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 to twelve thousand visitors a year.
On its tenth anniversary the various partners came together to discuss the upgrading of the exhibitions. 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.
The visitor centre refit is 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).
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.
http://www.highland.gov.uk/ferrycroft
