Revamped Visitor Centre Opens
Crossroads of the North ~ Crois-rathaid aig Tuath
The newly renamed Ferrycroft Visitor Centre in Lairg has opened for the season after a major revamp, including comprehensive re-design of all the displays and the introduction of a range of interactive activities to make the centre more family friendly.
Ferrycroft Countryside Centre opened initially in 1994 as a partnership project involving Sutherland District Council, Highland Regional Council, The Forestry Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Hydro Electric, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise and the European Union. It has acted as the base for the local Countryside Ranger, has acted as a Tourist Information Centre and has drawn some eight and twelve thousand visitors a year.
On its tenth anniversary the various partners came together to discuss the upgrading of the exhibitions. In due course this led to the commissioning of an Interpretation Plan and a Business Plan, which also considered the improved signage and interpretation of the adjacent Ord Hill archaelogical sites, the Ferrywood and Lairg Auction Mart. Funding was accessed from Forward Scotland, through the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme, and from Highland 2007, as well as from Scottish Natural Heritage, The Highland Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, with support in kind from The Forestry Commission.
Last December, after consideration of competitive tenders, Studio LR from Edinburgh were appointed to design and implement the project, in association with Eastern Photocoliyr from Musselburgh. The team has worked closely with the range of partners, coordinated by The Highland Council’s Area Cultural Officer, to deliver the project in time for the normal visitor season.
The visitor centre refit is now complete, with wonderful new exhibitions, animals and artefacts, including touch screens, listening posts and interactives and a new shop area and café. There is an arresting sheep trail from the mart and a sculpted managerie in the centre grounds, all created by Ian Chalmers from Evanton, whose studio is in North Kessock. The exterior welcome and interpretation panels are in situ and new road signage will go up shortly. Ord Hill is soon to have new interpretaion plinths erected at a number of chambered cairns and other archaelogical features and plans for an audio tour using mobile telephone technology are progressing.
Other aspects of the project which will take place over coming months include a schools pack, new planting, a stone dyke and some additional exterior items. Also local school children will be creating a special series of artworks for the centre with local artist and teacher Ian Westacott.
Entry to Crossroads of the North is free of charge, and the Centre is open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm (5pm in July and August). Why not follow the flock of sheep to Ferrycroft to discover why Lairg has always been a crossroads for people, wildlife and culture? Take part in games and displays for all the family. Become a wildlife detective – the clues are as strange as their owners. Guide your salmon on a 3000 mile journey or lift it up Lairg dam. Discover what farming families left on Ord Hill thousands of years ago. Learn about the local wildlife from pine martens to black-throated diver. Find out what happened when the Hydro Boys moved in or dress up as a forester. Listen to local people telling their stories, watch their lives half a century ago and open the Lairg photo album. Check out the best places in Sutherland for wildlife watching or discovering the past. Plan which route to take next at the Tourist Information Centre. Meet sculpted animals, swing, run and jump, or picnic in Ferrycroft’s grounds. Ferrycroft is the starting point for walks in Ferry Wood or up Ord Hill with its stunning views.
To mark the refurbishment there will be a Special Community Open Day on Saturday 3 May 2008 with lots of special ranger led activities and events for the whole family to enjoy.