The Highland Folk Museum will host one last splash of living history before closing for the winter, with its final ‘Heritage in Action’ Day set for Wednesday, 23 October.
This end-of-season event in Newtonmore celebrates endangered water-related crafts, with hands-on demonstrations and a rare chance to take to the water in a traditional Scottish coracle.
Coracle making, thatching, and millwrighting are all listed as critically endangered by the Heritage Crafts Association, meaning they are at serious risk of disappearing if not passed on.
The event will feature a replica Bronze Age coracle, modelled on a design discovered in Fife in 1975. Visitors will be invited to try it out under the guidance of volunteers from the Insh Coracle Club.
Coracles are believed to be Scotland’s oldest boats, small, lightweight vessels built from wooden frames and originally covered in rawhide. They were once common across rivers and lochs, used for fishing, ferrying, and travel.
Alex Gibbons, Buildings Curator at the Highland Folk Museum, said:
“We’re very proud at the museum to be able to act as a crucible for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, particularly through practicing and demonstrating traditional crafts.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone here on 23 October and are hoping for a really good turn out at our final event of the season.”
Alongside the watercraft activities, visitors will be able to explore more than 35 historic buildings on site and view collections of traditional tools and machinery.
Entry is by donation, with the café and shop open for refreshments throughout the day.
The Highland Folk Museum is Britain’s first open-air museum and is operated by High Life Highland.
