The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scottish Crannog Centre unveils ambitious plans for new facility.
HERITAGE: Tourist attraction aiming to emulate V&A success with 35 jobs and Iron Age village
The Scottish Crannog Centre in Highland Perthshire has unveiled plans to transform its museum into a “national treasure”, which would include buying 12 acres of land at Loch Tay.
The ambitious project would see the Kenmore tourist attraction build multiple crannogs, an Iron Age village and create 35 new jobs at the rural beauty spot.
Directors at the centre hope the venture will attract more than 50,000 visitors a year and believe the museum could emulate the success of the V&A at the other end of the Tay in Dundee.
However, they fear there is no way to increase footfall and visitor numbers at their current site.
The Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA) has now put forward an asset transfer request to Forestry and Land Scotland on behalf of the museum to purchase the land at Dalerb, including the current car park and picnic area.
The centre, which currently closes during winter months, also hopes to become a year-round attraction and provide creative studio space for artists and units for small businesses.
They believe the land purchase will protect the long-term future of the centre, which has operated as a visitor centre for 20 years, and the project would see a main building developed to modern museum standards.
The proposal has gained the support of schools and community workers in the area.
Dr Marco Gilardi, of the University of the West of Scotland, said: “In the past year, the Scottish Crannog Centre has shown a positive attitude toward change and is making giant steps in its renovation, redesigning itself as a modern immersive experience and living museum.
“The centre staff were a pleasure to work with and the UWS team looks forward to continuing the collaboration and to help them to become a National Treasure and a model for modern living museums.”
A partnership has been set up between the centre and Breadalbane Academy to develop opportunities for young people to increase employment skills and the museum continues to run its targeted apprenticeship scheme.