The Doors of Dorney, Scotland

I have a confession to make. I’ve never been to Dorney. I’ve been as close as Eilean Donan Castle, but I was in a hurry to get to Fort William, and I never thought to go up into the village. Now, I’m writing a book called Shy Violet, the main characters are living in Dorney, and I’m left wishing I had walked a bit further and scoped out the town with my own two eyes.

That’s the way it is with doors. We choose to walk through them, or we skip on by, oblivious to what might be inside.

I’ve always been fascinated by doors, so when we started exploring Scotland, it came as no surprise that all kinds of unique and intriguing doors caught my eye.

Sometimes, when we get to a door, we’re hesitant to open it. Because doors can lead to places you’d rather not go.

Sometimes, when you see a door, you’re consumed with curiosity about what’s on the other side, and you can’t be happy until you know.

Doors can be a bit daunting – after all, one can never be quite sure what you’ll find when you open them. 

Doors can be portals to a make-believe world.

The sights you see through an open door can make your imagination soar.

Doors can lead you deeper and deeper into a mystery that will take you who knows where.

Doors can lead to an alternate reality – perhaps one from which you will never escape.

Doors can open up to adventures you’ve never even dreamed of.

Doors – and the places they lead to – can inspire overtures and epic poems and all kinds of artistry.

Doors can be common, comforting, familiar and welcoming.

Doors can be austere and foreboding.

Doors can be pretentious affairs.

Doors can be plain and functional.

When a door opens, light floods into the dark corners of you mind and enlightens every last nook and cranny.

When you unlock a door, you never know what secrets you’ll uncover.

When a door shuts behind you, sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever go home.

Sometimes doors are a nice fit. Not too big, not to small.

Although it’s always wise to mind your head.

Sometimes doors dwarf you, and you wonder, who were these doors made for, giants?

Some say that when God closes a door, he opens a window.

But we all know that when a door is closed, you can get left standing outside in the cold.

Next time you go in or out a door, I hope it leads to somewhere you want to be – maybe even Scotland – and that someone you love is waiting on the other side.