New displays at Falls of Shin
The Falls of Shin Visitor Centre, near Lairg, has opened an impressive new exhibition display about the Atlantic salmon.
Five very large panels chart the lifecycle of the salmon, the importance of the area to its breading success, the vital work the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust carry out, the fish’s history in Scotland, plus threats to its survival and hopes for its future.
The panels are bright, colourful, informative and already proving a big hit with both tourists and locals alike.
The launch event was attended by guests from the local community, who also enjoyed some of the excellent new menu the centre is now serving.
Nick Mellish, who is the manager for Balnagown Estates who own Falls of Shin Visitor Centre, outlined to guests the many other changes and improvements which have been made at the centre, which include the redecoration of the building’s exterior, new hard landscaping, improved disabled access, new signage, new product ranges in the shop, plus extended opening hours for the restaurant seven days a week.
The salmon exhibition display was conceived and project managed by Roger Hughes, who is a consultant based in Rogart.
Roger has also been instrumental in the plan to breathe new life into the centre, and specifically tasked with increasing visitor numbers and improving visitor experience.
Roger commented on the new salmon display and other improvements: “One of the first things which struck me when I first visited Falls of Shin was the lack of information about the salmon – the very reason the centre is there of course. So getting the display in place, along with a host of other improvements to the centre, has been important in increasing the appeal of the centre and the experience when visitors are there – both tourists and local people.
“And local people really are important to the centre, so if they haven’t been recently to see the changes and the salmon exhibition display, I very much hope they will soon.”
