Weekend festival ‘ROCK PAPER CHISELS’ – A celebration of Luing’s past and future as a Slate Island
Organised by Luing History Group and our parent the Isle of Luing Community Trust, with funding from Historic Environment Scotland and Scotland Book Trust’s Live Literature.
Friday Sept 20th to Sunday Sept 22nd 2024
Rock Paper Chisels celebrates Luing’s past – its geology, history and archaeology – and looks towards the future. Supported by Historic Environment Scotland, the Isle of Luing is opening a new chapter in its history. Sixty years after the last slate quarry closed at Cullipool, plans are afoot to restart the production of roofing slates as a community business, creating jobs and helping to revive the island economy.
The weekend festival is for people of all ages interested in archaeology, history, geology, crafts and music. Starting on Friday afternoon and ending on Sunday afternoon, the festival includes:
- Walks, talks and visits, and boat trips round Luing. See, experience and learn about the island’s history, including hill-top forts, Medieval boat graffiti and stunning slate quarries.
- Join in craft workshops – ‘painting on slate’ and ‘crafting with stone’ for adults and children. Compete to make the tallest and most beautiful stone spire.
- Hear about recent archaeological discoveries and explorations of Luing’s history, as well as island plans for the future, including re- opening a slate quarry, tackling coastal erosion and attracting more young people to live on the island.
- Listen to stories by award-winning Scottish writer James Robertson and enjoy song and music from local musicians on Saturday night.
- Enjoy ‘Taste of Luing’ food from sea and land in the Atlantic Islands Centre – great home-baking during the day, special Festival meals in the evenings.
Advance booking and payment are needed for the boat trips and for the Friday and Saturday evening meals. All other events are turn up on the day and pay at the door.
If you’re interested in participating send an email to slate.luing@btinternet.com and we’ll keep you informed about the final programme and how to book.
For information on local accommodation go to https://isleofluing.org/where-stay
Rock Paper Chisels is organised by Luing History Group and the Isle of Luing Community Trust, with funding from Historic Environment Scotland and Scotland Book Trust’s Live Literature.
The weekend festival is part of Scottish Archaeology Month and the Scottish Geology Festival.
The full programme can be found here. Email slate.luing@btinternet.com to receive further information including how to book.
Friday 20th, 11am-3pm
Displays on Luing’s stone and slate history at the Atlantic Islands Centre throughout the weekend. Geology upstairs, history and archeology downstairs. Café open.
Friday 20th, 12.30-2pm
CARVINGS ON STONE – Guided visit to Kilchattan church and boat graffiti
See and learn about Luing’s unique boat graffiti, carved on the walls of the old parish church over 600 years ago. The church site is ancient, used as a burial ground to this day. Information sheet on website. Meet by the graveyard gate. Parking opposite. Donations invited.
Friday 20th, 2.30-5pm
ISLAND GEOLOGY AND HERITAGE – Shared Car Safari Several stops around Luing to see the main rock types, their associated landscape and built history. Walking limited to short distances from cars.
Meet outside Cullipool Hall with waterproofs. Donations invited.
Friday 20th, 2.30-4.30pm
ISLAND INDUSTRY – Guided Walk
Visit the deserted settlement of Ballachuan, view dramatic evidence of slate quarrying, and learn about the times when 600 people lived on Luing. Walk starts and ends at Cullipool Hall. A mixture of path, track and rough walking. Information sheet on website. Donations invited.
Friday 20th, 2-5pm
ROCKS OF HOPE CRAFTING WITH SLATE – drop-in
Create your own house sign on an old Luing roof slate, try rock weaving or decorate some Luing slate with paint or stencils. For adults and accompanied children.
Location: Cullipool and Toberonochy Halls.
Donations invited.
Friday 20th, 6pm
TASTE OF LUING FROM THE SEA
A convivial sit-down dinner at the AIC for those attending the ‘Luing’s history in stone’ talks. A choice of fish & chips, langoustines & chips or Shitaki mushroom orzo with Luing dulse & garlic bread.
Location: Atlantic Islands Centre.
Price: £25 per person for meal and ‘Luing’s History in Stone talks’. Book and pay by Friday 13th September.
Friday 20th, 7.45-10pm
LUING’S HISTORY IN STONE – Illustrated Talks
Far from being wild and remote, Luing has been a hive of activity on land and sea for millennia. Recent surveys have discovered new sites and evidence of Luing’s exciting past, presented by archaeologist Dugie MacInnes and island historian Mary Braithwaite.
Location: Atlantic Islands Centre. Bar open.
Price: £10 adult at door, children free
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Saturday 21st September 10am-12pm
LUING FROM THE SEA – Boat Trip
See Luing’s fascinating history from on board ‘Golden Eye’. If the weather is good, we’ll go all the way round Luing and Torsa. If not, we’ll keep to the east. Both routes have great views and sites to see! Passenger pickup from north and south Cuan.
Price: £75 per person. Places limited and must be booked and paid in advance. Information on website.
Saturday 21st, 10am-3pm
Displays on Luing’s stone and slate history at the Atlantic Islands Centre throughout the weekend. Geology upstairs, history and archeology downstairs. Café open.
Saturday 21st, 11am-12.30pm
CULLIPOOL QUARRY PAST & FUTURE – Guided visit
Visit this geologically-important site and learn about the community’s plans to once again produce Scottish roofing slates for heritage and new buildings.
Meet at the outdoor tables, Atlantic Islands Centre. Donations invited.
Saturday 21st, 1-2pm
DISAPPEARING STONE – Guided Visit
Stone is disappearing from Cullipool shore, dragged out to sea by waves. Walk the shore and learn about the community’s work to tackle erosion and ‘feed’ the beach. Meet at the outdoor tables, Atlantic Islands Centre. Donations invited.
Saturday 21st, 1-3pm
MAKING ROOFING SLATES – demonstration
Skilled craftsman Michael Fothergill will demonstrate how roofing slates were made the traditional way. It’s hopefully a skill with a future when Cullipool quarry reopens.
Opposite the outdoor tables at the Atlantic Islands Centre. Donations invited.
Saturday 21st, 2-5pm
ROCKS OF HOPE CRAFTING WITH SLATE – drop-in Create your own house sign on an old Luing roof slate, try rock weaving or decorate some Luing slate with paint or stencils. For adults and accompanied children. Locations: Cullipool and Toberonochy Halls.
Donations invited.
Saturday 21st, 2-5pm
BUILDINGS IN STONE – Guided Walk
Luing’s Iron Age people knew about building in stone. This walk takes in two hill forts, hut circles and other curiosities. Route is partly track, partly rough pasture. Information sheet on website.
Start and end at Ardinamar. Donations invited.
Saturday 21st, 6pm
TASTE OF LUING BUFFET
Delicious island food, including Luing beef and Luing Home Bakers tarts for those attending the ‘Songs and Stories of Stone’ evening entertainment.
Location: Atlantic Islands Centre.
Price: £25 per person for meal and ‘Songs and Stories of Stone’ evening entertainment. Places must be booked and paid by Saturday 14th September.
Saturday 21st, 7.45-11pm
SONGS AND STORIES OF STONE
An evening of short stories read by writers James Robertson and Dougie Strang, woven with music and songs in Gaelic, English and Scots from Alison and Dan and local musicians. Bar open.
Price: £10 at door, children free.
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Sunday 22nd September, 10am-12pm
LUING FROM THE SEA – Boat Trip
See Luing’s fascinating history from on board ‘Golden Eye’. If the weather is good, we’ll go all the way round Luing and Torsa. If not, we’ll keep to the east. Both routes have great views and sites to see! Price: £75 per person. Passenger pick-up from north and south Cuan. Places limited and must be booked and paid in advance. Information on website.
Sunday 22nd, 10.30am-3pm
Displays on Luing’s stone and slate history at the Atlantic Islands Centre throughout the weekend. Geology upstairs, history and archeology downstairs. Café open.
Sunday 22nd, 11.15am-12.15pm
ROCK TOPPED FRONT WALL – 23 Cullipool
The Crust of the Earth is remarkably varied! Alastair and Zoë Fleming have collected a stockpile of rocks for educational purposes and will help you to identify them. Diagram provided. Rummage box for you to choose a pet rock to take home!
Location: Roadside No.23 Cullipool. Donations invited.
Sunday 22nd, 11.15am-1pm
STONE SPIRES – Competition
Build the tallest spire or the most beautiful stone creation. Prizes to be won by individuals and families. Location: South of Cullipool flagpole.
Entry: Donations invited.
Prizes awarded at 2pm Atlantic Islands Centre.
Sunday 22nd, 1-2pm
CARVINGS ON STONE – Guided visit to Kilchattan church and boat graffiti
See and learn about Luing’s unique boat graffiti, carved on the walls of the old parish church over 600 years ago. The church site is ancient, used as a burial ground to this day. Meet by the graveyard. Parking opposite. Information on website. Donations invited.
Sunday 22nd, 2pm
Awarding of prizes for winning spires and stone creations
Location: Atlantic Islands Centre.
The full programme can be found here.
