Visitors to Aberdour Castle will be able to channel their inner artist this weekend (Saturday, 5th April).

The castle is taking part in the Fife Challenge, a new initiative to encourage young people and their families to get out, get active, and explore what’s on their doorstep in Fife.

On the 5th April artist Clare Yarrington will be on site to help young visitors make origami doves which will help bring the castle’s iconic doocot ‘back to life’.

A symbol of status and power in medieval Europe, the dovecot or ‘doocot’ is now redundant however it used to house birds for the wealthy families who previously occupied the castle.

The event, the first of two weekend activity sessions at the castle, the second being on Sunday 13th April, will run as drop in sessions each day between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

Other participating Historic Scotland sites in the Fife Challenge initiative include Dunfermline Abbey and St. Andrews Cathedral who will be offering historical figure making sessions on Sunday 6th (St. Andrews) and Saturday 12th April (Dunfermline Abbey).

Visitors will have the opportunity to discover more about the people who lived, worked and visited both sites then work with an artist to create rag dolls inspired by some of these historical figures at pre-booked sessions running at intervals throughout the day.

Fiona Davidson, Education Officer for Historic Scotland said;

“We are delighted to be offering these activities across a number of our sites in Fife.

“They are a great way of keeping the kids entertained whilst finding out more about the great historical sites on their doorstep.”

All of the activities are included within the admission price to the properties. To book a slot at Dunfermline Abbey please call 01383 739 025 and 01334 472 563 for St. Andrews Cathedral.