|
 Log in |
Register
|
|
|
News
Free entry to ancient Calanais stones could endFree entry to one of the Western Isles' best-known and ancient sites could end under plans to raise money to help cover the cost of its upkeep. More info : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66815292 |
Posted by drewbhoy15th September 2023ce |
Comments (8) |
|
| I suppose a small charge is justified. I'm not one who expects something for nothing, but a lot of the more popular sites, such as Stonehenge charge stupid prices. If we want to encourage an interest in archaeology in young people, which is where the future lies, we need to make the big sites affordable to families, especially during the current economic crisis. |
Posted by The Eternal17th September 2023ce |
| The only downside would be that it might mean it's not open early/late in the day I guess, if it's only possible to go when the visitor centre is open. |
Posted by thesweetcheat18th September 2023ce |
| Add to the economic crisis, the condition of the ferries.................................. |
Posted by drewbhoy 18th September 2023ce |
| I do believe I visited quite late in the day when the visitor centre was shut... they could always have a machine in the car park to take your money if you want to give something out of hours. I'm surprised it would have been free in the first place to be honest, especially with it being a big tourist site and having a little visitor centre? |
Posted by Rhiannon18th September 2023ce |
| To make the payment thing work, would they have to fence things off, a la St*nehenge? Is that even viable there? I really must get my act together and get up there before too much longer. |
Posted by thesweetcheat 18th September 2023ce |
| I would say no, there is much more than just the famous stone circle. getting people there is the biggest problem, however the new proposed/planned St Kilda centre might help things for the area as a whole. |
Posted by drewbhoy 19th September 2023ce |
|
I remember the days as a kid when the 'standard' admission price for historic monuments (we're talking castles here) was small enough for my dad to afford to take me in whenever we had the opportunity... enough to pay for the custodian's wages. Make it too much and you'll still get the bored American tourist, yes... but lose the next generation of kids, completely the opposite of what we want. Stating the obvious, but future interest is absolutely key. As I recall, my first visit was subject to the bus times to catch the ferry back to Ullapool (as a foot passenger)... so 4hrs or so. The second time I stayed in the nearby YH and literally hung around at the Tursachan ALL day. Then came back the next evening after seeing the amazing 'periphery sites'. The pull was that great. So to close off access 'after hours' will IMO be vastly detrimental - it is simply not one of those sites you 'go and 'have a look around'. It is the destination of a pilgrimage, no less. |
Posted by GLADMAN19th September 2023ce |
| My feeling exactly; the first time I went I got there before the visitor centre opened, no other cars in the carpark and I had the stones all to myself on a crisp, bright November morning for half/threequarters of an hour before the clouds rolled in and the heavens opened driving me indoors. Restricting its opening by fencing it off (the only way of enforcing an entry fee in designated hours) will be to deprive future 'pilgrims' of the chance to experience what I did, something never to be forgotten. |
Posted by ironstone19th September 2023ce |
| You must be logged in to add a comment | |
Top of page