From the Gulag archipelago to the Argyll archipelago via one of Scotland’s best historical visitor attractions and TV3, a major Russian cable TV channel…
Following a special visit by celebrated Russian journalist, Mikhail Kozhukhov – organised by VisitScotland – Argyll’s 19th century Scottish courthouse and prison in Inveraray on Loch Fyne, is set to feature on the channel’s new travel guide show.
TV3 reaches 60 million viewers in Russia, regularly featuring programmes devoted to myths, legends and traditions from places all over the world.
The – from our own experience – fantastic interactive guides at Inveraray Jail were delighted to work with the show’s presenter and General Director, Mikhail Kozhukhov.
He is one of the most famous journalists in Russia and author of many travel shows, including In Search of Adventures and Round the World, transmitted on the country’s primetime television.
His new programme will broadcast in September and is expected to be a hit on the TV3 channel.
As an indication of Kozhukhov’s status, he is also the former Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Somewhere out there, spinning in space, is Alastair Campbell gently turning green with envy?
They didn’t let Kozhukhov off lightly in Inveraray though. His visit to the historic Jail, organised by VisitScotland’s international PR team, involved him dressing up as a prisoner during the filming yesterday morning (22nd July 2010).
Gavin Dick, Prison Governor at Inveraray Jail says: ‘We were delighted to play host to TV3 and Mikhail Kozhukhov. The crew were good fun, very enthusiastic and interested in our history. The show will be a fantastic opportunity to spread the historic story of Inveraray Jail to such a wide audience overseas. Our thanks go to VisitScotland for the opportunity’.
According to VisitScotland’s research, outbound travel from Russia has grown significantly in recent years and it is now ranked as the world’s 9th largest market in terms of expenditure on international travel. Russia is a major market for luxury tourism products and services and there is also a growing middle class who are travelling abroad.
Denise Hill, Head of International Marketing at VisitScotland says: ‘Targeting a range of strong markets is key to a successful tourism industry in the current volatile climate. As well as working hard to attract visitors from the UK and established international markets to Scotland, we are developing links with emerging markets like Russia. Working closely with their media – including major broadcast companies – is a key way of raising awareness of Scotland and ensure its attractions are forefront in their mind’.
6,000 men, women and children were tried and served sentences in Inveraray Jail between 1820 and 1889. Unexplained sightings and unusual activity recorded by visitors, staff and paranormal investigators suggest that the establishment is haunted. With a history of depression, torture, death and damnation and a haunting reputation, the jail was also an obvious venue for the British TV programme, Most Haunted last year.
Inveraray Jail was once the courthouse and prison serving Argyll. Real life warders, matrons and prisoners bring the 19th century prison alive.
Visitors may try out prison beds and hammocks in the old and new prisons, sit in on a trial in the spectacular courtroom, sample the brutal 19th century prison punishments and search through prison records for their naughty ancestors. The privately run attraction is open all year round.
More information is at the Inveraray Jail website and available by phone on +44 (0) 1499 302381.
I visit Inveraray fairly frequently now and love the look of the old town -not that it is that old – because of the sensitive way that it has been conserved and protected but still has the air of a place that is lived in rather than is a sort of museum preserved in architectural aspic for the benefit of tourists.
I come from North Argyll and until I moved to Oban in the 1960s had never been in Inveraray and even after I moved to Lorn I used to travel to the central belt by Crianlarich and Loch Lomond. Folk with Stewart and MacColl connections historically never went to Inveraray and the land of Clan Campbell other than to do mischief or under duress that normally was terminated at the end of a rope.
I can still remember the first time I was driving to Oban with my father in the car when I turned left at Tarbet.
“Where are you going?” he asked. I said that this was a different route, marginally faster and avoided Glen Falloch which, before road improvements, was a terrible bottleneck.
“But this way goes through Inveraray,” he protested. I laughed in scorn but his concern was genuine enough. After some debate he eventually settled back in his seat with a curt, “Alright then…but you ARE NOT STOPPING.”
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