Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
PRESS RELEASE
5 June 2001
For Use: Immediately
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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 5 June 2001 For Use: Immediately | |
HRH The Princess Royal visited two of the newest visitor attractions in the Western Isles today as she opened the restored Blackhouse Village at Gearannan, Lewis and the Outdoor Centre at Scaladale in Harris.
Speaking at the opening of Gearannan, the Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean
Siar, Mr. Alex MacDonald, said:
"This is a special day for the Western Isles and I am delighted that Her
Royal Highness was able to be with us to mark the opening of Gearranan and earlier
was able to visit Scaladale and the Save The Children Shop.
Gearranan has the potential to be one of the foremost and most unique visitor
attractions in the U.K. It is a mixture of the old and new, offering an insight
into life as it used to be, combined with many of the more comfortable aspects
of modern day living. I hope you will agree that the result is an attraction
that will appeal to visitors from around the world. The Gearannan village is
truly a reflection of the unique heritage and culture of the islands and provides
a marvellous opportunity to market the islands to a massive audience and is
a valuable addition to the historical attractions including Calanais, the Carloway
Broch and the Norse Mill which together make up what we call the ‘West
Side Story’. It is a story worth telling and one which I hope many of you
will return to the islands to enjoy.
There is a new confidence in projecting the Western Isles as a unique place
for people from across the U.K. and the world, to visit and today both Gearannan
and Scaladale have shown exactly the type of unrivalled product on offer in
the islands".
Gearannan is a recreated blackhouse village on the west side of Lewis offering self catering accommodation and the opportunity to work as a crofter. The blackhouses are authentic on the outside but have all the conviences of a modern house on the inside.
Scaladale is an outdoor centre at Ardvourlie in Harris offering activity breaks for schools, youth groups and businesses.
Earlier in the day, the Princess Royal who is patron of Save The Children, toured the organisation's premises in Stornoway.
Ends
Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk