THE Scottish Crannog Centre is welcoming a new festival this weekend after re-opening following a devastating fire last month.
The blaze destroyed the iconic Crannog roundhouse reconstruction – but the centre’s The Celts are Coming Festival will fill the museum site with artists, craftspeople and music to “celebrate Scotland’s prehistory”.
Organisers say that the museum will be showing off the very best of modern and ancient craftsmanship while meeting the makers that are keeping these skills alive today.
The event will feature Hamish Lamley of Pictavia Leather who will be showcasing the heritage of the iron age and medieval Scottish leatherworking.
Neil Burridge of Bronze Age Crafts will also hold a silver ring making demonstration while Tom Timbrell of Big Beynon Blacksmithing will show off traditional blacksmithing.
Other events include ancient paints with Caroline Nicolay from Pario Gallico and pop up special appearances by Jane Wilkinson of Special Branch Basket with coracle displays. Meanwhile, stone carving with David McGovern of Monikie Rock Art and children’s crafts with Deborah Cooper will also be on.
Drop-in blacksmithing and ancient painting workshops will be available every day between August 3 to 5, while textile, basketry, smelting and “day-in-the-life” workshops will continue to run throughout the summer and autumn.
Rachel Backshall, event co-ordinator at the centre, said: “We are so lucky to have such a wonderful community of talented craftspeople that come together at the Scottish Crannog Centre to celebrate the fantastic skills of our prehistoric ancestors and support the survival of endangered crafts that these artists truly bring to life.”
Since re-opening the centre has held multiple summertime events, activities and evening theatre, including a loch-side performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Three Inch Fools. The Celts are Coming Festival is the museum’s most anticipated event of 2021.
The festival will run from July 30 to August 2. Booking for tours is essential through the Scottish Crannog Centre’s website at www.crannog.co.uk or by phone on 01887830583.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here