Author: Nicola Henderson

Portmahomack is the site of Scotland’s only Scheduled Pictish monastic settlement.  Excavations between 1994 & 2007 revealed a wealth of Pictish stone carvings, and evidence that the Picts made vellum for creating early Christian books.  The period ended with a violent Viking raid.  The later St Colman’s Church, itself an A-listed building and now Tarbat Discovery Centre, displays many of these finds as well as those from the 13^th – 16th century, a time of fierce clan battles.  88 medieval burials were excavated within the church.  The remains of a smithy were found in the field adjacent.  Twenty years on, this award-winning archaeology programme continues to reveal fascinating details about this intensely historic peninsula and what life was like all those years ago.

Address: Tarbat Old Parish Church, Tarbatness Road, Portmahomack IV20 1YA
Email: admin@tarbat-discovery.co.uk
Tel: 01862 871 351
Website: https://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/plan-your-visit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarbatdiscoverycentre/
@Tarbatdiscovery

Situated in Viewfield House, Nairn Museum is a family and child-friendly museum featuring a wide range of permanent displays on the local history of Nairn and the surrounding area. We have five exhibition rooms displaying a wealth of local artefacts; the Fishertown Room, Military Room, Way of Life Room, Burgh Room and Work and Play Room. The museum also has a children’s play area and a range of pick-up-and-touch exhibits. In addition there is a huge collection of archive material available to study and a new Family History Room. Each year there is a special programme of visiting exhibitions. The museum is staffed by volunteers and there are Disabled facilities available including a wheelchair and stair lift.


Contact details:
Nairn Museum
Viewfield House
Viewfield Drive
Nairn, IV12 4EE
Email: manager@nairnmuseum.co.uk
Tel: 01667 456791
http://www.nairnmuseum.co.uk/

Gairloch Museum recently relocated to a former nuclear bunker in the centre of Gairloch.  The museum tells the story of the people and landscape of Gairloch and the surrounding area from Mesolithic man to crofting communities.   Highlights include the original lens from Rubh Re lighthouse, a replica croft house showing how people used to live and an interactive gallery about the 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.

Curator: Dr Karen Buchanan
Front of House Supervisor: Mrs Susan Maclean
Address: Gairloch Museum, Achtercairn, Gairloch, IV21 2BH
T: 01445 712287
E: info@gairlochmuseum.org
https://www.facebook.com/gairlochmuseum/
@GairlochMuseum
https://www.instagram.com/gairlochmuseum/

Dornoch has a fiery past – come to Historylinks and discover the treachery and violence of the Picts and Vikings, our feuding clans and the shameful burning of Scotland’s last alleged witch. Our interpretive displays, historic objects and local tales give you a precious insight into the lives of the ordinary, and not so ordinary, Dornoch folk. The museum is fun for children too, with puzzles, quizzes and a dedicated children’s room. Historylinks is fully accessible and a VisitScotland 5* attraction as well as being an accredited museum.

Historylinks Museum
The Meadows
Dornoch IV25 3Sf
01862 811275
enquiries@historylinks.org.uk
Curator: Lynne Mahoney historylinkscurator@btconnect.com
Museum Assistant: Caroline Seymour historylinksmanager@btconnect.com

http://www.historylinks.org.uk
http://www.historylinksarchive.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/HistorylinksMuseum

The Heritage Centre is operated by the Historical Society over the main visitor months April to October each year. It is manned by local volunteers. We have a broadly based collection of artefacts and information held in a variety of forms dating back to the earliest of times. Applecross is a major centre of early Christianity and the Heritage Centre at Clachan is close to the site of the original monastery dating back to 670. We have a small shop selling a wide range of goods including books.

Website www.applecrossheritagecentre.org.uk
Facebook: Applecross Heritage Centre
Contact email: fionatoscaig@gmail.com

Taigh Tasgaidh Leanabachd na Gàidhealtachd

Set in charming location in the Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer, the Highland museum of Childhood is based in the old railway station. The museum tells the story of childhood across the Highlands exploring themes such as schools days, crofting life, birth and early years. It is also home to a vast doll collection belonging to local lady, Angela Kellie. On display are also toys and games from different eras which give everyone a chance to reminisce. The museum also has a small gift shop.
We welcome school and other group visits to the museum and The Goods Shed education space.

Address:
The Highland Museum of Childhood
The Old Station
Strathpeffer IV14 9DH
01997 421031

www.highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/highlandmuseumofchildhood/
Twitter: HighMusofChildhood@hmoc123
Instagram: Highlandmuseumofchildhood

Discover one of the most daring allied operations of WWII.

The Arctic Convoys were a monumental collaborative effort to provide aid to the Soviet Union to bolster its defences against the invading German forces. The supplies were delivered by merchant vessels, escorted by warships, and shielded by air cover. The route went through perilous Arctic waters, and the ships sailed under the constant threat of air, surface vessel, and u-boat attacks.

Our museum has a large collection of artefacts and memorabilia, including: ships’ instruments, uniforms, photographs, written accounts, ships’ logs, medals, toys, models, and much more. 

Website: http://racmp.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RACMuseum/
Twitter: @InfoRACM
Instagram: @rac_project
Phone: 01445731137
Address: Russian Arctic Convoy Museum, Birchburn, Aultbea, IV22 2HZ
Email: info@theracmproject.org