This experience has left such a huge imprint on my life, and I hope to do more projects. It was an incredible journey that has helped me learn and grow as a person.
— Samantha Coppola, 2017
Costs
Your project fee of US$1790 for one week, US$3400 for two weeks, covers the cost of lodging in a double room, meals, excursions (meals on excursions not covered), materials & training, and transportation to and from Glasgow Airport. If you prefer a single room, an additional single supplement of $400 per week will be added to your fee.
Travel Details
If flying to the project, book your flight into the Glasgow Airport (GLA). Airport pickup is provided on Saturday, September 16, and Saturday, September 23.
Arrival time at the airport must be prior to 3pm on Saturday. We will explore Glasgow and eat lunch as we wait for everyone to arrive. The shuttle leaves for Dunans at 3pm. Saturday dinner is the first meal included in your fee.
Rental cars are available at the airport for those interested in having their own car. Drive time from Glasgow Airport to Dunans Castle is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Airport drop off is provided on Saturday, September 23, and Saturday, September 30. 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. So 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).
Rain gear is essential. Plan to bring waterproof socks, waterproof/water resistant shoes, waterproof jacket and pants. A waterproof hat may be helpful in addition to the jacket hood. Several sweaters and/or sweatshirts or a down vest are recommended to go under your rain jacket. 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.
COVID Precautions
All travelers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with the final dose given at least 14 days before the start of the session. Everyone will test for Covid 19 with an Antigen Rapid Test upon arrival and 3 days after arrival. Please bring 2 Covid 19 Antigen Rapid Tests. Also bring masks to wear when required.
If you test positive, you will not be allowed to go on tours or eat with other participants. If you feel well enough, there is ample room on the worksite to keep a safe distance from fellow jammers. No refund is available as the result of a positive Covid test.
If you have any questions or would like to chat with an AiP staff member about joining this cultural heritage experience, contact us at trips@adventuresinpreservation.org or call us at +1 303-444-0128.
