Falls of Shin Visitor Centre

Four years after a beloved tourist destination was destroyed by fire, the new Falls of Shin visitor centre opened, offering a complete visitor experience including landscaped parking with EV charging, children's play zone, external interpretation area, café, shop and path to the nearby and renowned salmon leap waterfall. 

As rebuilding under the original building’s ownership was unlikely, the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust took the helm by commissioning initial concept sketches in a bid to raise funding to purchase the land and rebuild a new attraction. Architect Catriona Hill helped to navigate the project through Big Lottery funding requirements and through a collaborative approach with the client and the community, whose economy had been significantly impacted from the loss of the original building, set the ball rolling to bring the concept sketches to life. 

The Falls of Shin is renowned for being one of the best places in Scotland to view salmon as they make their way from the ocean to spawn during the summer months, jumping up the falls on their way inland. In addition to salmon spotting, the area offers wonderful walks.

With most visitors seeking out the Falls of Shin through google maps, an idea to replicate the shape of a leaping salmon as a geographical marker was born. 

The primary visitor facilities of cafe, shop and restrooms are formed within the head of the salmon, offering floor to ceiling glazing perched within the gills, connecting the outdoors with the indoors. 

The outdoor space is designed with tables and chairs arranged to resemble fish gills, while the timber theme continues throughout, leading to an outdoor plaza that serves as an informal gathering spot and venue for community events. Timber picnic benches offer seating for outdoor activities, including summer gatherings and birthday parties. Nearby, the children’s playpark features timber playframes and tables, complemented by an outdoor kiosk where visitors can purchase refreshments during busy periods without entering the main building.

“The client asked to ensure a place for the High School Pipe Band to perform. From that suggestion we developed the walkway and the grassy plaza. At the time it was almost a throw-away comment but it turned out to be a really important part of the project.”

The café is configured to accommodate sixty people, the capacity of a typical coach, with parking to match alongside a handful of spaces for cars. Camper van berths are included to enable overnight stays while offering an additional revenue stream.

Achieving a sustainable solution was crucial to maintain the biodiversity of the site. A pre-fabricated timber kit defines the building, using sustainable, modular construction created off site from cross laminated timber, a versatile and sustainable alternative to steel. This method of construction also achieves a shorter turnaround, helping to mitigate the likely impact of the local climate stalling the build process. 

With fire risk being fresh on people’s minds, working closely with the civil engineer ensured robust firefighting provision was met with a water tank to compensate for the lack of water pressure, achieved by repurposing the previous septic tank which miraculously survived the original fire. The use of an air source heat pump and underfloor heating contributes to low carbon emissions.

A design and build contract minimised the risk of budget and schedule overruns. 

A cherished destination has been reinstated for the local community with the attention to detail evident throughout the development, from the interpretation boards along the walkway to the illuminated fishtail portal. 

The new facility has been embraced as a place of great pride and a landmark facility for the area, bringing jobs and revenue back to this unique site of interest and for the community custodians. 

In a further twist to the tale, the facility closed during the pandemic and suffered financial challenges. It was rescued by an anonymous benefactor who together with two enthusiastic young local chefs, have reopened the centre.