Balnakeil Craft Village lies about one mile west of Durness, within sight of Balnakeil Bay with its historic house and church. This collection of unusual buildings was built in the mid 1950's as an M.O.D. early warning station in the event of nuclear attack. However, it was never commissioned, and in 1964, the camp born of Cold War fear in the 50's, began its rebirth as a 60's cradle of creativity.
Post-1939-45 war built village visible on vertical air photographs (V 540/RAF/1631, 0081-0082, flown 1 June 1955). The air photographs show the village under construction. Information from RCAHMS, May 2004 Sutherland: An Illustrated Architectural Guide:1939-1945. Rehabilitated military encampment of flat-roofed white-painted cabins, quite incogruous in relation to its Highland setting but full of varying enterprise, including hotel and craft workshops.
Categories
MilitaryOpening Times
Various - see local shops for details.
Location Information
Area: North Sutherland
OS Grid Reference: NC 39289 67917