Two Free Family Days in Sutherland for the Long Weekend
Two visitor centres in Lairg and Brora will be open to the public over the holiday weekend, with activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The Highland Council’s Community Learning and Leisure Service invites residents and visitors alike to the newly revamped Ferrycroft Visitor Centre in Lairg for a Special Open Day on Saturday 3rd May and to Brora Heritage Centre which opens for the season on the Monday 5th May.
The Ferrycroft Open Day, which is part of the Show Scotland initiative by Museums Galleries Scotland http://www.showscotland.com/ , will have activities both out of doors and inside. The Lairg Detective Adventure runs inside all day as does the centre quiz. The Countryside Ranger will be on hand to run a pond dipping session in the adjacent Ferrywood and to involve children and adults in model making using willow in the Ferrycroft grounds. Mike Ellis, who runs Roots to Branches from his base in Helmsdale will be demonstrating traditional greenwood and woodworking skills and providing practical activities. There will be a wooden sculpture animal hunt on the grounds for younger children and Dave Goulder, local drystane dyking expert, will be demonstrating different types of wall. This is with a view to running a summer project at Ferrycroft involving volunteers in building a wall for the centre.
The new exhibitions are definitely worth a look, along with the various touch screens, listening posts and interactives. A sheep trail now joins the auction mart with the centre, which is just on the west side of the river. Refreshments are available throughout the day. The centre itself, which is also a Tourist Information Centre, is open seven days a week from 10 am to 4pm (5pm in the summer). Admission is free. http://www.highland.gov.uk
Brora Heritage Centre is a treasure trove of local history which is well worth the short one mile detour west along the river. The centre features the fascinating and unique industrial heritage of Brora including the coal mine, salt pans, block making, textiles, malt whisky and early electricity plant. There are some scary dinosaurs and activities for the children and plenty of room for a run round in the grounds. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 10.30 to 4.30 (to Saturday in July and August). Admission is free. (/leisureandtourism/what-to-see/visitorcentres/bhc.htm )
Info: Adrian Clark, Area Cultural Officer
adrian.clark@highland.gov.uk 01349 885114