Arts, culture and heritage

Another of the four traditional Celtic Festivals, ‘Lughnasa’ has many possible origins but is most often associated with the sun god Lugh. The date of 1st August is linked to the ancient Celtic calendar tablet found at Coligny in France.

There was no kitchen in the Crannog, or at least not one that we would recognise today, but the Loch-dwellers managed with what they had producing fabulous down-to-earth nutritional food.

Our Iron age Gourmet day is one of our most popular events so don’t miss out on cookery demonstrations like you've never seen before: fish baked in clay stuffed with foraged herbs; fish smoked over an open fire; stews and soups using fresh local produce; breads, spreads and jams; locally-sourced spit-roast lamb, wild boar sausages to toast over an open fire and more.

Think we’re clever? We have electricity, wifi, air travel and supermarkets just to name a few - how do you think you would get on without them? 2,500 years ago the world was a very different place and we might think it was backward and dull but that is far from the truth! Join us and discover just how ingenious the ancient loch-dwellers were.

Part of Visit Scotland's Year of Architecture, Innovation and Design.

Booking essential for large groups otherwise just come along and be amazed at what you learn!

Watch our experts create nettle fibres to be spun into yarn then turned into soft and durable fabrics. Learn how our ancestors dyed wool for clothing and split plant stems to create ropes.

Try your hand at spinning and weaving to see how you would have fared.

Part of VisitScotland's year of Architecture, Innovation and Design.

Booking essential for large groups otherwise, just come along and enjoy the fun.

Telephone 01887 830583 or email info@crannog.co.uk.

Discover Iron Age cooking including spit-cooked meat, fish, Crannog stews, locally foraged greens, breads & spreads and themed beverages. Try our ancient craft activities while you’re waiting for a taste of what life was like 2,500 years ago.

All events include museum exhibits, talks around a log-fire in the Crannog roundhouse, demonstrations and hands-on experience of ancient crafts and technologies.

Beltane marks the beginning of summer when livestock were put out to pasture. Rituals were performed to protect cattle, crops and people from harm and to encourage growth during the summer months. Bonfires were lit, feasts prepared and offerings made. Flowers were used to decorate homes, cattle and byres.

Bring a blossom along with you to decorate the Crannog. Wild flowers and foliage will be on hand for garlands and crowns.

Booking essential for large groups, otherwise just come along and help us celebrate the start of summer!

Celebrate Easter Iron Age style with pancakes cooked over an open fire; make your own bread rolls baked in our clay ovens and churn your own butter to spread on them. Hands-on fun and learning all in one go!

Say farewell to 2015 and welcome in 2016 in style with Dornoch's Hogmanay celebrations! There are events throughout the day and night from 31 December until 2 January.

Thursday 31 December

Candle Making workshop, A 'moment's calm' in the Cathedral, five-course dinner with champagne and canapés at the Castle hotel, two amazing ceilidhs to choose from and of course, the main event, the Hogmanay Street Party!