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.
Become part of the community for an evening as we sing with the community choir or join the local Scottish dance group, followed by a visit to the local pub.
Project Instructors
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 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.
DUNANS CASTLE
GLENDARUEL, COWAL PENINSULA, SCOTLAND
Bridging Conservation & Climate
April registration closed - join us in Argyll in September!
Building conservation and climate change issues merge as you learn hands-on skills to keep existing structures in use and save the architectural heritage of Scotland.
Discover the magic of Argyll in April. Brightly blooming gorse, with daffodils and lambs filling the countryside. April is the driest month of the year, and 2023 brought jammers 10 days of sunshine! Equally important, there are no midges in April. Be amazed by this beautiful backdrop as you join efforts to complete conservation of the Thomas Telford bridge.
Come and immerse yourself in the culture and climate of western Scotland’s coastal region
Unique Bridge and Climate Conservation Experience in Scotland
Dunans recently bought back 250 acres of the ancient Fletcher estate adjoining the castle and is working to create a native woodland. Reintroducing native species will increase biodiversity and contribute to ecological sustainability in the area. As part of this effort, the woodland will become a carbon off-set project securing over 20,000 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere over the next century.
Funds generated from the sale of this tonnage will secure the next phase of renovation of the castle itself, creating a unique multiplier, enriching both Scotland's built heritage and its environment.
Walk the woodlands with Charles Dixon Spain and learn about his efforts to combine the fight against climate change with sustainable tourism. Dounens was noted by cartographers as far back as 1590, with Dunans becoming the home of the Fletcher clan around 1725. Architect Andrew Kerr transformed the manor house into a mock castle in 1864, which was largely destroyed by fire in 2001. The goal is to bring the castle back for public use, with community event spaces on the ground floor and self-catering apartments on the upper floors to provide a sustainable future.
Near the “castle” lies the remarkable A-listed Dunans Bridge, designed by Thomas Telford and providing access to the site since 1815. 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. AiP jammers completed conservation of the two smaller arches, and beginning in 2024, we will take on the larger central arch.
Repointing work will take place on scaffolding under the bridge arch, accessed by ladders.
“This was the perfect combination of adventure, travel, architecture, history and learning a trade from an expert. A great hands-on opportunity. ”
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, with meals largely made from local produce and meat. 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
Saturday: Meet AiP group in Glasgow for lunch & sightseeing; take van to Dunans at 3pm and settle into lodging.
Sunday: Day long excursion to sites such as Bute or Inverary.
Monday-Wednesday am: Tour of Dunans, skills training with Eland Stuart, repointing work on bridge.
Wednesday pm: Excursion to sites on the Cowal Peninsula.
Thursday-Friday: Work continues on bridge.
Saturday: Jammers depart for Glasgow; airport drop off 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!
“Eland has been an excellent instructor. He is a delight to work with, extremely patient, very knowledgeable and encouraging.”
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 of arrival.
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 provided at our lodging and 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 of departure. Drop off is around 11 am, so schedule your departing flight accordingly.
April in western Scotland is usually the sunniest month with the least rain. So we’ll look for sun and plan for rain. Daytime highs average 55-60°F (13-15°C) with lows in the mid-40s°F (7°C).
Rain gear is essential. Plan to bring waterproof/water resistant shoes, and waterproof jacket and pants. A waterproof hat may be helpful in addition to the jacket hood.
It can feel quite chilly working outside, so consider bringing sweaters to go under a down vest and/or down jacket. This can go under your rain jacket. Silk long underwear, wool socks and insulated work gloves can all help you stay comfortable. 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.
Contact us
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.
“When I found Adventures in Preservation, I was so excited to see the work that you do – both the projects themselves and the educational and cultural opportunities they provide. As a recent preservation graduate, I have been exploring opportunities and career paths that exist in the field. Your company incorporates so many things that are important to me and have been on my mind – the hands-on experience, getting people involved in preservation, and travel beyond just tourism”
