Antarctica Adventures
Join us for the exciting Antarctica Adventures event, taking place from September 12 to 14 at the Shieling and Gairloch Museum!
This three-day experience promises to cater to all interests, featuring hands-on experiments for children, captivating guest lectures by seasoned explorers who have ventured to the icy continent, and a delightful social evening to connect with fellow enthusiasts. Whether you’re a family looking for fun activities or an individual eager to learn more about Antarctica, there’s something for everyone at this unique event!
The events are free of charge* and were made possible by grant funding from UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and the British Science Association.
Friday 12th September 2025
| Time | Agenda | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Welcome & Introduction | Kevin Ginty | The Shieling |
| 10:15 | Talk: Antarctica | Kate Robinson | The Shieling |
| 10:45 | Hands On: Ice Experiments | Liz Jackson | The Shieling |
| 12:00 | Morning Wrap Up | The Shieling | |
| 12:30 | Lunch Break | The Shieling | |
| 14:00 | Talk: Guiding in Antarctica | Ali Liddle | The Shieling |
| 15:30 | Q& A; Afternoon Wrap Up | Ali Liddle | The Shieling |
| 17:00 | Pub Quiz | Liz Jackson | The Shieling |
| 19:00 | Talk: Managing the Last Great Wilderness* | Kim Crosbie | Gairloch Museum |
| 22:00 | Close | Gairloch Museum |
*This talk is £5 per person
Saturday 13th September 2025
| Time | Agenda | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Welcome & Introduction | Kevin Ginty | The Shieling |
| 10:30 | Talk: South Georgia & the Falklands | Allan Templeton | The Shieling |
| 11:30 | Q& A; Morning Wrap Up | The Shieling | |
| 12:30 | Lunch Break | The Shieling | |
| 14:00 | Talk: Women in Antarctica | The Shieling | |
| 16:00 | Q&A : Antarctica Veterens | The Shieling | |
| 18:00 | Evening Social : Pie & Pint | The Shieling | |
| 20:00 | On Assignment in Antarctica; Penguins & Wildlife in Antarctica | Cory Jones | The Shieling |
| 22:00 | Close | The Shieling |
Sunday 14th September 2025
| Time | Agenda | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Welcome & Introduction | Kevin Ginty | The Shieling |
| 10:30 | Experiments Review & Display | The Shieling | |
| 12:00 | Close | The Shieling |
Speakers' Biographies
Ali Liddle
Ali has lived in both the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, but is currently based on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. She has a passion for the polar regions and has worked on ships in both the Antarctic and Arctic, as well as some destinations in between.
Ali has been working on cruise ships since 2010 and is a self-proclaimed ‘polar addict’ with a deep love of Antarctica and the Arctic; their landscapes, wildlife and the history associated with the regions.
Originally from the UK, Ali spent 15 years living in the Falkland Islands, where she worked as a primary school teacher, initially teaching young children in ‘camp’, on remote farms and settlements, and then at the school in Stanley. She later pursued her passion for wildlife and environmental and conservation issues by working as an Education Officer for Falklands Conservation.
In 1997 she was lucky enough to spend some time on South Georgia, where she managed the post office. She has published 3 books to date – Plants of the Falkland Islands and 2 children’s arts and crafts books inspired by penguins and albatrosses.
Ali is a keen runner, having completed 3 marathons in the Falklands and 2 in the UK, and also enjoys walking, cycling, photography and art. She has a particular interest in natural history, wildlife and flora and enjoys sharing her local knowledge and passion for the Polar Regions.
Dr Kim Crosbie
Kim has over 30 years of experience in the polar regions. She was formerly the Executive Director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), one of UK Antarctic Heritage Trust’s (UKAHT) key stakeholders, and is currently Chair of the Board at Noble Caledonia Ltd.
Kim started in the polar regions as a postgraduate researcher at the Scott Polar Research Institute where she gained an M.Phil in environmental management in the Arctic before embarking on a PhD that focused on ecological monitoring and management in the Antarctic, spending three austral summer seasons in primitive conditions at a temporary field camp.
On completing her PhD Kim remained in the field of visitor management, leading expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic, primarily onboard expedition vessels, supporting groups of students, filmmakers, authors, artists and other visitors. Subsequently, she worked for IAATO for 12 years with the Antarctic tour operators to develop a strong framework of visitor management practices and as such was a regular visitor to our flagship site, Port Lockroy.
Cory Jones
Cory is a highly accomplished outdoor leader with a diverse skill set and an impressive array of qualifications. Recently completing the Wilderness Guide Training Programme to become a Wild Scotland Wilderness Guide.
Since 2001, Cory has guided expeditions around the globe for renowned UK-based adventure companies such as KE Adventure, Mountain Kingdoms, and Wilderness Expertise. His travels have taken him to the far corners of the world, leading adventures in destinations such as:
- The big mountain ranges of Pakistan, Ladakh, Nepal, and Patagonia
- The deserts and wilderness of the Middle East and Africa
- Remote regions of Bolivia, India, China, Tibet, Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Jordan, Uganda, Guyana and Antarctica.
- One of his most remarkable achievements was leading a three-man team to successfully cross the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap in 2009/10—a place notorious for having some of the world’s harshest weather conditions.
Allan Templeton
Allan is a retired medical academic. He first visited Wester Ross fifty years ago and has had a home here for 22 years. He is committed to the natural and cultural history of the area.
He was once Regius Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Aberdeen, leading research and development in several areas of Human Fertility. He was elected President of the Royal College of O&G, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and in 2008 made CBE.
Following retirement, Allan and his wife Gillian, moved to Edinburgh and he divides his time between there and his home in Leacnasaide, now spending most of the time in Gairloch. He has been on the Board of Gairloch Museum for ten years, and led Community Fundraising for the new Museum, among other roles. He was elected Chair of the Board in 2023.
He has a particular interest in the natural history and wildlife of our area, and believes that the environment is special. At the same time he would like to see the Community flourish.
Allan gets around by foot, bike and boat, and likes to photograph the scenery and wildlife, particularly birds. He has been visiting mountains all his life, although now only walking and skiing. He has four children, who with their families are frequent visitors to Gairloch.