Museums & Exhibitions
A number of museums and libraries have special exhibitions for HAF. Details and opening hours of museums open during the festival can be found by clicking here.
If you are coming from a distance, phone to ensure opening hours. After each title, there is a code for the region: AR = Argyll, BS = Badenoch & Strathspey, CA = Caithness, IN = Inverness & area, LO = Lochaber, MO = Moray, NA = Nairn, RC = Ross & Cromarty, SL = Skye & Lochalsh, SU = Sutherland
Special Exhibitions during Highland Archaeology Festival
Cabinet of Curiosities [BS]
A selection of curious objects from our collections including mysterious archaeological finds.
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat, Sun 11am-3pm
Adults £4, under 16s free. Wheelchair access
Grantown Museum
Phone 01479 872478
Email info@grantownmuseum.co.uk
www.grantownmuseum.co.uk
Adventures in Costume [BS]
Experience life in the past - grown up dressing up! Grantown Museum presents costumes from its unique dressing up experience. On display will be over 20 exquisite, handmade replica costumes in sumptuous fabrics.
If you would like to try on any of the costumes, book an hour in the museum with our expert dresser who will take you on an adventure through time. Take home a video and souvenir photographs and feel what it was like to be dressed in the finery of the day.
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 10am-5pm; Sat, Sun 11am-3pm
Adults £4, under 16s free. Wheelchair access
Grantown Museum
Phone 01479 872478
Email info@grantownmuseum.co.uk
www.grantownmuseum.co.uk
Refurbished Display At Clan Macpherson Museum [BS]
Our newly refurbished exhibition tells you a story of land and landscape, family and belonging, loyalty and rebellion.
Thu-Mon 11am-1:30pm, 2-6pm; Wed 2-6pm
Donations welcome. Wheelchair access
Clan Macpherson Museum
Phone 01540 673332
Email museum@clan-macpherson.org
https://www.clanmacphersonmuseum.org.uk/
Late Iron Age Site: Wag of Forse Exhibition [CA]
Artefacts, text and a small number of photographs form A. O. Curle's excavations will be on show, along with other Caithness Archaeological finds.
27th, 28th, 30th Sept; 4th, 5th 7th Oct 10am-4pm
Donations welcome. Wheelchair access.
Dunbeath Heritage Museum
Phone 01593 731233
Email info@dunbeath-heritage.org.uk
www/dimbeath-heritage.org.uk
Pictish Stones at North Coast Visitor Centre [CA]
A collection of carved stones dating back as far as the 6th century offers insights into the mysterious culture of the Picts.
In addition to the Pictish Stones Room there are five more display cases on another floor containing archaeological artefacts from the Stone Age all the way to the Middle Ages, mainly featuring Picts and Vikings. The museum also has a theatre playing a twenty-minute documentary movie about the history of Caithness.
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm
Free / donations welcome. Wheelchair access. Cafe
North Coast Visitor Centre, Thurso
Phone 01847 805020
Email ncvc@highlifehighland.com
www.highlifehighland.com/north-coast-visitor-centre10/
Patrick Sellar and the Highland Clearances [MO]
Exhibition on this ever-popular topic!
24th-30th Sept, 12-4pm
Free / donations. Suitable for wheelchairs. Limited parking.
Burghead Visitor Centre
Phone 01343 835518
Email cm5652432@gmail.com
www.burghead.com/
New Additions to Elgin Museum's Archaeology Collection [MO]
See the latest Treasure Trove allocations including the Kinloss stone now displayed with our other Pictish and Early Medieval Carved stone.
Sat & Sun 11am-3pm. Check for unexpected closures and additional opening and events in the Museum. Entry otherwise by appointment only.
Free / donations welcome. Partially suitable for wheelchairs. Council parking nearby, free only on Sundays, £1 on Saturdays. Disabled parking behind the museum. Please follow Elgin Museum on our website and social media including our Youtube channel. You will find archaeological talks and interviews and also activities for children (and others) to carry out at home.
Elgin Museum
Phone 01343 543675
Email curator@elginmuseum.org.uk
www.elginmuseum.org.uk
Scotland's Year of Stories 2022 at Elgin Museum [MO]
New displays telling stories both of Moray’s past and the roles played by Moray people in contributing to our past.
Sat & Sun 11am-3pm. Check for unexpected closures and additional opening and events in the Museum. Entry otherwise by appointment only.
Free / donations welcome. Partially suitable for wheelchairs. Council parking nearby, free only on Sundays, £1 on Saturdays. Disabled parking behind the museum. Please follow Elgin Museum on our website and social media including our Youtube channel. You will find archaeological talks and interviews and also activities for children (and others) to carry out at home.
Elgin Museum
Phone 01343 543675
Email curator@elginmuseum.org.uk
www.elginmuseum.org.uk
Isobel Gowdie, the Witch of Auldearn [NA]
The exhibition will include the story of Isobel Gowdie and the Highland Witch Trials. There will be a cycle of paintings by Glasgow-based artist, Julia Jeffrey on the story of Isobel Gowdie together with various witch-related objects and a display of local artist, Helen Wright's Isobel Gowdie mural.
Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm; Sat 10am - 1pm
Adults £4, Concessions £3, Children free.
Nairn Museum
Phone 01667 456791
Email manager@nairnmuseum.co.uk
nairnmuseum.co.uk
The Science of Skulls [RC]
A special exhibition about the archaeological science which has unlocked the secrets of the extraordinary ‘6-headed’ medieval burials excavated in St Colman’s Church, Portmahomack
Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 1-4pm
Adults £5, Seniors and Teens £4, 12 & under free. Partially suitable for wheelchairs. Access to the 2nd floor by lift is not currently available. Funding is in place for new lifts.
Tarbat Discovery Centre
Phone 01862 871351
Email admin@tarbat-discovery.co.uk
www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/
Ross & Cromarty Heritage Society: Collecting Resources of Ross-shire Communities [1] [RC]
A looped power point presentation including a selection of photographs from the 36 communities of Ross-shire, covered by the Ross & Cromarty Heritage Society to document the past, present and future changes in the area. Displayed at Dingwall Community Library.
Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm; Tue, Thu 9am-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm
Free/donations welcome. Wheelchair access.
Ross & Cromarty Heritage Society / Dingwall Library
Phone 01349 869869 (Library)
Email enquiries@rossandcromartyheritage.org
www.rossandcromartyheritage.org / www.highlifehighland.com/libraries/lochcarron-library/
Ross & Cromarty Heritage Society: Collecting Resources of Ross-shire Communities [2] [RC]
A pictorial display board depicting a selection of photographs from the 36 communities of Ross-shire, covered by the Ross & Cromarty Heritage Society to document the past, present and future changes of the area. Display at Lochcarron Library.
Tues 9am-12:30pm, 6-8pm; Wed & Fri 2-4:30pm
Free / donations welcome. Wheelchair Access.
Ross & Cromarty Herirtage Society / Locharron Library
Telephone 01520 722679 (Library)
Email enquiries@rossandcromartyheritage.org
www.rossandcromartyheritage.org / www.highlifehighland.com/libraries/lochcarron-library/
New Soundscapes in Cromarty Courthouse [RC]
There are four story soundscapes, based on real stories and using our our memorable mannequins.2 trials can be heard in the courtroom, the musings of 17th century earl of cromarty, Sir Thomas Urquhart, and a Victorian prisoner has a conversation with his jailer in a cell.
12-4pm
Free / donations welcome. Unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs.
Cromarty Courthouse Museum
Phone 01381 600418
Email courthousecromarty@gmail.com
www.cromartycourthouse.org.uk
The Platinum Jubilee [RC]
We're squeezing every last inch out of celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II during 2022. Visit before the end of October to see our display of Jubilee memorabilia, celebration bunting created by children from Strathpeffer Primary School and complete our Quest for the Queen's Corgis.
Tue 10am-2pm, Wed-Sat 11am-4pm
Adults £5, Concession £3, Children free. Wheelchair accessible
Highland Museum of Childhood, Strathpeffer
Phone 01997 421031
Email curator@highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk
www.highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk
Ashaig Holy Well [SL]
An exhibition showing selected finds uncovered during an excavation of the Holy Well at Ashaig near Broadford on Skye.
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-1pm and 2-5pm
Free / donations welcome. Suitable for wheelchairs.
Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree
Phone 01478 614078
Emil Skyeandlochalsh.archives@highlifehighland.com
www.highlifehighland.com/skye-and-lochalsh-archive-centre/
STRINGS / LINES
Unraveling the story of string: people, plants and place.
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-1pm and 2-5pm
Free / donations welcome. Suitable for wheelchairs.
Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree
Phone 01478 614078
Emil Skyeandlochalsh.archives@highlifehighland.com
www.highlifehighland.com/skye-and-lochalsh-archive-centre/
Mammals: Past, Present and Future [SU]
Historylinks Young Curators Club presents a timeline of mammals that roamed Scotland in the past, looks at mammals in the area today and discusses the reintroduction of species.
Daily 10:30am-4pm
Adults £4.50, Concession £3.50, Children free. Suitable for wheelchairs.
Historylinks Museum, Dornoch
Phone 01862 811275
Email curator@historylinks.org.uk
www.historylinks.org.uk
Archaeology at Dunrobin Castle Museum [SU]
The display at the museum in the grounds of Dunrobin Castle is a product of its time, created in Victorian times with floor to ceiling displays and handwritten labels. Rather than change the exhibition, new trails and case information are now available for visitors. Come try them out!
Daily 10:30am-4:30pm (last entry 4pm)
Free with entrance to Dunrobin Castle (Adults £13.50, Senior and Students £11.50, Children £8.50, Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £42. Unfortunately museum not wheelchair accessible. Cafe in castle.
Dunrobin Castle
Phone 01408 633177
Email www.dunrobincastle.co.uk/
Museums and Archives open during HAF:
(£ = entry charge; F/D = Free or donations)
Note: This list is only museums and archives which have confirmed details or have posted details on their websites. Others may be open as well. Some places have last entry times: contact them for details.
|
Area |
Name |
Hours during HAF |
Contact |
Entry |
|
|
BS |
Clan MacPherson Museum |
Thu-Mon 11am-1:30pm, 2-6pm; Wed 2-6pm |
01540 673332 |
F/D |
|
|
BS |
Grantown Museum |
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 10am-5pm; Sat, Sun 11am-3pm |
01479 872478 |
£ |
|
|
BS |
Highland Folk Museum |
10:30am-4pm |
01349 781650 |
D |
|
|
CA |
Castlehill Heritage Centre |
Sat, Sun, Wed 2-4pm |
01847 821120 |
F/D |
|
|
CA |
Dunbeath Heritage Centre |
27th, 28th, 30th Sept; 4th, 5th 7th Oct 10am-4pm |
01593 731233 |
F/D |
|
|
CA |
North Coast Visitor Centre |
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm |
01847 805020 |
F/D |
|
|
CA |
Nucleus: the Caithness and Nuclear Archives |
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm |
01955 602444 |
F/D |
|
|
CA |
Wick Museum |
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm |
01955 605205 |
£ |
|
|
IN |
Abertarff House, Inverness |
Mon-Fri 10:30am-5:30-pm |
01463 796090 |
F/D | |
|
IN |
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre |
until 30 Sept 9:30am-5:30pm; from 1 Oct: 10am-4pm |
01463 796090 |
£ |
|
|
IN |
Fort George |
Sept: 9:30am-5:30pm; Oct onwards: 10am-4pm |
01667 460232 |
£ |
|
|
IN |
Highlanders Museum |
10am - 4pm |
0131 310 8701 |
£ (to Fort George) |
|
|
IN |
Highland Family History Room |
Mon, Tue, Thur 10am-4:30pm |
01349 781130 |
F/D |
|
|
IN |
Highland Archive Centre, Inverness |
Mon, Tue, Thur 10am-4:30pm |
01349 781130 |
F/D |
|
|
IN |
Inverness Emergency Bunker |
contact to book a tour |
0845 463 4633 |
£ |
|
|
IN |
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery |
Tue-Sat 10am-5pm |
01349 781730 |
F/D |
|
|
IN |
Urquhart Castle |
Sept: 9:30am-6pm; Oct: 9:30am-5pm |
01456 450551 |
£ |
|
|
IN |
Wardlaw Mausoleum |
phone to arrange a visit |
01463 831742 |
Suggested donation £3 |
|
|
LO |
Arisaig Land, Sea & Islands Centre |
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 11am-5pm |
01687 450771 |
F/D |
|
|
LO |
Glencoe Folk Museum |
Tue-Sun 11am-3pm |
01855 811664 |
£ |
|
|
LO |
Clan Cameron Museum |
Contact museum for details |
07900 217975 |
£ |
|
|
LO |
Glenfinnan Station Museum |
9am-5pm |
01397 722295 |
£ |
|
|
LO |
Lochaber Archive Centre |
Tue, Thu, Fri 10am-1pm, 2-5pm |
01397 701942 |
F/D |
|
|
LO |
Mallaig Heritage Centre |
Sept: 11am-5pm, Oct: 11am-4pm |
01687 462085 |
£ |
|
|
LO |
West Highland Museum |
Sept: Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm, Sat 10:30am-4:30pm; Oct: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10:30am - 1:30pm |
01397 702169 |
F/D |
|
|
MO |
Burghead Visitor Centre |
12pm - 4pm (24th-30th Sept) |
01343 835518 |
F/D |
|
|
MO |
Brodie Castle |
Wed-Sun 10am-4pm |
01309 641371 |
£ |
|
|
MO |
Elgin Museum |
Sat & Sun 11am-3pm. Check website & social media for additional openings |
01343 543675 |
F/D |
|
|
MO |
Findhorn Heritage Centre and Icehouse |
24th & 25th Sept 2-5pm |
01309 691823 |
F/D |
|
|
NA |
Cawdor Castle |
To 2nd Oct: 10am-5:30pm |
01667 404401 |
£ |
|
|
NA |
Nairn Museum |
Mon-Fri 10am-4:30pm; Sat 10am-1pm |
01667 456791 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Alness Heritage Centre |
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm |
01349 883005 |
F/D |
|
|
RC |
Applecross Heritage Centre |
Usually 12-4pm. Contact for details |
01520 744478 |
||
|
RC |
Cromarty Courthouse Museum |
12-4pm. |
01381 600418 |
F/D |
|
|
RC |
Dingwall Museum |
Until 1st Oct Wed-Sat 10am-4pm |
01349 865366 |
F/D |
|
|
RC |
Gairloch Museum |
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm |
01445 712287 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Groam House Museum |
Daily 1-pm |
01381 620961 |
F/D |
|
|
RC |
Highland Museum of Childhood |
Tue 10am-2pm, Wed-Sat 11am-4pm |
01997 421031 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Hugh Miller's Museum |
Sept 1-5pm, Oct Mon, Thu, Sun 1-5pm |
01381 600245 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Invergordon Museum |
Contact museum invergordonmuseum@gmail.com |
F/D |
||
|
RC |
Russian Arctic Convoy Exhibition Centre |
Mon-Sat 10am-4pm |
01445 731137 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Tain & District Museum |
Tue-Fri 10am-4pm |
01862 894089 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Tarbat Discovery Centre |
Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 1-4pm |
01862 871351 |
£ |
|
|
RC |
Ullapool Museum |
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm |
01854 612987 |
£ |
|
|
SL |
Eilean Donan Castle |
Sept 9:30am-6pm, Oct 10am-6pm |
01599 555202 |
£ |
|
|
SL |
Museum of the Isles, Armadale, Skye |
Wed-Sun 9:30am-5pm |
01471 844305 |
£ |
|
|
SL |
Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre |
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri: 10am-1pm, 2-5pm |
01478 614078 |
F/D |
|
|
SU |
Brora Heritage Centre |
10:30am–4:30pm |
01408 622024 |
F/D |
|
|
SU |
Dunrobin Castle |
Sept: 10am-5pm; Oct: 10:30am-4:30pm |
01408 633177 |
£ |
|
|
SU |
HistoryLinks Museum |
10:30am-4pm |
01862 811275 |
£ |
|
|
SU |
Timespan, Helmsdale |
10am-5pm |
01431 821327 |
£ |
|
|
SU |
Ferrycroft Visitor Centre |
10am-4pm |
01549 402160 |
F/D |
