Can you help piece together the biggest map of Scotland when it comes to Oban this weekend?
The Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale mega-map takes the form of a huge jigsaw representing the whole of the country. Each of its pieces is about
a metre square – so it will take plenty hands to complete it.
Budding cartographers of all ages are invited to join the fun any time between 11am and 3pm this Saturday, November 11, at Atlantis Leisure to make it. This part of the day is called Am Mapa Mòr Measgaichte which means The Mega-map Jigsaw Challenge.
Once the jigsaw is made, there will be games and challenges to explore amazing landscapes, place-names, geology, habitats and more.
After this map-building session, there will be an interactive guided talk through Scotland’s peopled history and how Gaelic place-names can tell us lots about the environment around us today.
Hosting the day will be Gaelic outdoor instructor Ross Christie.
“It’s so much fun to pore over a map of an area, coming across new features and
placenames of interest. This map takes that to a whole new level – you can get completely lost following just one river from source to sea, or see how Scotland’s languages change with the terrain and region you’re moving through.
“Building the map is great fun for all ages, so we look forward to welcoming lots of families on Saturday.
“Everyone is welcome to stay for the late afternoon talk too, where we will explore how the mapped place-names in our local area came to be, and why it’s important to be aware of them when engaging with the outdoors,” said Ross.
Saturday’s events are jointly run by Adventure Oban and Atlantis Leisure, both community-run charities encouraging people to get outdoors and be healthy.
It is free to go along but donations on the door are welcome towards Adventure Oban, a not-for-profit activity group supporting equal access for
all to Oban’s natural playground.