The information point closed on 19th September 2004, and will, funds permitting, reopen at Easter 2005. The numbers of visitors increased from 1,419 in 2003 to 2,015 in 2004, despite having shorter opening hours in 2004 due to lack of funds. The aim of the centre remains to disseminate information about the local area, and, although sales from refreshments, cakes, ice cream, books, maps and videos increased in 2004, the Trust will again be seeking funds to run the centre in 2005. The objective is always to have sufficient funds to pay someone to run the centre and for basic operating costs such as electricity, rates and telephone line to enable an email station to be offered.

Local History Project

To collect, record, store and make freely available to the public, information relating to Dunnet Head and the Parish of Dunnet. We have added two interesting documents to the local History archive:-

* Teind Roll for the Parish of Dunnet – contains details of the owners of properties and the stipends payable to the Parish. Undated but probably 1930s
* The Fair Side of the Sand - a collection of poems and stories about Brough and the surrounding area published in 1954.

Photographic and Sound Archive

As part of the Local History Project a library of digitised images and recordings will be built to help visitors appreciate this sub alpine area of outstanding beauty. We have received a number of photographs from Sheila Moir of Skarfskerry and are looking at methods of digitising existing material.

Nature Trail

We hope to establish a nature trail across Brough Common with support from LIFE Peatlands strategy which is a partnership including Forest Enterprise, Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB, SNH, Plantlife and Blue Toucan. We have recently been in discussions with the Brough Grazings Committee re this.

Broadband

Provision of broadband facilities to community groups to provide educational resources and email facilities when the Barrock exchange is enabled in April 2005.

Wildlife

Whale watching - Sightings of whales and dolphins in the Pentland Firth have become more frequent in recent years and Dunnet Head is one of the best places to see these interesting creatures. During the summer of 2004 there were some exceptional concentrations of Minke whales with up to twenty visible at times. The blowing of the whales could be heard from the shore at times. We used the whiteboard at the Information Point to record sightings and provide up to date information for visitors. Eventually this kind of information will be recordable via our new web site.

Web site

The current web site is being redesigned by Louise Campbell, a student from South Bank University to build a distributable knowledge base of the various aspects of Dunnet Head and immediate environs. The aim is to provide a tool for researchers about aspects of Dunnet Head. This will enable extraction of information for dissemination to interested parties; reports on specific topics; tracking visitor information; easy input of raw data as identified, and will be easy to use. Louise is designing the prototype - this is what she has to say about the project:

"I am a student at South Bank University studying for my MSc in Advanced Information Technology with Multimedia. For my final year project I am redesigning a website for Dunnet Head Educational Trust. This initially will be a prototype. I am currently liaising with Tina Irving as to what the users would like on the website.

One of the main new aspects of the website is a facility whereby users will be able to input sightings of animals. The users will able to input certain information regarding the sightings. The users will be able to input the information via a form displayed on the website. The information will then be transferred to a database. There will be a facility whereby users will be able to bring up reports on certain information from the information recorded on the sightings. For example, the most frequent animal seen.

I have changed the layout of the current site. This includes the difference of colours and information displayed. The way in which this was decided was that a survey was carried out on a group of uses. The types of questions that were asked included, what they thought of the site, what they liked or disliked about the site and suggested improvements of the site. The feedback gathered went into consideration when redesigning the site.

The prototype will be finished by the end of January so hopefully all will like the improvements.

Louise Campbell"

Walks

The Trust have agreed that the centre be used for organisation of the Caithness and Sutherland Walking Festival, which will take place from 14th to 22nd May 2005. There will be two guided walks on Dunnet Head, pending agreement with the land owners. The centre will also be the festival office from mid April to the end of May.

HISTORY

We are keen for as many people to be involved with the work of the Trust as possible and help carry projects forward. We are particularly keen to source old photos and information about the area for our growing collection. We have a number of letters from ladies who were members of the WAAF during WWII and several photos of Dunnet Head and Burifa Hill during the War.

Communications at Burifa Hill during

Gee was a radio navigational aid developed to help Bomber Command navigate and find its targets over a blacked-out Germany at night. As such, the system consisted of several ground stations linked together which, by the transmission o f carefully timed radio signals, produced a grid (hence the name: Gee for grid) of signals from which a navigator could determine the aircraft’s position. The main pulse would be sent by a Master Station and this would trigger transmissions from Slave Stations and the resulting grid made it possible to navigate very accurately to a range of about 300 miles.

A number of Gee chains were built in Britain, to cover various areas of Occupied Europe. One of these was the Northern Gee Chain of which Burifa Hill was the Master. There were Slave Stations at Scousburgh in Shetland, Windyhead Hill near Fraserburgh and Sango near Cape Wrath. There was also a Monitor Station and this too was at Burifa Hill. The Northern Gee Chain became operational in late 1941 and remained in use until March 1946.

The Northern Gee Chain was used to great effect in hundreds of operations throughout its operational lifetime. These included assisting with minelaying operations carried out in the North Sea and Baltic Sea during September and October 1943. One particular operation which is mentioned in the records of Burifa Hill is of interest. The Chain gave a "very exceptional performance" on the night of 3/4 September 1943 when its signals were used by a Bomber Command force of 316 Avro Lancasters in a raid on Berlin at a distance of 620 miles from Burifa Hill. This is a quite remarkable distance, being more than double the normal range for Gee reception.

Information kindly supplied by Ian Brown, Historical Radar Archive, Peebles.

There is some speculation about the origins of the word "Burifa" – there are several place names with the same root – eg Rigifa. The word is thought to be of Norse origin, according to a local lady, whose father was Norwegian.

Many thanks:

Extract from Rob Gibson’s (SNP) Holyrood Matters October 2004. "The Dunnet Head Educational Trust based at Windhaven, Brough, should soon receive a small cheque from MORI. MSPs receive requests for interviews on current topics. A small donation to charity results. Interpreting the Far North point on the Scottish mainland deserves our every support."

To UKAEA for their donation to the Trust which will go towards funds for manning the information point.

Recent activities

Took part in seasonal opening research undertaken by the University of Strathclyde.

Took part in research which examined the possible impact of renewable energy on tourism, including on-shore wind energy and hydro power. Undertaken by a student from Heriot Watt University.

SOME THINGS TO SEE IN THE AREA

* The WWII radar station which formed part of the Gee communications chain
* The lighthouse on Dunnet Head built by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, in 1831.
* The Ranger station at Dunnet Bay above the caravan site office.
* Dunnet Forest opposite the caravan site - a wealth of flora and fauna, including the indigenous primula scotica. Web site: http://www.dunnetforest.org.
* Mary-Ann's Cottage - an excellent example of an old croft – opens 2 – 4 pm, from June to September, closed Mondays.
* Castle of Mey - http://www.castleofmey.org.uk/ Castle open from Monday 2nd May 2005 to Thursday 28th July inclusive and from Tuesday 10th August to Thursday 29th September.

Castle & Gardens are open from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm every day except Fridays and from 29th July to 9th August inclusive.

* Forsinard RSPB centre, essential if you are interested in birds and the peatland.
* Castlehill Trail

Useful information

* http://fishing-highland.co.uk. Fishing permits for the Dunnet Head Lochs are available at the information point. Fishing season May to September.
* http://www.caithness.org - a wealth of information about the County.
* Archaeology - Canmore Database compiled by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland http://www.rcahms.gov.uk, RCAHMS, John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace, Edinburgh EH8 9NX, Tel: +44 (0)131 662 1456 | Fax: +44 (0)131 662 1477 / 1499 | Email: nmrs@rcahms.gov.uk. Gives a wealth of information about archaeology. There are 34 archaeological sites on Dunnet Head!

Environmental

Caithness Renewable Energy Forum – has monthly meetings – see http://www.caithness.org for details. It’s not ALL about wind! See their web site at http://www.cref.co.uk

Environmental Research Institute, Castle Street, Thurso – http://www.erionline.co.uk.

Appeal

We would like to thank people and organisations who have already donated to the Trust and support its aims. Information is disseminated from the centre and helps persuade visitors to remain in the area longer, thereby supporting local businesses and the economy. It is therefore a valuable local and much needed resource. We do not have a subscription or membership fee so income is solely derived from grant monies and sales of goods from the centre. Although sales increased in 2004, they are not yet sufficient to cover costs. The ultimate aim is to become self sustaining. If you would like to help by donating a small amount of money to the Trust, please complete the tear off slip at the bottom of the page and send to us. It would be much appreciated. The Trust is recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue so you will be able to offset donations in your tax return.

I would like to support the Dunnet Head Educational Trust and enclose a cheque for £…………

Name:……………………………………………………….. Date: …………………………

(Please print)

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Send to: Windhaven, Brough, Thurso, KW14 8YE