Voyage back to our Iron Age past

Scottish Crannog Centre

It’s easy to understand man’s enduring relationship to water. Aside from the simple economic benefits of fishing and transportation, there’s an almost elemental need to see hear the gentle lapping of waves and the calm and spiritual refreshment we derive simply from being near a large body of open water.

What we don’t yet fully understand, however, is the reason why our ancestors felt compelled to live on crannogs. These artificial islands were common in lochs and rivers of Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and the earliest date from 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period.

The defensive value of living on an island seems clear but there’s little archaeological evidence of crannog dwellers owning weapons. Rather, the majority were believed to be farmers, growing crops and rearing cattle.

Larger crannogs were perceived as seats of power and were the domain of lords and kings, while monastic hermits, clergy and even families also favoured living on them, perhaps in an ancient form of a socialdistancing bubble.

The Scottish Crannog Centre is a living history museum on the shores of Loch Tay in Kenmore, by Aberfeldy in Perthshire, which offers visitors a unique hands- on taste of life in Iron Age Scotland. The museum features a reconstructed crannog roundhouse, originally built 22 years ago as an archaeological experiment.

Following the crannog’s reconstruction, the site was opened to the public. Now a fully- accredited museum, visitors can expect to see demonstrations and displays of Iron Age village life presented by a team of knowledgeable interpreters who are on hand to explain how ancient life was led on the loch.

Advance booking is now essential at the centre, to ensure a limited capacity, and staff and visitors are required to wear a mask indoors at all times.

However, dogs are still welcome, and there is a gift shop with hot drinks available to takeaway.