Scottish Crannog Centre

IZZIE'S WOAD EXPERIMENT

If you have visited the centre before you may have come across the topic of blue wool in our weaving hut. This is done by dying wool with a plant called Woad, which you may have heard of if you've watched Braveheart (they probably didn't paint their faces with woad). Woad has indigotin in it, which means that it does not react with water like most other plant dyes, so you have to use something with ammonia. What might that be? ...URINE!!

'So the process of woad dying: Collect a pot of urine (put the lid on) - leave this to ferment for 2 weeks - add the woad - leave for 2 weeks - add the wool - leave for 2 weeks. When you take the wool out, it will look like nothing has happened, however as it oxidises it will change from white, to yellow, to green, to blue. A few years ago, me and my friend Jason decided to do a woad dye but in separate pots, he got a light shade of blue and I got a darker shade of blue. It took us a while to think about why it would be different as a lot of sources say that male urine gives the darker shade. I am not a man, so we think it may be to do with alcohol consumption, I drink, Jason does not. I then tested this experiment with 2 pots of my own urine, one where I definitely had alcohol in my system, one where I definitely didn't and I got the same dark and light blue. Since this I have been thinking, is it really alcohol or could it be something else such as dehydration and could other factors affect the colour, such as pregnancy. Last year one our lovely staff members Lizzie that some of you may have met, told me that she was expecting, I of course congratulated her but then asked if she could collect me a pot of urine, naturally. She agreed and the blue pictured above is made with this urine that we are calling 'Baby Blue'.'

Yesterday we had a lovely visit from some members of HES (Historic Environment Scotland). The day started off with a tour through our museum and then on to one of our outdoor shelters where they were given a talk from the lovely Maureen about the human aspect of a Crannog, and its connections, resonating far on down the line to the present. They were given a tour of our new Crannog out on the water with Laura from our build team, and a nice iron age lunch in our café. They all settled down in the afternoon to some serious designing, using pigments that would have been around in the iron age, and a mixture of Ogham script, rock art and other simple design decorations, they all seemed very happy with the results and the day finished as always…..in the round house with story and song.

CELTS 24TH - 26TH JULY

Join us at The Scottish Crannog Centre for a weekend packed with hands-on activities, fascinating stories, traditional crafts and unforgettable experiences for all ages.

Try something new, meet incredible makers, hear tales from the past and discover how ancient skills continue to inspire us today. Whether you're a budding archaeologist, a creative crafter, or simply looking for a fun family day out, there's something for everyone.

Link in Bio to Book!

FRIDAY MORNING SPECIAL OFFER!

We know that times are challenging for many people at the moment, and we want to do our part to help.
That's why we're offering a special discount for admissions the next three Fridays between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
Simply use the discount codes below to enjoy saving 15% on your admission, available online & at the desk.
It's our small way of making a visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre a little more affordable while continuing to share Scotland's fascinating history with everyone.
We look forward to welcoming you!

CODES
Friday 12th June CRANFRIDAY12
Friday 19th June CRANFRIDAY19
Friday 26th June CRANFRIDAY26

🎵MIDSUMMER MUSIC AT THE CRANNOG - 20TH JUNE, 6.30PM - 9.30PM 🎵

Join us at the Crannog for a fantastic night of live music featuring local favourites The Tartan Cowboys, Munro and Neil, and a surprise headline act you won’t want to miss.

Emerging in 2025 from the thriving music sessions of Aberfeldy and Highland Perthshire, The Tartan Cowboys bring together Scottish folk, country and Americana in a unique celebration ofsong, harmony and community spirit. What began with a shared love of music has grown into a talented collective of local musicians, united by a passion for live performance and creating music together.

Known for their rich vocal harmonies, signature tartan dresses and cowboy boots, The Tartan Cowboys deliver uplifting sets filled with heartfelt songs, familiar favourites and a touch of ceilidh fun. Having quickly become a popular feature at local events, festivals and charity performances, they are delighted to bring their country-meets-Caledonia sound to the Crannog this Midsummer. 🤠🎻✨

Adult: £35, Child: £25

HAPPY VOLUNTEER WEEK!

We are honoured to have so many volunteers at the Crannog, and we appreciate every one of them. Our volunteers contribute in countless ways, from helping to build the crannog and working in the village to coppicing hazel and completing a wide variety of projects across the site.

Their dedication and hard work help bring the centre to life as it continues to grow and develop. People volunteer with us for many reasons, including skills sharing, gaining work experience, and supporting their physical and mental wellbeing. Above all, however, they come because they want to be part of something bigger: together, we are building a community.

Katrina (the purveyor of mischief) had this to say about her work with us;

"The Scottish Crannog Centre is an amazing place. It creates an all welcoming space for all who visit, work or volunteer. When you walk through the door, the ambiance is like stepping into a safe space which closes out the pressures of the modern world?
You have opportunities to learn new skills ,pursue hobbies and work with the team to develop the site but also yourself. When I joined 2 years ago, I said “ I have two hands and a voice if I can be of use I’d love to join …never imagining Rich would say “come and join us" but he did!
And what an experience, The Scottish Crannog Centre has certainly enriched my retirement . "

If you fancy volunteering with us please contact [email protected]

MIDSUMMER MUSIC AT THE CRANNOG - 20TH JUNE, 6.30PM - 9.30PM

Join us for a magical midsummer evening of music, stories, and folklore at the Crannog. Alongside our surprise headline act, we're delighted to welcome Munro and Neil and The Tartan Cowboys to this special event.

Regular Crannog musicians Munro Gauld and Neil Baillie will be joined for Midsummer Music by fiddler Rosie MacDiarmid, and pianist Molly Gauld. Together, through music and tales, they will take you on a journey telling the story of Dalerb, its history, its myths and legends, and its folklore. You will hear how, at the beginning of time, the Cailleach forged the world from fire, rock and water, and how a mistake led to the creation of Loch Tay; of the first humans who came here, and how their beliefs helped them make sense of the seasons and the land around them. There will be stories of giants, witches and fairies, curses and charms, wars and battles, settlement and clearance. And all accompanied by the local music that has grown out of this landscape.

Adult: £35, Child: £25

Link in Bio to Book!

THE CRANNOG HAS GOT ITS HAT ON HIP-HIP-HIP HOORAY!

The thatching of the Crannog is now complete!
A huge thank you to our incredible thatching team, who worked through sun, wind, and rain to give the Crannog its hat.
Every day, the Crannog moves one step closer to completion. The hazel hurdle walls are being crafted on site before being installed, the flooring is going in, and work continues on the outer walkway.
We're so close to the finish line now, and it's amazing to see the project taking shape.
Keep an eye out for updates as we approach the completion of the Crannog!

FINGERPRINT LABYRINTH – 15TH JUNE

We are delighted to welcome the Fingerprint Labyrinth to the Crannog.

Created by the Iona Community in response to Amnesty International’s 2024 report on increasing restrictions on protest across Europe, this unique labyrinth takes the form of a fingerprint – a reminder that every one of us is unique.

Fingerprints have been used since prehistoric times, appearing in ancient cave art, while labyrinths are an age-old form designed to be walked mindfully. Following the winding path to the centre and back again offers an opportunity for reflection, contemplation, and connection.

The Fingerprint Labyrinth also reminds us that while each of us is unique, we share so much in common, including the vast majority of our genetic make-up.

The labyrinth is included with general admission and will be in our Iron Age village from 11.30am - 4.30pm

Book Now, Link in Bio!