A rather singular museum
Jun. 3rd, 2019 10:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cycleboy1957Mull is not a terribly big place. On our first morning here, we chatted with a family over the breakfast table. They had rented a self-catering place, so were only in the B&B for one night until their other choice became free. This morning, we popped into the Tobermory Co-op for some bread and were hailed, “Good morning.” by our breakfast friends. An hour later, in the local farmers’ market, our paths crossed again. However, we then drove out to Calgary, on the opposite side of the island. Half a mile beyond the tiny village of Dervaig, we spotted a sign for The Old Byre, that boasted a cultural museum and cafe. It was some 600m off the ‘main’ road and up a rocky track so I was somewhat surprised to see 4 cars in their little car park.. Having watched a video history of Mull, we were browsing the museum when we were greeted yet again by our breakfast friends. I have every expectation of seeing them again before our departure on Wednesday.
The Old Byre Heritage Centre (http://www.old-byre.co.uk/) is worth a little elaboration. Although the cafe and little gift shop is nothing out of the ordinary, they boast a museum on the top floor with a choice of videos; history or wildlife. The videos are both made and narrated by Nick Hesketh. The museum consists of twenty-five 3D dioramas of life on Mull each of which was also made by Nick Hesketh. It must represent years of work. Buildings have every stone modelled in relief with detailed thatching even down to the willow lacing. They really were exquisite and included a very detailed description of the life depicted. There were scenes showing stone, bronze and iron-age settlements, life in medieval settlements, clan wars and crofting, and I don’t think that list is exhaustive. Off the beaten track, certainly, but well worth the £4 entrance fee.
There is little else to report about today. It was rather grey and showery. I’d visited the little cove of Calgary before, but although it was still lovely, the weather was not really conducive to maximum appreciation. We walked along the shore for an hour or so before eating our meal – courtesy of the farmers’ market – then driving back to the B&B along another beautiful, but twisty, section of the west coast.
https://www.facebook.com/mark.kuramotoheadey/media_set?set=a.10213282652358927&type=3
The Old Byre Heritage Centre (http://www.old-byre.co.uk/) is worth a little elaboration. Although the cafe and little gift shop is nothing out of the ordinary, they boast a museum on the top floor with a choice of videos; history or wildlife. The videos are both made and narrated by Nick Hesketh. The museum consists of twenty-five 3D dioramas of life on Mull each of which was also made by Nick Hesketh. It must represent years of work. Buildings have every stone modelled in relief with detailed thatching even down to the willow lacing. They really were exquisite and included a very detailed description of the life depicted. There were scenes showing stone, bronze and iron-age settlements, life in medieval settlements, clan wars and crofting, and I don’t think that list is exhaustive. Off the beaten track, certainly, but well worth the £4 entrance fee.
There is little else to report about today. It was rather grey and showery. I’d visited the little cove of Calgary before, but although it was still lovely, the weather was not really conducive to maximum appreciation. We walked along the shore for an hour or so before eating our meal – courtesy of the farmers’ market – then driving back to the B&B along another beautiful, but twisty, section of the west coast.
https://www.facebook.com/mark.kuramotoheadey/media_set?set=a.10213282652358927&type=3
