Here is a selection of ongoing activities and events we have contributed to. If you like this, and want to help keep it going then you could become a supporter to stay in touch or an active member to take part:
Heritage Festivals and Public Engagement events (ongoing repeat bookings)
Including Nithraid, Historic Environment Scotland Events, and Perth Medieval Fairs
- Christmas GhostsBut what! I hear you exclaim as you read. Ghosts are Halloween, and not Christmas… Perhaps it is easier to think about the spirit of Christmas. It might be an accident whether you think of Santa Clause, Sinterklaas, Santeclaus. Much has been written about connections with Father Christmas, Yule, Saturnalia. But is there something deeper… Read more: Christmas Ghosts
- Making ChristmasSt Andrews Day (Nov. the 30th) Final preparations are underway! We will be setting up in the Loreburn Centre on Saturday. Come and drop in to say hi and make something! More info here https://www.cluaranhaven.org.uk/making-christmas-2024/
- Making Christmas“Making Space” on Saturdays in the Loreburn centre Wordsmith Crafts is moving into the Loreburn centre in Dumfries. We will occupy a space to help you make space for making. The costs of this have been covered so you won’t need cash. Craft cool gifts using recycled and donated materials, help make materials available for… Read more: Making Christmas
- Autumn travelsIn Dumfries and Galloway there are two weeks of school holidays in October. Traditionally this was to free up young people to help howk the tatties from the fields. For Cluaran it meant that we could run a story and crafts session for kids on hokiday at Annan museum. It also meant that we could… Read more: Autumn travels
- Nith ChallengeWe have been experimenting with boat building and watercraft for a good few years now. Perhaps it is time to attempt the “Nith Descent” challenge? The challenge is following the river Nith from Auldgirth to Dumfries rowing club. It is a grade 1 or 2 run depending on the water level. Anyone interested? This is… Read more: Nith Challenge
School Visits (ongoing repeat bookings)
Assembly style presentations, small group work, hands on experiments and crafts – and boats!
We have visited school throughout the Galloway Glens, The Rhins of Galloway, Lockerbie and The Scottish Borders, Edinburgh, and Further afield to Thurso, the Isle of Mann – wherever there is silver and fame to be won!
- Beattock PrimaryCathbad visited Beattock Primary School recently. Here is their post on facebook which gives you an insight into how we navigate our way through history.
- Autumn travelsIn Dumfries and Galloway there are two weeks of school holidays in October. Traditionally this was to free up young people to help howk the tatties from the fields. For Cluaran it meant that we could run a story and crafts session for kids on hokiday at Annan museum. It also meant that we could… Read more: Autumn travels
- Ancient BandsWell, the design of these armbands isn’t quite as old as antiquity, but they are an example of local heritage that is older than the names of some of the hills. We will be making them with young people as part of the Whithorn Trust activities. This gives them a hands on encounter with history,… Read more: Ancient Bands
- More SchoolsDid I mention that it is school visiting season? The requests for Viking visits have been flooding in this year. Every visit is different, because every class approaches the topic in a different way. Hopefully we help them learn about the people who contributed to the Scotland we live in today. Inverkeithing Kirkbean School
- Bannocks, Boxes and BagsBannocks are baking and the boxes are packed! Must be the season for school visits. Soon settlers will become seakings, and the viking era will be thoroughly explored. Stories from around the Irish sea region given will be given a fresh airing. It all looks so tidy now! Will that survive contact with the classroom!
Some highlights from over the years
Nithraid in Dock Park Dumfries 2023
Getting the boat out on the water! We arranged to launch Cluaran from the Loreburn slip on enough evenings to train a crew of rowers for the Nithraid day. We have kept a log of the experience. On the day we set up a medieval pavilion, rustled the salty coo and populated the festival with time travellers both on and off the water.
Tales at the Tap
Once a month for the last couple of winters we have been gathering in the Riverside Tap (Beer without Borders) for an evening of storytelling and music. Simon tells the stories accompanied by Kate, who also sings. Sometimes we have all joined in the singing. These evenings are free to attend and there is a wide selection of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), although the main focus is on ales.
Summer is the time to take it on tour!
Kirkcudbright Galleries, Galloway Hoard 2022
We arranged the “going away” event with craft workshops, a parade, a Viking encampment and even a boat burning.
Wordsmith Crafts CIC
Cluaran became a Wordsmith Crafts project, part of a community interest company formed to make heritage more accessible.
International Skiffie World, Stranraer 2019 (Early Medieval)
Working with archaelogists and rowing enthusiasts – as well as the general public
Hidden Histories 2018, 2019 (Medieval)
With Sleeping Giants in Dumfries and Galloway – Visit the “Gallovidian Way” to follow the legacy of this work.
Invaders in the Solway 2018 (Roman/Iron Age)
With Dumfries Museum. Making anchor cables and exploring the Roman world from the supply ports on the Solway.
Thurso Viking Festival 2014, 2016 (Viking era!)
We set up a small shipyard, complete with an artifical pond for model boats. We built them a boat to burn on a beach and arranged an evening spectacular
Burnswark Excavations 2016 (Roman/Iron Age)
Interpretation work with Annan Museums and primary schools. Interpreting the archaeology which re-wrote our understanding of the Iron age hill fort
Festival of Museums in Dumfries 2015 (Early Medieval)
Static boat display and schools work.
Check back for more!
