Test Harness | HES Events

Four re-enactors, three of them wearing floral crowns and gold facemasks, and enticing you towards them with their hands

Selected dates from Saturday 4 October 2025 to Saturday 1 November 2025
Edinburgh Castle
Walks and Guided Tours
Technical Level:
Halloween
HES, Edinburgh Castle
Feature weight: 0

Whispers of the past

Come along this Halloween and join a ghoulish guide for a tour through some of the darker stories and places from Edinburgh Castle's History

An old looking industrial building in a neglected state, taken from just outside the open doorway. The brickwork is stained with some windows boarded up, and others broken. Weeds and small trees are growing on the grounds.

Tuesday 7 October 2025
Engine Shed
Lecture
Technical Level: Quite technical
Building Management, Materials, Architecture
Enthusiast, Professional
HES, Engine Shed, Learn
Feature weight: 0

An Introduction to Building Conservation

We will introduce you to the essential principles of building conservation in Scotland.

Hand-powered grindstones that ground oats, barley, wheat and pease

Friday 10 October 2025 to Saturday 11 October 2025
New Abbey Corn Mill
Living History
Technical Level:
HES
Feature weight: 0

World Porridge Day

Celebration of World Porridge Day

A group of costumed performers in different period costumes standing on a grassy hill

Saturday 11 October 2025 to Sunday 19 October 2025
Multiple venues
Living History
Technical Level:
Nature
HES
Feature weight: 0

Great Big Living History Week

See history come to life all over Scotland.

A young person looking out from part of a ruinous castle towards a large loch

Saturday 11 October 2025 to Sunday 2 November 2025
Multiple venues
Living History
Technical Level:
Halloween
HES
Feature weight: 0

This October, discover some of Scotland's mysterious mythical beasts! Take part in this trail to learn about these special, sometimes spooky beings. A fun trail included in the cost of admission and for children of all ages.

A young person piercing an apple with seeds

Selected dates from Monday 13 October 2025 to Monday 16 February 2026
Holyrood Park
Walks and Guided Tours
Technical Level:
Archaeology, Nature, Ranger Service
HES
Feature weight: 0

Holyrood Family Adventure

A fun filled session in the dramatic landscape of Holyrood Park.

A childs hand holding the mini castle they made

Selected dates from Wednesday 15 October 2025 to Monday 29 December 2025
Edinburgh Castle
Workshop
Technical Level:
HES, Edinburgh Castle
Feature weight: 0

Make a Mini Castle

Join us to create your own mini castle

An aerial view of a castle surrounded by floodwater

Thursday 16 October 2025
Engine Shed
Lecture
Technical Level: Quite technical
Research, Sustainability, Technical Conservation
Enthusiast, Professional
HES, Engine Shed, Learn
Feature weight: 0

Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Adaptive Re-use of Buildings

We will discuss climate change and the significant issues impacting Scotland’s historic environment. We will also examine the basic principles of making traditional Scottish buildings more energy efficient, with insights into current practical techniques.

Selected dates from Thursday 16 October 2025 to Friday 9 January 2026
Multiple venues
Exhibition
Technical Level:
HES
Feature weight: 0

Traces of Empire

Working with community groups, this exhibition explores their experiences of the legacies of empire in Scotland, looking for ways forward and finding space to tell their stories.