Places to visit Science and technology Scotland

Built in 1953 and equipped with a refraction telescope, it is the only observatory in Great Britain where an astronomer is permanently present. Exhibitions on space exploration are organized there.

History : The Mills Observatory was established by a bequest from John Mills in 1935, a wealthy flax farmer, who left the observatory a legacy of fertile land. Designed by the town's architect, McLellan Brown, in collaboration with Professor Ralph Sampson, it is built in sandstone and has a rather atypical dome 7 m in diameter. It was built for the sole purpose of popularizing science to the general public! Its main telescope measures 400 mm in diameter and offers quality images of the Moon and the planets. However, it has another, much more prestigious and older instrument, a 250 mm telescope made by Thomas Cooke of York in 1871. Alas! due to its age and condition, it is hardly used anymore. When this observatory opened its doors on October 28, 1935, it housed a 450 mm mirror telescope built by Grubb Parsons of Newcastle. What remains of this equipment can still be seen today in one of the observatory's rooms. An astonishing mixture of classicism (the buildings and old telescope) and modernity (the telescopes in which visitors usually observe), this observatory is still worth the trip, as it is located in a pleasant wooded park that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding residential areas.

This space, which also serves as a tourist office, is freely accessible and free of charge. It offers curious visitors the opportunity to discover the history of the Caledonian Canal, but also the particularities of the region and its great sites, such as the Great Glen or Loch Ness, of course. You will learn all about the construction of the canal and Queen Victoria's passage. In fact, the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain, just a few steps away, is a testament to the village's sympathy for her. The Caledonian Canal Centre also has a shop and a very friendly café.

The Cruachan hydroelectric station, nicknamed "the Hollow Mountain", can be visited by guided tours. First, a free time in the exhibition - which deals with energy in all its aspects: ecology, techniques, engineering, but also the history of the site and social history - will familiarize you with the subject. A special area is dedicated to children. Then your guide will take you by shuttle bus into the mountain. The observation of the site is done from a platform through a bay window.