Staffin Ecomuseum - NEW!

Ceumannan, Staffin Ecomuseum is proud to differentiate itself from other museums in Scotland. "Without walls, and a roof", they proclaim. A linked series of 13 outdoor sites on the West Coast of Skye, this is the only place in Scotland that defines itself as an ecomuseum.

What makes Staffin unique is the assemblage of natural and heritage elements. The Trust has built on the natural resources of the area, by opening up the landscape for all to explore through interpreting the vast worlds of An Taobh Sear - ‘theEast Side’. It aims to raise awareness, encourage people to go outdoors and, above all, share the heritage of the area.

A network of paths was built and upgraded throughout the district of Staffin. A number of its hidden stories have been carefully selected for communicating through interpretive panels and artwork at An Stòrr, Tobhta Uachdrach/Upper Tote, An Lethallt/Lealt, Rubha nam Bràithrean/Brothers’ Point, Creag an Fhèilidh/Kilt Rock, An Corran, Brògaig, Loch Shianta, Flòdaigearraidh/ Flodigarry, Cuith-raing/Quiraing, Staffin Museum, Columba 1400 and Staffin Hall. The high quality design was provided by Peter McDermott, mcdcreative of Sleat. 

About Ecomuseums

An Ecomuseum is a dynamic way in which communities preserve, interpret, and manage their heritage for a sustainable development. The Trust has discovered that there are all round benefits for community involvement and longterm good.

The original concept of an ecomuseum was introduced by the French museologist Hugues de Varine in 1971. “Mondi Locali - Local Worlds”, the , is an active network of ecomuseum practitioners and theorists in Europe (mainly Italy). It holds regular meetings in a variety of countries to share experiences and new ideas.

Professor Peter Davis, Professor of Museology, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University, is an expert in the field. In his book 'Ecomuseums' (1999) he referred to the initiatives at Kilmartin and Easdale Island on the West Coast of Scotland, both of which had employed 'ecomuseum-type' approaches to safeguarding heritage, and had toyed with the idea of calling themselves an ecomuseum.

While this might sound dry, the result is not. Children will love the dinosaur footprint and rock pools. There are sites of abandoned human settlements and a rich and varied biodiversity, all wrapped in one of Scotlands most fascinating geological areas. Stories are everywhere and it is the people who live there taht are best fitted to tell them.And you get fresh air while exploring.

Further information: Meike Schmidt (Tel 01470 562 449) staffintrust@technacom.com

or Sìne Ghilleasbuig donaldsine@aol.com (Tel 01470 562 325).