Carmichael Visitor Centre

Scotland’s story told by very realistic ‘living’ wax models is coupled to the Carmichael Clan and family history of the thousand year period and the countryside and environmental changes of the district. Stewardship of one landed unit for a millennium is demonstrated and the workings of the integrated agricultural, forestry and tourism Estate of today explained. As well as featuring Scotland’s only wax model collection there is an exciting adventure playground and indoor play barn for children and a wide range of animals from ducks to deer to inspect and enjoy. Carmichael history walks and trekks for cyclists and on foot from the visitor centre are available and our Clan Farmhouse Kitchen Licensed Restaurant provides meals and snacks all day featuring Carmichael produce - particularly venison. There is a short video film showing Carmichael today and an exciting range of countryside gifts and other souvenirs (online ordering) including tartan and Clan crested items plus sweaters and woollens.	Robert the Bruce 1274 -1329
The Carmichael family have the privilege of being one of the world's longest established small farming businesses having been land stewards of the Carmichael lands since at least the thirteenth century but this carries a significant and continuous environmental responsibility. As our energy consumption has risen with modern appliances in renovated tourism cottages and vsitor centre we have felt the need to generate some of our own energy. We looked at solar, hydro, biomass and wind and decided our greatest potential was with the latter.
The Wind Turbine is made by Atlantic Orient Corporation in Vermont USA and is a 15/50 KW mid size turbine on a 90 foot high lattice tower suitable for large farms and small Estates and isolated Islands. It is ideally suited for Scotland which has Europe's largest wind energy resource and can generate upto the equivalent of 15-20 modern houses worth of electricity. The windmill was constructed in late August 1998 and commissioned in October and is supplying a significant proportion of the power requirements of the Carmichael Visitor centre which has year round need for heat in winter and cooling for meat plant and freezers in summer. It is not envisaged that any power will be sold back to the national grid and the best rate of return will be achieved by replacing expensive bought in top rate power. We acknowledge the generous financial support of Scottish Enterprise and Lanarkshire Development Agency in making this £100000 project possible and we will be presenting educational renewable energy displays for visitors to our centre in the spring of 1999.

A large car and coach park adjoins the Centre with easy access off the A73 trunk road south of Lanark on the north side of Tinto Hill. Groups are welcome; economic entry fees with family and group discounts are available.

Open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. March 21st to January 5th and for farm shop and reservations, throughout the year. Discover Carmichael is a ‘must see’ destination for ‘Braveheart’ enthusiasts.

or contact:

The Estate Office

Carmichael, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland ML12 6PG.

01899 308169.

01899 308 481.