Drystone dyking training day

Castletown Heritage Society operates the Castlehill Heritage Centre as an educational resource for visitors, local students and school children and the local community. Through a programme of interpretive exhibitions and interactive workshops, we seek to stimulate and sustain interest in and understanding of the history, heritage, vernacular skills, biodiversity and physical environment of Castletown and the parish of Olrig. Our aim is to preserve and maintain the unique heritage of our community within both local Caithness and broader Highland contexts.

To see events and activities from previous years, click here:

2016 EVENTS

The 2016 programme of activities got underway with a series of evening talks:

Wednesday January 20th 2016 - Angela Simpson from Forsinard presented a talk entitled "Flows to the Future - a Landscape of Global Significance".

Wednesday February 10th 2016 - Caroline Wickham-Jones on "Underwater Survey and Changing Landscape of Prehistoric Orkney".

Tuesday 15th March 2016 - Muriel Murray revealed the fascinating social history of James Smith Esq. of Olrig.

Wednesday 20th April 2016 was our AGM where we to welcomed Anne Dunnett, Lord Lieutenant of Caithness as guest speaker. Her topic was "Feuar, Tenant, Wadsetter - An Insight into Land Tenure of Yesteryear".

Our first vernacular skills event of the year was a Rag Rug Workshop. Clemency Crowe led a class on Saturday 2nd April 2016.

See the NEWS page for reports on the above events.

Every Wed, Sat & Sun afternoon

2pm - 4pm

Winter Exhibition - Getting the message across

Our Winter Exhibition depicted communications in the parish through the ages, from word of mouth and the written word, through dispatch riders, beacons on hills, postal system, newspapers, telephone and fax, to radio, television, and the internet

To find out more, click HERE

Every Wed, Sat & Sun afternoon

2pm - 4pm

Big is Beautiful Exhibition

An exhibition exploring of some of our larger artefacts and items that command a substantial presence all of their own. From early labour saving kitchen and laundry equipment to a blacksmith’s pedal hammer, farm implements and a WWII Rolls-Royce Merlin engine!

To find out more, click HERE

Summer Exhibition - Flagstone Industry

Learn about how the Flagstone Industry shaped the social history of Castletown and the Parish of Olrig. Discover life as a flagstone worker in the 18th and 18th century, when the robust, high quality flagstone from the local quarries was exported as far afield as Argentina and Australia!

To find out more click HERE

Afternoon Teas at Castlehill

In response to popular demand, on every Sunday in August we will be serving afternoon teas at Castlehill.

Unique, locally themed home baking Flagstone Biscuits, Primula Scotica Cup Cakes, and Dunnet Head Layer Cake. Guaranteed to get the taste buds dancing!

A perfect way to complement a Sunday afternoon stroll round the Flagstone trail or a meander round the Heritage Garden.

Thursday 26 December

1pm to 4pm

Boxing Day Mulled Wine & Mince Pies

Join us at Castlehill Heritage Centre for mulled wine, mince-meat pies and a good going chinwag on our traditional festive Boxing Day opening. Always a popular event!

Winter Exhibition - Life At Home

A fascinating exhibition illustrating everyday life at home in Castletown in by-gone times. Featuring artefacts from the Society's extensive collection of objects, appliances, tools, furniture, photographs, newspapers and other domestic ephemera, some of which may be all too familiar…

To find out more click HERE