Tain & District Museum, Tain & District Museum, Tower Street, Tain
IV19 1DY, Highlands, Scotland, Collection details: Archaeology, Archives, Coins and Medals, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Medicine, Music, Natural Sciences, Personalities, Social History, Weapons and War

   Tarbat Discovery Centre is one of the many attractions on the Pictish Trail. Easter Ross is rich in Dark Age culture and offers visitors a variety of easily accessible sites. You can find out how the archaeologists have slowly uncovered the ancient treasures at Tarbat. The science behind the dig is revealed in an accessible, entertaining and informative way through the creation of an archaeological pit. This explains in detail how the various members of the team recovered the valuable artifacts from the site. The treasury hosts the Pictish carvings and many other finds, including the Viking Silver Horde. Here you can marvel at the sheer beauty of the medieval stonework and read in depth accounts of the many rare tems uncovered at the site. The Crypt at the Tarbat Discovery Centre is a barrel-vaulted, ancient sacred space with appropriate solemnity. You will find out how, in late medieval times, it was the site of an infamous local atrocity. The Lairds Loft Theatre houses the main audio-visual programme. Sit back and take a journey through time, as we show you what life would have been like when Tarbat was a busy medieval settlement. The theatre also doubles as an 'out of hours' events room and may be used for temporary dispays or exhibitions. The Activity Room has user-friendly touch screens which make learning more about the centre's displays fun, helping both children and adults alike get the most from their visit. Extremely easy to use they also will give you information of more general historic interest. The Coleman's Gallery is dedicated to the life and people of Tarbat in more recent times. Find out how the local community has developed over the ages, adapting to the tremendous change which has taken place in the rural communities of northern Scotland and how the arrival of modern industries has affected the the local population.

   The Commercial Inn, Address: 11, Main St, Balintore, Tain, Ross-Shire, IV20 1UE

   Tain Gala - Every year a week long gala is held in Tain, usually the last week in June/first week in July. Activities for all the family are held during each day and in the evenings and include: fiddler's concerts; displays by the Red Arrows; Tea Dances; parachute displays; Country Show; Pipe Band displays; children's picnics and entertainers; marquee dances. The week ends with a full Gala Day on the Saturday which is a traditional Highland event with various displays and entertainers, market stalls, team games and side shows. See the events section for dates of this year's Gala.

   Tain Highland Gathering - A truly traditional Highland event, which attracts visitors from all over the world. A full range of Highland events take place, including: heavy weights; track fields; highland dancing; pipe bands; falconry display; helicopter rides; side shows; tourist races and many children's events. There are many trophies awarded and substantial prize money to be won. The games are opened each year by the Chieftain who comes in a parade from the High Street to the show ground. This is a wonderful day out for all the family. This event is held in August each year in the grounds of the Glenmorangie Distillery.