Outer Hebrides: Best museum

Published on Tuesday 22 July 2008 20:14

1 SEALLAM! An Taobh Tuath (Northton), Harris

01859 520258

www.seallam.com

Delves into the history of almost every family in the Outer Hebrides. As the website says: “For the visitor, here is a chance to get to know some of the factors which have had an influence on the development of the island communities; for the more serious student, there is a vast resource of source information from the Hebrides.” Good bookshop, interesting videos and lots of detail about St Kilda.

2 KILDONAN MUSUEM, Kildonan, South Uist

01878 710343

www.kildonanmuseum.co.uk

Fascinating insight into the tough life of residents of South Uist and island emigration plus lots of interesting artefacts – including testimony from the aftermath of the wreck of the SS Politician which inspired Whisky Galore! It is part of the Kildonan Centre, which also has a craft shop, feis room for music and dance, caf and archaeology room.

3 UIG MUSEUM AND HERITAGE CENTRE, Timsgarry, Lewis

01851 672456

http://www.ceuig.com/uig-museum

Good archive of material for browsing, large collection of old photos and extensive genealogical material – including croft histories compiled over many years. There’s also a video on the Lewis Chessmen, which were found in the sand dunes nearby, a chance for kids to put on traditional dress and plenty more. All our children bought a Lewis chesspiece as a souvenir and the eight-year-old became obsessed with them.

4 DUALCHAS, Castlebay, Barra

01871 810413

http://www.barraheritage.com/

Dualchas means “heritage; derived from ancestors” and there are scores of boxes of photos and documents to delve into – as well as recreations of the interiors of island homes, plus a video on the history of Barra and Vatersay, narrated by Magnus Magnusson and a caf too.

5 MUSEUM NAN EILEAN, Francis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

01851 709266

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/museum/museum.htm

Based in buildings once used by Stornoway school, the Nicolson Institute, this is a sizeable museum with a wide range of exhibits offering a huge amount of detail on the history and rhythms of social, economic and domestic life on the islands. There’s also stuff for kids to do – and it’s free.