Top 7 History Museums in Caithness and Sutherland, Scotland

VisitScotland 5 star rated Museum attraction. Our vision is to Keep the Dornoch Story Alive. We do this by preserving our local heritage and making it available for everyone to enjoy. The museum is open from 10.30am to 4pm five days a week (closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays unless pre-booked online at least 48 hours beforehand) until April 2021. We have a small admission fee for adults but discount for concessions and accompanied children are free. There is an option to book the Museum for an exclusive tour for your family group (up to 8 members) from 4pm each day. Tours start at £30 per group (see website for booking details).

Please note we are open seasonally from 1st April to 31st October. Strathnaver Museum is situated on the north coast of Scotland in the former Parish Church of St Columba in the picturesque village of Bettyhill. Its main theme is the tragic story of the Highland Clearances, it has a room dedicated to the Clan Mackay and also tells the story of crofting life. The ancient Pictish Farr Stone is situated nearby. The Museum contains a treasure trove of unusual objects and gripping stories all presented by a friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer staff. Serving Mackay Country the Museum is also home to a wonderful collection of Mackay memorabilia belonging to the Clan Mackay Society, making it a must see for anyone of Mackay descent or interested in Clan Mackay. Located in the ancient province of Strathnaver, scene of some of the most brutal acts of the Highland Clearances, it is unsurprising that this is the main story told by the Museum. In fact it was from the very pulpit which dominates the centre of the Museum that the Rev. David Mackenzie was obliged to read out the eviction notices to his congregation. The building's association with the Highland Clearances did not end in 1819, as it was within the church that the Napier Commission heard evidence from the people of north Sutherland in 1883. The Napier Commission resulted in significant improvements to the lives of crofters and other small tenants.

Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive is home to the archives of the UK civil nuclear industry and the historical archives of the county of Caithness and its people. Visit us and be inspired by the records. Whether you've never been in an archive before, or whether you're a regular reader, you'll be made welcome at Nucleus. We are currently Closed to the Public. We still welcome all remote enquiries and will endeavor to do all that we can to assist you. Please see our website and social media for any updates.

Castletown Heritage Society is a community group established in 1986 'To preserve the character, history and traditions of the Village of Castletown and Parish of Olrig’. We are based at Castlehill Heritage Centre which is a well-established, highly successful, heritage themed four-star visitor attraction and educational resource. We deliver regularly changed heritage themed exhibitions, displays and an ever expanding range of vernacular skills based workshop experiences, such as dry-stone dyking, metal smithing, rope making, croft crafts, spinning, pottery and story-telling. The Centre includes an archaeological research facility which promotes community participation and training in archaeological fieldwork and analysis activities. A key theme within our activities is the portrayal of the industrial, social and economic influence of the Caithness Flagstone Industry within our community.