New virtual reality installation coming to the Finlaggan Visitor Centre on Islay

This year visitors to the ancient site of Finlaggan on Islay will have the unique opportunity of travelling back in time thanks to a new virtual reality installation at the visitor centre.

Using a state-of-the-art headset visitors will be able to go inside the reconstructed buildings, discovering a real sense of what life was like at Finlaggan in the past.

As well as being fun and informative, the new installation has a unique Islay Gaelic commentary with English subtitles.

The recreation of the medieval administrative and ceremonial seat of the Lordship of the Isles has been done by the University of St Andrews.

During the Middle Ages Clan Donald, Lords of the Isles, ruled the Hebrides and parts of mainland Scotland and Ulster as a semi-independent Gaelic kingdom, which caused tensions within Scotland. By the late 15th century they had once again fallen foul of the crown and the Lordship was finally forfeited by James IV in 1493.

Many of the buildings at Finlaggan were destroyed at this time and the site gradually sank into obscurity. The reconstruction of early 15th century Finlaggan shows the twin islands of Eilean Mòr and Eilean na Comhairle, and their surroundings in Loch Finlaggan. There was a remarkable complex of buildings which blended local traditions with wider European trends.

It is significant that the Lords of the Isles’ residence on Eilean Mòr had little in the way of defensive structures, possibly showing how settled the Lordship was for its time.

Documentary research and comparison with other medieval sites has been used to ensure the reconstruction is as accurate as possible.

There will be an official launch on Islay later in the year.

There is also a virtual reality app in the pipeline and two online videos, which can be accessed at vimeo. com/337511074 and vimeo. com/336843017.