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HRH visits transformed heritage centre

2nd August 2010

The Duke of Rothesay toured a heritage centre in Caithness, Scotland, learning about how it was transformed from a derelict dairy into a community-led visitor attraction as a direct result of the work by two of his charities.

The Duke, as The Prince of Wales is known in Scotland, wore a kilt in the red and green Rothesay tartan, as he spent over an hour meeting people involved in the project and hearing about traditional crafts including spinning, weaving and woodturning, at the Castlehill Heritage Centre.

Work to transform the site began in 2006, helped by two of his charities: The Prince’s Regeneration Trust and The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. These charities both played a key role in regenerating the 17th Century byre and dairy into a heritage centre where visitors can experience the extensive crafts on offer such as dry-stone dyking, peat-cutting, rope-making, lime mortar pointing, spinning and weaving and croft crafts.

Opened in 2007, the highly successful centre was awarded first prize in the Community Tourism Initiative category at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2009.

During the visit, The Duke experienced these crafts first-hand, and read the exhibitions which portray the history of the village and parish, with special focus on the Caithness flagstone industry.

His Royal Highness, who has a keen interest in sustainable fishing, also learnt about the region’s fishing industry.

Plans are currently being discussed to work with the two charities to transform some of the remaining buildings at the site.

Read more about The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and and The Prince's Regeneration Trust here.