A free two-day slate training course has taken place in the Highlands.

The workshop was part of the £277,000 Ballachulish slate arch heritage project.

A total of 12 volunteers from Ballachulish and Lochaber were taught various techniques associated with slate building.

As part of the course, participants visited the project site to learn about construction of the arch from contractors Forth Stone.


Work is underway to conserve the site and the volunteers made progress in building a large new slate plinth at the entrance to Ballachulish's East Quarry, which will hold three new panels informing visitors about the history and significance of the local slate quarrying industry.

Claire Bell, of the council's Development & Infrastructure Service, said: "The training course was an important part of the project aimed at helping raise awareness of slate as a building material, and encouraging people to use it in their own projects."

The course was open to anyone with a personal or professional interest in using slate to build features such as dykes, cairns, plinths and seating.

(LM)