Summer Programme 2026: Field Visits, Excursions and a Community Dig

The Society’s 2026 summer programme is now confirmed, with six evening field visits, four full-day excursions and a five-week community excavation running from April through September. Whether you’re drawn to Roman frontiers, Neolithic ritual landscapes, medieval churches or Iron Age hillforts, there is something for everyone. All events are open to members and non-members alike. Full details and booking are available on our Summer Programme 2026 page.

Photo: Rosser1954 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 — Source

Cairnpapple Henge and Cairn, one of Scotland’s most important prehistoric monuments — destination of our April excursion. View on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Rosser1954 / CC BY 4.0

Evening Field Visits

Our Tuesday evening field visits run from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, exploring archaeological sites within easy reach of Stirling:

• 14 April — Cramond: Fort on the River Almond (Liz Patterson) — The Roman fort, bathhouse and harbour at Cramond on the Firth of Forth.
• 12 May — Kincardine in Menteith Churches (Paul Sorowka) — Medieval parish churches in the heart of Menteith.
• 9 June — Samson’s Stone, Dunmore Fort & Bochastle Roman Fort (Paul Sorowka) — Three archaeological sites in a single evening around Callander.
• 7 July — Skinflats Nature Reserve (Paul Sorowka) — Archaeology on the shores of the upper Forth estuary.
• 11 August — Tappoch Broch, Torwood (Robert Meikle) — One of Scotland’s few lowland brochs, recently re-excavated in 2025.
• 8 September — Gillies Hill Fort (Paul Sorowka) — Early Bronze Age and Iron Age hillfort above Stirling.

Photo: Nigel J C Turnbull / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 — Source

Tappoch Broch in Torwood — a 2,000-year-old Iron Age broch and one of the summer programme’s highlights. View on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Nigel J C Turnbull / CC BY-SA 2.0

Saturday Excursions

Four full-day Saturday outings (9:30 AM to 5:00 PM) take us further afield:

• 18 April — Cairnpapple Hill & Torphichen Preceptory (Robert Meikle) — A Neolithic henge and Bronze Age cairn, followed by the only preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller in Scotland.
• 23 May — Hunterian Museum, Glasgow (Liz Patterson) — Scotland’s oldest public museum, home to major Roman and prehistoric collections.
• 22 August — Linlithgow Palace, St Michael’s Church & Museum (Robert Meikle) — The birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and one of Scotland’s finest medieval royal residences.
• 12 September — Paisley Abbey & Kilbarchan Weavers’ Cottage (Paul Sorowka) — A magnificent Cluniac abbey founded in 1163 and an 18th-century handloom weaver’s cottage.

Bannockburn House Community Excavation

The highlight of the summer is the return of our community excavation at Bannockburn House, running from 20 June to 26 July 2026. Led by Paul Sorowka, this year’s dig continues investigation of the 16th-century mine shaft and the vanished buildings of the original Drummondhall estate. Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome — full training is provided on site. See the Summer Programme page for how to sign up.

Join Us This Summer

Membership costs just £15 per year and supports the Society’s programme of lectures, field visits and research. Join or renew online. Non-members are also very welcome at all summer events. We look forward to seeing you in the field!