Gairloch Museum
Gairloch Museum, Achtercairn, Gairloch, Ross-shire, IV21 2BH(View on Map)
Disabled Access
About Gairloch Museum
- Open All Year Round
For the latest opening times and advice on visiting please visit our website for more details.
Situated in a former nuclear bunker in the centre of Gairloch, the museum has been described by visitors as ‘a highlight of the Highlands’, and ‘a fascinating place to visit’.
Gairloch Museum has been announced winner of Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020, the most prestigious museum prize in the world.
The stylishly redesigned industrial interior of the building lends itself perfectly to the thoughtfully arranged displays. A combination of modern technology and traditional museum displays tell the story of the people and landscape of Gairloch and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum also celebrates the unique Gaelic culture of the area.
Highlights among the displays include the original lens from Rubh Re lighthouse, a replica croft house showing how people used to live and an interactive gallery about our magnificent natural world, midges and all! Also on show are the first Pictish stone found on the West Coast mainland and the Poolewe Hoard – a rare Early Iron Age bronze hoard found locally.
Gairloch Museum is a member of Visit Scotland’s ‘Ancestral Welcome’ scheme. If you have ancestors from the Gairloch area, the museum is the place to explore your family history. As well as the usual genealogy records, the archive holds copies of the family papers of the Mackenzies of Gairloch dating back well before the first census. There is also a wealth of research on local families undertaken over the years by museum volunteers, and a library of more than 4000 photographs.
The Museum shop stocks a specialist range of books and CDs of local interest and crafts by local makers. The in-house art gallery hosts a rotation of exhibitions. A café with wonderful views down the loch is coming soon.
A family admission ticket and a range of special activities for children makes this an affordable and unmissable attraction.
See website for opening hours.
