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The Tormain Project Dig 2026

Discover the prehistoric landscape of Ratho near Edinburgh this summer as students and volunteers dig for traces of human activity from thousands of years ago.

Stop by the site between 9am and 3:30pm, Monday to Friday to observe university students digging. Enjoy a tour and hear about the research questions the team are looking to answer and the methods they are using to investigate them (including geophysics). There will also be a guided fieldwalking opportunity to spot surface artefacts.

OPEN DAYS

You are also invited to drop by on one of the team’s open days between 9:30am and 3:20pm on 15 and 16 August at the Bonnington location (yellow star on the map below).

On site will be a group of volunteers conducting geophysical survey to collect data on what features may lie beneath the soil, as well as sieving using an A-Frame and excavation, plus other archaeological recording practices. Enjoy a site tour and learn about archaeological features in the landscape and try your hand at any of the work while being supervised by one of our volunteers. Could you be lucky enough to find a Neolithic or Bronze Age lithic?

While Dig It! takes every opportunity to ensure that this information is accurate, we advise that you contact the event organiser before attending the event to avoid disappointment. As “39% of transport emissions come from cars” according to Net Zero Nation, Dig It! also encourages you to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport to arrive at this event if possible.

Accessibility Information

See here for a map of the area.

For the open days, there is parking on the verge by the welfare unit and toilets at the Bonnington site.

If you are visiting outside the open days, from 11 August head to the Bonnington site indicated by the yellow star.

From 17 August, the team may be located at the Hatton site, indicated by the orange star on the map. The closest parking to this site is at St Marys Church, Dalmahoy (the blue circle), followed by a 15-20 minute walk following one of the routes up to where the orange star is.

Please note that due to livestock, there is no shortcut over the hill.

For further accessibility information, please contact tormainproject@gmail.com.