Crannog Centre reveals ambitious plan to move to new spot 12 times size of present base.

Directors hope larger location will create more jobs

The Scottish Crannog Centre has launched a bid to move to a new location on Loch Tay which is 12 times the size of the current site.

The centre hopes to purchase land currently used as a picnic area at Dalerb on the north side of the loch and will use the extra space to build a number of crannogs.

The centre has applied to Forestry Land Services to buy the ground and has launched a petition to gain support for the plans.

Directors hope the vision for the future of the centre will create more jobs and allow them to launch an apprenticeship scheme.

Mike Benson, managing director, hopes that by moving across the water and building a new museum it will allow the centre to become more sustainable.

He said: “The crannogs will remain the same size but there will be multiple ones.”

He added: “To make our case as strong as possible we need to show community support.

“We know there is a lot of affection for the centre and the work we do, so we are asking for our visitors and the local community to help us make the move.”

He continued: “We would also love it if people would come and visit to show their support – the exhibition at the centre has been completely upgraded with much of our collection on show for the first time.”

The Scottish Crannog Centre is a living history museum, and Mr Benson believes the new vision will enhance the centre’s longevity so it will be able to “continue to tell the story of the Crannog dwellers from 2,500 years ago”.

On Saturday the centre launched its new year-long exhibition, Bridge That Connects Communities 2,500 Years Apart, which focuses on the ancient musical instruments found on the banks of Loch Tay.

To sign the petition and support the Scottish Crannog Centre’s move visit bit.ly/crannog-centre-move

The crannog on Loch Tay is designed to give visitors an insight into how Scots’ lived in times past. Showing how our forebears built and protected their homes, it is a fascinating place to visit and a great educational tool.

Now a new plan is being brought forward to establish a new, much bigger, crannog visitor attraction on the opposite side of the loch.

It is at the very earliest stage but it is nice to think crannog life, which died out many moons ago, may have a future.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The Crannog Centre is planning to move and build more crannogs.

The centre, which currently has one crannog on the south bank of Loch Tay at a site near Kenmore, is hoping to move to a larger site at Dalerb where it can build a number of crannogs and cater to more visitors.