Our Portmoak Events

Our Portmoak is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland

Our Portmoak:

Uncovering Stories from the past

2017 is the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology; a year to celebrate

Scotland’s unique history and heritage.

The Portmoak area is rich in history and we want to uncover some of its

stories during this special year.

Kinross (Marshall) Museum in association with partner groups in the Parish of

Portmoak has been successful in obtaining grants from the Heritage Lottery

Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.

As Our Portmoak we have planned a programme of FREE events that include

walks, talks, archaeological fieldwork, workshops, music and song to tell the

fascinating story of Portmoak through the ages.

Take part, uncover Portmoak.

How to Book

Booking is essential for most events; contact us for more information or to

sign up for event notifications.

Full details of events, such as where to meet, will be given to participants prior to

each event.

e: ourportmoak@kinrossmuseum.org.uk

w: www.kinrossmuseum.org.uk

Our Portmoak @ourportmoak

T: 07738492193 / 07939067713

ALL OUR PORTMOAK EVENTS ARE FREE

Our Portmoak Events Calendar Join us to celebrate Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology

All Our Portmoak events are FREE Event Key: Red – Talks and Presentations; Green - Guided Walks and Tours;

Purple – Archaeology Digs; Orange – Portmoak in Words and Music; Blue - Special Events

Date Day Event Location / Notes

11 May Thu Kilmagadwood Early Bronze Age Cemetery Talk

Kinross (Marshall) Museum (in association with the Museum)

28 May Sun Loch Leven National Nature Reserve Discovery Day – Our Portmoak Stall and Activities

Kirkgate Park, Kinross

03 Jun Sat Portmoak Gala – Our Portmoak Stall and Activities

The Well Green, Scotlandwell

17 Jun Sat The Muckle Dig! Portmoak area

18 Jun Sun The Muckle Dig! Portmoak area

09 Jul Sun Walk Kinross-shire’s Michael Bruce Way

In association with The Michael Bruce Trust

15 Jul Sat Portmoak Churchyard Survey Portmoak Parish Church

16 Jul Sun Portmoak Churchyard Survey Portmoak Parish Church

22 Jul Sat Visit Old Portmoak Chapel Scottish Gliding Centre

23 Jul Sun Visit Old Portmoak Chapel Scottish Gliding Centre

23 Jul Sun Portmoak Moss Time Travelling

(tales of the peat bog)

Portmoak Moss (with Portmoak Community

Woodland Group)

29 Jul Sat Dig Old Portmoak Chapel Scottish Gliding Centre

30 Jul Sun Dig Old Portmoak Chapel Scottish Gliding Centre

12 Aug Sat Dig Dunmore Fort Dunmore

13 Aug Sun Dig Dunmore Fort Dunmore

19 Aug Sat St Serf’s Island Historic Visit Loch Leven( partnered with Scottish Natural Heritage)

St Serf’s Island Historic Visit Loch Leven( partnered with Scottish Natural Heritage)

20 Aug Sun St Serf’s Island Historic Visit Loch Leven( partnered with Scottish Natural Heritage)

St Serf’s Island Historic Visit Loch Leven( partnered with Scottish Natural Heritage)

07 Sep Thu Live Music and Prose Evening The Well County Inn

13 Sep

20 Sep

Wed

Wed

Portmoak Stories – an Oral

History Portmoak Hall

05 Oct Thu Live Music and Prose Evening The Balgedie Toll Tavern

28 Oct Sat Celebration Day & Ceilidh Portmoak Hall

Booking is essential for most events; contact us for more information or to sign up for event notifications

e: ourportmoak@kinrossmuseum.org.uk w: www.kinrossmuseum.org.uk

Our Portmoak @ourportmoak

T: 07738492193 / 07939067713

Talks and Presentations

Latest Findings from the

Kilmagadwood Bronze Age

Cemetery

The discovery of 24 burial urns in a field at

Kilmagadwood to the west of Loch Leven

has shed new light on life in Kinross-shire during the Bronze Age. This event brings the researchers

investigating the Kilmagadwood urns to Kinross for an evening of fascinating findings. Hear the latest research updates and find out

how you can support further work. Thursday 11th May

19:00 – 21:00 Location: Kinross (Marshall) Museum, Loch

Leven Community Campus, Kinross, KY13

8FQ Booking: No booking required Contact: Our Portmoak or David Munro, Chairman, Kinross (Marshall) Museum on

01592 840203 / davidmunro@kinaskit.co.uk This event has been organised by Kinross

(Marshall) Museum, National Museums of Scotland and Derek Hall

Bronze Age Urn, Kilmagadwood

Copyright Derek Hall

Guided Walks

Walk Kinross-shire’s Michael

Bruce Way

Visit Old Portmoak Chapel

Marking the 250th anniversary of the death of Michael Bruce, ‘The Gentle Poet of

Lochleven’ (1746-67), David Munro, Chairman of the Michael Bruce Trust, will

lead a walk along the Michael Bruce Way taking in the poet’s birthplace in the village of Kinnesswood, the medieval run-rig ‘Crooked

Rigs’ of Scotlandwell, Portmoak Moss and views of the Bronze Age Cemetery site at Kilmagadwood.

Sunday 9th July 14:00 – 17:00

Grade of walk: 2 (moderate [4.8km]) Location: The Michael Bruce Way

Booking: pre-booking essential via Our

Portmoak or David Munro, The Michael Bruce Trust on 01592 840203 / davidmunro@kinaskit.co.uk Additional Information: the walk starts

and finishes in the car park at Portmoak Parish Church near Scotlandwell In association with The Michael Bruce Trust

Donations to the Michael Bruce Trust welcome

The Old Portmoak Chapel site was home to early Culdee monks, who lived here and at the priory

on St. Serf’s Island. In c1150 King David passed both the Priory and the Chapel at Portmoak to the

Augustinian canons-regular of St. Andrews. A finely carved Celtic cross-slab, possibly dating from the 9th or 10th centuries, has been found on the site.

Join us as Professor David Munro shares the stories of the Culdees at this important and historic site along with exciting findings from a

recent geophysics survey. Saturday 22nd July / Sunday 23rd July

14:00 – 16:00 Location: Scottish Gliding Centre, KY13 9JJ

Booking: pre-booking essential via Our Portmoak

Michael Bruce Cottage, Kinnesswood

Copyright Kinross (Marshall) Museum

St. Serf’s Island Historic

Visits

Once the home to Culdee and

Augustinian monks, St. Serf’s is now recognised as internationally important for nesting ducks and is usually only visited by staff working at Loch Leven

National Nature Reserve. During the trip historian David Munro and our consultant archaeologist, Dr

Oliver O’Grady will tell stories of past lives on the Island and its VIP inhabitants

and benefactors.

We will share results of recent analysis of finds from an archaeological dig on the Island in 2011/12.

4 visits: Saturday 19th August / Sunday 20th

August 10:00-12:00 AND 14:00-16:00 BOTH DAYS Location: depart Findatie beach

Booking: pre booking essential via Our

Portmoak Additional Information:

Access to the Island will be via boat. There is no pier on the island so you will need wellies on the boat and can

change into walking boots once on the Island. The terrain on the Island is very uneven.

All participants will be required to wear life preservers on the boat. These will be provided. For safety reasons only children over 10

are able to attend these sessions. This event is in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage.

St Serf’s Chapel

Copyright Kinross (Marshall) Museum

Archaeology Digs

The Muckle Dig!

Dig Old Portmoak Chapel Over one fascinating weekend we will investigate what lies beneath four gardens in

Portmoak in our very own Muckle Dig. More information on how to participate will

be released nearer the time.

Saturday 17th June / Sunday 18th June 09:00 – 16:00 Location: Portmoak area

Booking: Details to be released

Join archaeologist Dr. Oliver O’Grady of OJT Heritage for an archaeological dig at the Old

Portmoak Chapel site in the grounds of the Scottish Gliding Centre.

The chapel site was home to early Culdee monks, who lived here and at the priory on St. Serf’s

Island. About 1150 King David passed both the Priory and the Chapel to the Augustinian canons-regular of St. Andrews. A finely carved Celtic

cross-slab, possibly dating from the 9th or 10th centuries, has been found on the site. A recent geophysics survey suggests that there is

much more to be learned about the site. 4 Sessions:

Saturday 29nd July / Sunday 30th July

09:30 –12:30 AND 13:30–16:30 BOTH DAYS Location: Scottish Gliding Centre KY13 9JJ

Booking: pre-booking essential via Our Portmoak Additional Information: No prior experience in archaeology is necessary Participants must be 16+ years old

Participants should come dressed for the weather with waterproofs and sturdy footwear Digging is physical work and participants will be

bending, kneeling and moving earth Thank you to the Scottish Gliding Centre for giving

us their permission to dig

Digging on St Serf’s

Copyright Wendy MacPhedran

Geophysics in the “urn field”, Kilmagadwood

Copyright Our Portmoak

Dig Dunmore Fort

Little is known about the hillfort of Dunmore

(meaning Big Hill), one of many scattered across the Lomond Hills. Join archaeologist Dr. Oliver O’Grady of

OJT Heritage for an archaeological dig at this fort walled settlement. Who lived here, when was it built? Help us to find out.

2 Sessions: Saturday 12th August / Sunday 13th

August

08:30 – 17:00 Location: Dunmore

Booking: pre-booking essential via Our Portmoak Additional Information:

No prior experience in archaeology is necessary Participants must be 16+ years old Participants should come dressed for the

weather with waterproofs and sturdy footwear Digging is physical work and participants will

be bending, kneeling and moving earth There is a steep, uphill walk to the site

Dunmore from Benarty

Portmoak In Words And Music

Portmoak Stories – An Oral

History

Live Music and Prose Evening

The Well Country Inn We would like to hear from people willing to share their stories of Portmoak over the

years. We’ll host two sessions at which you

can have your stories digitally recorded and become part of the edited final “Oral History of Portmoak”, to be preserved at Kinross

(Marshall) Museum. History told through the voices of those who were there, were involved, and who were witnesses, is much

richer than simply words on a page. Come along and contribute your stories to this unique recording of Portmoak history.

Wednesday 13th September /

Wednesday 20th September

10:00 to 13:00 Location: Portmoak Village Hall, Scotlandwell KY13 9HY Booking: pre-booking is recommended to

ensure the recording equipment is available but drop-ins will either be fitted into the schedule or arrangements made to record at

a later date

In an evening of entertainment we explore the literary landscape of Portmoak Parish, listening to

the words, poems and songs of local writers and

passers-by, both past and present. From Prior Andrew Wyntoun, who first wrote about Macbeth and the three witches, to Michael

Bruce, the 'Gentle Poet of Lochleven', the ploughman poet James Beath of Glenvale and James Logie Robertson who wrote longingly of

Balgedie and Loch Leven. Hear also the words of novelists Jessica Patrick Findlay and Sally Wright who used the parish as a

backdrop for their novels a century apart and from modern day poets like William Hershaw inspired

by the works of Michael Bruce and today's

landscape. Thursday 7th September 20:30 onwards

Location: The Well Country Inn , Main Street, Scotlandwell, Kinross KY13 9JA Booking: Pre-booking preferred but not essential

Additional Information: Bookings for dinner on the evening should be made directly with the pub

Live Music and Prose Evening

The Balgedie Toll Tavern

A further evening of wonderful words, music and song based around the people and places

of Portmoak. See previous listing for the 7th September for full description.

The content of each evening will be different so join us for both!

Thursday 5th October

20:30 onwards Location: The Balgedie Toll Tavern, Wester Balgedie, Kinross KY13 9HE

Booking: Pre-booking preferred but not essential Additional Information: Bookings for dinner on the evening should be made directly with the pub

Special Events

Loch Leven National Nature

Reserve Discovery Day

Portmoak Community Gala

Our Portmoak will have a stall at this annual family event. We will share some

archaeological discoveries from the area, have lots of fascinating history on show and

there will be an opportunity for children to dig for their very own finds.

Sunday 28th May 12:00 – 16:00 Location: Kirkgate Park, Kinross KY13 8FB

Booking: No booking required The Discovery Day is run by Scottish Natural Heritage

The Portmoak Gala is undoubtedly the best family fun day in the Portmoak calendar.

Along with an Our Portmoak stall, we will be running a metal detecting demonstration.

Archaeological finds from the Portmoak area will be on show at the stall along with the opportunity to find out more about the history of Portmoak.

Saturday 3rd June 14:00 – 16:00

Location: The Well Green, Scotlandwell KY13 9JA Booking: No booking required

The Gala is run by the Portmoak Gala Committee

Portmoak Churchyard Survey

Portmoak Moss Time Travelling

(Tales of the Peatbog)

Join Our Portmoak to help record the fascinating historic gravestones and burial monuments in the old churchyard at

Portmoak Parish Church. Working alongside an expert archaeologist and surveyor from

OJT Heritage, you will learn how to map the

location of the memorials and find out fascinating stories from the past about the people of Portmoak, including the poignant

memorial to the "gentle poet of Loch Leven", Michael Bruce. The survey will help create an online map

and database resource, and includes an optional follow-up workshop about how to create the online archive.

Saturday 15th July / Sunday 16th July 09:30 – 16:30

Location: Portmoak Parish Church

Booking: pre-booking is essential via Our Portmoak Additional Information: Participants

should come dressed for the weather with waterproofs and sturdy footwear

Along with the Portmoak Community Woodland Group we invite you to join us on National Bog Day at the Portmoak Moss to learn about the

evolution of the bog over time. Andrew McBride, Peatland Action Manager for Scottish Natural

Heritage, will drill a core sample of the bog and tell

the story of how the bog has changed and been used throughout history.

Sunday 23rd July 11:00 – 13:00 Location: Portmoak Moss

Booking: pre-booking essential via Our Portmoak Additional Information: Participants should come dressed for the weather with waterproofs and sturdy footwear

This event is run in association with Portmoak

Community Woodland Group

Our Portmoak Celebration

Day!

Everyone is invited to our day-long celebration at the conclusion of the Our Portmoak project.

Come along, see what we have found and hear the new stories that we have uncovered.

Historians and archaeological experts will share their knowledge of Portmoak through the ages in a series of mini-lectures.

Our finds will be displayed and interpreted by the team along with a map of Portmoak as you have never seen it before!

Bring along your own treasures to be identified by our consultant archaeologist Dr. Oliver O’Grady.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day. In the evening we will all celebrate with a

FREE ceilidh! So bring along your families and friends for a great evening of fun.

Saturday 28th October 10:00 – 16:00 for the celebration and 19:00 - 23:00 for the ceilidh

Location: Portmoak Village Hall, Scotlandwell KY13 9HY Booking: pre-booking is required for the

ceilidh only via Our Portmoak Bring your dancing shoes!

The Portmoak Stone

Found at Old Portmoak Chapel

Copyright Kinross (Marshall) Museum