The boat built to help boost positive mental health
The boat called Grace is a replica of a small 150-year-old fishing craft
- Published
A Highland community has built a replica of a small 150-year-old boat as part of a project to promote positive mental health and celebrate the area's fishing heritage.
Strathnaver Museum and North Sutherland Community Forest Trust (NWSFT) held a launch for the craft at Bettyhill on Sutherland's north coast last weekend.
Its name - Grace - was chosen from suggestions made by pupils at Farr and Tongue primary schools.
Funding is now being secured to have the boat fitted with a mast and sail, and there are plans to make it available for rowing, sailing and fishing.
Local people gathered at Bettyhill pier on the north Sutherland coast for the launch
Volunteers and an Orkney-based boat-builder were involved in the boat's construction.
It is a replica of a fishing boat called Iris which is at Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill.
Local people, led by a piper, gathered at Bettyhill pier for the launch.
A toast is held in honour of the boat and the people involved in its construction
Fiona Mackenzie, of Strathnaver Museum, said: "The community support and enthusiasm for the Fishing Around project has been phenomenal and it was wonderful to see the culmination of over 2,000 hours of volunteer labour witnessed by almost 80 folk.
"The team are busy working on plans for Stage II to incorporate a mast and sail, boat maintenance, and sail training activities."
Fishing Around is one of a number of initiatives in the local community involving artists.
It was set up to promote positive mental health, reduce feelings of isolation and improve wellbeing.
Traditional boat-building skills were a feature of the project.