Piping centre plan for Culloden site
The Highlands could have its first bagpipe centre near the scene of the Jacobite rout at Culloden in 1746 that led to our national musical instrument being outlawed for years.
Bagpipe makers Burgess Bagpipes have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £45,000 to start the first phase of the Highland Bagpipe Centre near Culloden Battlefield.
Burgess Bagpipes is a Scottish family business who design and manufacture Scottish small pipes, Border pipes, and the Great Highland Bagpipe.
Burgess Hay, his wife Fiona and son Scott who run the business, are the only Highland bagpipe makers in the region.
They transform blocks of African blackwood into high-quality instruments with a high degree of skill.
Burgess said: “Our family piping history dates back to the 1700s. The skill, knowledge and experience we’ve obtained comes from an accumulation of an authentic Scottish ancestral mix of world champion players, skilled engineers, artists, tutors and judges.
“It is usually a surprise when we tell people that there are three different types of Scottish Bagpipe used in Scotland today. They are amazed at how different they look and sound. We would like everyone that leaves the Highland Bagpipe Centre to be informed and inspired.
“It will be a place to learn about how bagpipes are made, what they sound like and also how they are played.
“Visitors will have a fully immersive experience as we passionately share our history, tradition and culture.”
Jo Robinson, Visit Scotland regional director, said: “The centre would provide exactly the kind of high quality, authentic experience outlined in the national tourism strategy which lays out Scotland’s collective ambition to be recognised as a destination of first choice. Visit Scotland commit to working closely with Burgess Bagpipes.”
The centre will include manufacturing , an archive, museum, exhibition and shop.
The crowdfunding campaign runs until December 14. The online page can be found at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/highland-bagpipe-centre
