museums - Museums and Heritage Highland

Winter Pause or Quiet Beat? Highland Museums Adjust Hours

Nicola Henderson Blog 3 November, 20253 November, 2025heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, seasonalhours, winteropening 0 Comment

As the evening’s grow longer and the days shorter, many of our Highland museum adjust their opening schedule. Some go into hibernation for a few months, re-launching with gusto around Easter, but a growing number stay open during the quieter season – just with slightly reduced hours. Will you be travelling to the Highlands this winter and looking for a heritage fix? Then please do check ahead to ensure you time your visit just right. Many that are closed, will open just for you if you get in touch in advance so even if the hours don’t suit – all is not lost

Seasonal opening isn’t just about visitor numbers — it’s about balance. For many Highland museums, closing or scaling back in winter is what keeps them sustainable the rest of the year. It’s a time to care for collections, rest and retrain staff and volunteers, fundraise and prepare new displays, projects and/or exhibitions. For those that stay open, even on reduced hours, it’s a lifeline for local people — a warm welcome, a place to connect and a reminder that heritage is about people. The rhythm of opening and closing mirrors Highland life itself: responsive, resourceful and rooted in community.

Museum	Winter / Seasonal Notes	Specific Hours (if published)	Website
Gairloch Museum	Partial winter opening	Nov 3 – Dec 17, 2025: Wed–Sat 10:00 – 4:00. 10:00 – 5:00.	https://www.gairlochmuseum.org/visit
Strathnaver Museum, Bettyhill	Seasonal / reduced winter hours	Tue–Thu 10:00 – 2:00 Outwith hours: by arrangement	https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/visit-us/
Groam House Museum (Rosemarkie / Black Isle)	Seasonal / limited winter opening	1 Nov – 14 Dec: open Saturdays & Sundays 11:00 – 2:00	https://groamhouse.org.uk/
Waterlines Heritage, Lybster	Open year-round – hours may be slightly reduced	Wednesday – Saturday 10am – 3pm	https://waterlineslybster.co.uk/
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery	Reduced / winter schedule (remains open)	Nov–Mar: Tues–Thurs 12:00 – 16:00; Fri & Sat 11:00 – 16:00; closed Sun & Mon	https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art-gallery/
West Highland Museum, Fort William	Open year-round – hours may be slightly reduced	Mon–Fri 10:00 – 16:00; Sat 10:30 – 16:00	https://www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk/
Timespan, Helmsdale	Reduced hours	Phone ahead to check	https://timespan.org.uk/visit/
Culloden Battlefield	Open year round	3 Nov–28 Feb 2026, daily, 09.00–16.00	https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden/planning-your-visit
Grantown Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.grantownmuseum.co.uk/
Highland Museum of Childhood, Strathpeffer	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk/
Ullapool Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.ullapoolmuseum.co.uk/
Tarbat Discovery Centre, Portmahomack	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/
Tain & District Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.tainmuseum.org.uk/
Wick Heritage Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.wickheritage.org/
Historylinks Museum, Dornoch	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.historylinks.org.uk/
Glencoe Folk Museum	closed	Undergoing redevelopment	https://www.glencoemuseum.com/
Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore	Fully seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.highlifehighland.com/highlandfolkmuseum/
Nairn Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://nairnmuseum.co.uk/
Cromarty Courthouse	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.cromarty-courthouse.org.uk/visit-us/
Dingwall Museum	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.dingwallmuseum.info/
Arctic convoy museum, Aultbea	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://arcticconvoymuseum.org/
North Coast Visitor Centre, Thurso	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.highlifehighland.com/north-coast-visitor-centre/
Mallaig Heritage Centre	Seasonal (closed in winter)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.mallaigheritage.org.uk/index.php
Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum, Cromarty	Seasonal (closed from 9th November apart from special events)	Visit by appointment may be possible – phone ahead	https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace

Working with young people – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources 30 June, 2025heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, museumsgalleriesscotland, youngvolunteers, youthvolunteering 0 Comment

Young volunteers can bring something very special to a museum or heritage organisation. Fresh energy and ideas, new areas of expertise, more visitors, and opportunities for succession planning to name just a few.

This toolkit will help you to identify why young volunteers would benefit your organisation, how you could benefit them and how to go about recruiting. It will also provide you with tools, templates and tips to ensure everyone has a safe and positive experience.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and Dingwall Museum with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Toolkit for Young Volunteers Download

Workforce wellbeing – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources 25 June, 202530 June, 2025heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, museumworkforce, wellbeing 0 Comment

Group image of people is a light, airy space talking and laughing

Workforce wellbeing is vital to ensuring the sustainability and resilience of our Museum and Heritage organisations. While our organisations work to deliver wellbeing benefits to our communities, it has become increasingly important that the wellbeing of our workforce is prioritised. As any in-flight safety briefing will tell you, ‘put on your own oxygen mask first’. If we do not provide our workforce with the tools necessary to identify and address concerns, they will be unable to provide the services to their communities.

In this toolkit we will look at tools, templates, workshops, and tips to help your organisation improve workforce wellbeing. It will help you to identify what your organisation is doing well and where it could be doing better. We will consider policies & practices, team working, culture, and collaboration & consultation.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and Brora Heritage with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Toolkit for Wellbeing Download

There are a set of template documents to accompany the above toolkit.
Download the Wellbeing Resource Pack here.

Highland museums to share skills and ambitions at major summit

Nicola Henderson Blog 12 May, 202512 June, 2025airfaire, heritage, heritageworkforce, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, museumsgalleriesscotland, museumworkforce, workforcesummit 0 Comment

Action, innovation, and ambition are on the agenda at Air Faire, a major summit for Highland museum and heritage professionals taking place in Inverness later this month.

On May 22nd and 23rd, staff and volunteers from museums and heritage organisations across the Highlands and beyond will gather to discuss how they can build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable futures for their communities.

Air Faire is being organised by Museums and Heritage Highland, a forum that facilitates connections between cultural organisations across the region. Siobhan Beatson, Director of Ullapool Museum and Chair of MHH, said: “Museums and heritage sites are vital to the culture, economy, and wellbeing of our communities. By sharing our knowledge and skills at Air Faire, we aim to realise our ambition for museums and heritage sites to serve as inspiring, innovative, and educational spaces where everyone is welcome.”

The diverse responsibilities of museums and heritage sites are reflected in the range of topics being discussed at the summit. Air Faire will feature panels on fundraising, volunteering, workforce wellbeing, and engaging with younger audiences, as well as workshops and talks on the role of Gaelic in museums, LGBTQ+ representation, and anti-racism.

Nicola Henderson, Innovation and Network Manager at MHH, added: “Air Faire offers a unique opportunity for people to exchange ideas, connect across disciplines, and develop creative new solutions to shared challenges. As well as welcoming a range of perspectives from cultural organisations across Scotland, we invite representatives of other industries to attend and explore the potential for collaboration with museums and heritage sites.”

The significance of Air Faire is highlighted by the range of panellists from key heritage organisations and funding bodies. This includes speakers from National Museums Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland, the Museums Association, Historic Environment Scotland, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The summit is made possible thanks to funding from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space, along with the support of our sponsors AOC Archaeology and Vernon Systems.

Air Faire builds on a series of successful initiatives undertaken by Museums and Heritage Highland. The forum has supported museums and heritage sites through the post-pandemic recovery by co-ordinating Highland Threads, an innovative digital exhibition which showcased museum collections from across the region; launching Museum of the Highlands, an online learning tool for schools; and running workshops and professional development opportunities for heritage workers.

For more information on the programme or to book tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/air-faire-tickets-1237430751689?aff=oddtdtcreator

VE Day in the Highlands

Nicola Henderson Blog 1 May, 20251 May, 2025heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, museumsgalleriesscotland, VEday, WW2 0 Comment

The 8th May 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). The day signifies an opportunity for communities across the UK and Commonwealth to celebrate and honour the Second World War generation and those who lost their lives in the War.

Nationwide initiatives include the lighting of beacons across the country and a specially written tune for the pipes, performed on the top of the UK’s four highest peaks. Museums across the Highlands are also playing their role in the programme of events and activities to mark the day.

The Highlands played a vital role in the World Two war effort. Many Highland men fought in the war, but the region also served as a key training ground and housed military bases and airfields. The region’s rugged terrain made it ideal for specialised training and its coastline was crucial for naval and air operations.

Between 1941 and 1945 Loch Ewe was the main strategic military base for naval convoys. As a deep sea loch with direct access to the north Atlantic Ocean, Loch Ewe at times saw up to ninety-five Merchant Navy and Royal Navy ships anchored in the loch. The Arctic Convoy Museum are offering free entry on 8th May as a gesture of commemoration. This is a great opportunity to see their new displays at the museum in Aultbea. They also have a special exhibition of watercolours in the Inverasdale School Tearoom. They were painted from memory by Arctic Convoy veteran Jack Shirley based on sketches he made during his war service. The paintings capture everyday life of sailors who made the perilous journey from Loch Ewe to the Arctic. Each painting is a snapshot of a journey from which many did not return.

On the north coast, Strathnaver Museum will have a special pop up exhibition as part of Bettyhill Village Hall’s VE Day celebrations on 3rd May. You can explore objects from the store, hear the stories of those who did not come home and a screening of Strathnaver Museum’s Their Past, Your Future film featuring interviews with WWII veterans and civilians. This is a free event between 11am to 3pm with refreshments and table top games provided.

Sepia print of a woman (Aunty Baba) with brown hair and a dark coat looking directly at camera. Photo by Katie Gray — Photo of Aunty Baba by Katie Gray

The Highlanders Museum at Fort George near Inverness has a special exhibition launching on VE Day that explores how the War ended in different countries throughout Europe. Discover the special relationship between soldiers of the Seaforth Highlanders and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and the Dutch people they liberated. Learn how a Seaforth Highlander took the surrender of German troops in Norway; alongside the Norwegian resistance fighters he had served with during the war.

A special free event at Dingwall Museum on 8th May between 12pm and 4pm will see volunteer George MacIvor talking about life during the war through some of the museum’s artefacts.

During World War II, the west coast of Scotland served as a key training ground for the British Commandos and other Allied forces. The Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry Castle near Spean Bridge, was a renowned facility for rigorous training, including amphibious assaults and mountain warfare. Other locations like Arisaig House also played a role in Commando training, particularly for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). At West Highland Museum you can explore this story in their Commando Exhibition where you can unpack some of this hidden history with hands-on object discovery.

Wherever you are in the Highlands, take a moment on 8th May to share in remembering VE Day and explore some of the special Second World War stories the Highlands has to share.

Air Faire

May 22 @ 1:30 pm – May 23 @ 3:30 pm

A 1.5 day workforce summit for staff and volunteers working in rural museums and heritage, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. There will be sessions on fundraising, inclusion, digital volunteering, wellbeing, working with young people and more.

£35 members

MHH

07388346626

View Organizer Website

nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk

Wasps Inverness Creative Academy

Midmills Building, Stephen's Street
Inverness, Highlands IV2 3JP United Kingdom

0141 553 5890
View Venue Website

Eventbrite sign up link

Sweet streams are made like this

January 15 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

An expert-led live streaming workshop for beginners.

Learn how to improve and enhance your webinars, talks and lectures using free and low cost software and readily available equipment. Interactive and discursive throughout, get specialist tips, tricks and techniques to better engage your audience and add value to your brand.

The workshop will be delivered by Dougal Perman from Inner Ear. Dougal co-founded digital media company Inner Ear in 2000. They launched underground electronic internet radio station Radio Magnetic in 2001, streetwise audio tour series Walking Heads in 2010 and traditional folk music web TV channel TRADtv in 2015. Pioneering the use of live streaming, podcasting and interactive storytelling, Dougal has driven the innovative use of creative content to engage audiences for the past 24 years. With deep experience derived from a combination of creative practice and client work, Inner Ear provides training, consultancy and production services with a particular focus on arts, entertainment, culture and heritage.

Free

MHH

07388346626

View Organizer Website

nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk

Wasps Inverness Creative Academy

Midmills Building, Stephen's Street
Inverness, Highlands IV2 3JP United Kingdom

0141 553 5890
View Venue Website

Eventbrite sign up link

Fishing Around along the north coast

Nicola Henderson Blog 1 October, 20241 October, 2024boats, community, heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, strathnaver, strathnavermuseum 0 Comment

A new community boat built by volunteers is set to launch at Bettyhill Pier on Saturday 28th September in culmination of Strathnaver Museum’s £2.2m refurbishment project and activity programme. The project has been funded through various stages with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Highland Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, Tesco Community Fund, and Co-op Community Fund.

Over the last 18 months, under the expert tuition of Orkney based boat builder Jeff Mackie, and supported by Bettyhill man Tim Curtis, members of the public have built a replica of the ‘Iris WK322’ held in Strathnaver Museum’s Collection.

The ‘Iris’ was built between 1870-1880 and fished out of Kirtomy as a second boat to the ‘Roseleaf WK121’. It was donated to the museum by James ‘Duke’ Mackay to tell the story of fishing across the north coast and ensure its preservation for future generations.

Strathnaver Museum and North Sutherland Community Forest Trust, who hosted the boat building workshops at their Borgie Cabin site, are inviting members of the public to join them on Saturday 28th September to celebrate the boat build’s completion.

The celebration will begin with an exhibition at Farr Edge from 1pm exploring the history of the Fishing Around project and include artwork from Strathnaver Museum’s current Artists in Residence, Debasis Biswas and Joanne B. Karr.

Debasis Biswas is exploring the heritage and conservation of salmon and salmon fisheries along the north coast and beyond. ‘Salt to Plate’ will gather stories, memories, and photographs relating to salmon and salmon fisheries through a series of workshops and drop-in events.
Complimentary to the salmon fishing theme Joanne B. Kaar’s project ‘Shipshape’ will be exploring traditional boat building skills and tools utilising a variety of printmaking techniques with a focus on woodcut. Joanne’s project will preserve the intangible cultural heritage around boat building techniques and tools which are at risk of being lost.

Fiona Mackenzie, Strathnaver Museum said: “We are delighted to see the hard work of the team pay off with the launch of the community boat. It is wonderful to see the valuable and at risk traditional boat building and woodwork skills being passed on to the volunteer team, helping to keep our intangible cultural heritage within our communities. The ongoing preservation and dissemination of these skills will continue through maintenance of this new boat and further legacy projects connected to the community boat.”

There will be an opportunity to hear about the proposed community purchase of Rosal and view artefacts from the time of the clearance of Rosal. Pupils from Melvich, Farr, and Tongue Primary Schools have been helping the team to come up with a name for the community boat and their artwork will be on display. The name of the boat will be revealed at the launch taking place at 3pm, Saturday 28th September at Bettyhill Pier.

Treasurer Required!

Nicola Henderson Blog 27 August, 202427 August, 2024board, finance, heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, treasurer 0 Comment

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in communities across the Highlands? Are you interested in a great career development opportunity or are you looking for a fulfilling role in retirement? Do you have some experience in financial control and budgeting? Then we want to hear from you! This is a great opportunity to work with a young organisation looking to develop and grow in its work supporting museums and heritage organisations across the Highlands.

Museums and Heritage Highland (MHH) is a charity formed in March 2019. We are a strong, supportive voice for heritage in the Highlands. Our members include museums, galleries and heritage organisations of all sizes from across the region. We work to promote collaborative working and capacity building; promoting partnership opportunities that support our members in achieving their purpose and to be sustainable and resilient in challenging times. Why work with us? Watch the video below:

The Treasurer is one of the designated offices of the Board of Trustees of MHH, along with the Chair and Secretary. In addition to the normal duties and responsibilities of a Trustee, the role of treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation’s financial affairs, ensuring its viability and ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained. The Treasurer reports at each meeting of the Board of Trustees on the financial position of the organisation, and advises of any significant issues of which the Board should be aware.

If you are interested in this role, then please get in touch with our chair, Dan Cottam for a discussion. Full details on the role can be found below.

Treasurer role2024_MHH Download

Developing your travel trade offer

Nicola Henderson Resources 21 August, 202421 August, 2024heritage, highlandmuseums, highlands, museums, tourism, traveltrade, visitscotland 0 Comment

As part of our tourism project, in partnership with Visit Scotland and thanks to funding from Museums Galleries Scotland, we have developed a toolkit that aims to support museums in attracting new and repeat audiences through offers directly aimed at the travel trade. This toolkit explains what the travel trade is, what its distribution market looks like, how to create bookable products and tips for getting your product to market. If you would like any further support in this area, please do reach out to us and we’d be happy to either answer your questions directly, or connect you with our partners at Visit Scotland.

MHH – Developing Your Travel Trade Offer Download

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