A VARIETY of homes, churches, castles, prisons and other heritage attractions across North Yorkshire will open their doors to the public this weekend as part of the national Heritage Open Day scheme.

In Scarborough there will be free entry to the Rotunda Museum, Woodend Museum and Art Gallery from Friday to Sunday. There will also be guided walks on Sunday to explore the architecture of the Crescent, leaving the Art Gallery at 2.30pm, and another to see medieval Scarborough from Woodend Museum at 2.30pm.

New this year is a guided tour of the former jail at the Council's Dean Road depot on Friday at 2pm and 3pm. To book, contact Chris Hall on (01723) 232481.

There will also be guided tours of the Grand Hotel, to book a place contact Wendy Armstrong at the hotel on (01723) 375371. The Dales Countryside Museum, in Hawes, will also offer visitors free entry on Saturday and Sunday.

It is managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and tells the story of the people and landscape of the dales.

In Whitby, the Civic Society has arranged for four buildings to be opened to the public.

Victoria Spa Well House, will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm, the Unitarian Chapel will open from 10am until noon and then from 2pm to 4pm both days and the Friends Meeting House will open on Sunday from 2pm to 4pm.

Visitors to St Hilda's Parish Church will have an added bonus, as apart from the tour they will hear the festival chorus in rehearsal from 2.30pm to 4pm on Sunday.