Skye Cave to Feature in Ranger Events During Highland Archaeology Week
The High Pasture Cave at Strath on the Isle of Skye will be the focus for a number of events taking place as part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight which runs from 30th September to 15th October.
The festival, co-ordinated by The Highland Council’s Archaeology Unit within the Planning and Development Service, celebrates the archaeology, history and culture of the Highlands and has a packed programme of guided walks, talks, children’s and special events for people of all ages to enjoy.
As part of the celebrations the Council’s Rangers will be running two guided walks covering the area surrounding the cave as well as three special activity days aimed to keep children busy during the school holidays.
The first event entitled “Strath In The Iron Age” will take place Wednesday 4 and Wednesday 11 October. These ranger-led guided walks will give people the chance to explore the countryside around the High Pasture Cave excavation site. Participants will get the chance to explore the remains of a range of Bronze and Iron Age structures, including a round-house and a crannog to a Hebridean Fort. Both days will run from 10.30-3.30pm and anyone wishing to come along should meet up at the cave, grid reference NG594197.
The second Ranger event, “Iron Age Crafts For Kids At The Cave” takes place on Saturday 7, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13th October from 10am to 3.00pm. Children can join the Rangers to try a number of Iron Age crafts such as jewellery and pottery making. They can also have their faces painted with a traditional Celtic design dating from 2000 years ago.
The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers are grant aided by Scottish Natural Heritage. The role of Countryside Rangers is to promote public enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside and to conserve wildlife and habitats.
Senior Ranger, John Phillips said: “We have really enjoyed planning these events which will be ideal for young people and adults looking for something exciting to do in the school holidays. Anyone wishing to come along should make sure that they wear warm weather-proof clothing to allow them to spend the day outdoors and have on suitable footwear. They should also bring along a packed lunch. If anyone needs further details on how to get to the Cave they should give me a call on 01471 822774.”
In addition to these Ranger events, the High Pasture Cave Project is holding Open Days at the cave between Monday 2nd and Saturday 14th October. Sponsored by The Highland Council and Historic Scotland, these open days run from 10am to 5pm and take place within the excavation site. Why not come along and discover how archaeology can enhance our understanding of the Iron Age through excavation and craft reconstructions? There is a 500m uphill walk to reach the site and the Open Days are suitable for families with children aged 6-15 years.