Our Summer 2026 programme offers a wonderful variety of outings exploring the archaeology and history of central Scotland — from Roman forts and Iron Age hillforts to medieval abbeys and historic museums.
All events are free and open to everyone — you do not need to be a member to take part. Voluntary donations are always appreciated and help the Society continue its work.
Meeting point: Just inside the Castleview Park & Ride (free parking: FK9 4TW, M9 junction 10) for directions and any last-minute instructions. Saturday excursions are all-day trips, so please bring a packed lunch and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the terrain.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants take part on the understanding that they do so at their own risk.
Our all-day Saturday excursions are a highlight of the summer programme. Each outing is led by an experienced Society member who brings the history of each site to life. This year’s programme takes us from the Neolithic ritual landscape at Cairnpapple Hill to the grandeur of Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and from Scotland’s oldest public museum at the Hunterian to the medieval splendour of Paisley Abbey.
We travel together by car from the meeting point, usually returning by late afternoon. Please bring a packed lunch, water, and wear comfortable shoes suitable for uneven ground.
Our Tuesday evening visits are a relaxed way to explore archaeological and historical sites within easy reach of Stirling. Each visit typically lasts a couple of hours, making them ideal if you’re new to the Society or want to discover somewhere you may have driven past a hundred times without knowing its story.
This summer’s evenings include a Roman fort at Cramond, medieval churches at Kincardine in Menteith, an Iron Age hillfort above Callander, and the remarkable Tappoch Broch at Torwood — one of the few lowland brochs in Scotland, recently re-excavated in 2025.
The Society’s annual community excavation at Bannockburn House runs over two periods this year: 20–28 June and 18–26 July 2026. We shall continue exploring the area around a very early (possibly 16th century) mine shaft and the environs of the house, where Roy’s map of c.1750 shows a now vanished range of buildings at the north-east corner.
The dig is open to volunteers of all experience levels — no previous archaeological experience is needed. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get hands-on with real archaeology right here in Stirling.
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