The Best Museums in Orkney Islands: A Guide For Travelers

Orkney is home to some of the best museums in the entire world. The Orkney Islands are a place of natural beauty, steep cliffs, and islands of sandy beaches and dunes. These places have been protected by the local people for hundreds of years so that travelers can still enjoy them today. There are several ancient sites in these islands which have been inhabited since neolithic times. The culture, lifestyle, and architecture of these people has left a lasting impact on modern society through their archaeological finds. If you are planning a trip to one of the Orkney Islands, you should check out some of the best museums in the Orkney Islands:

Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum is the main museum for Orkney Island. It is a place where people can learn about the island’s history and archaeology through collections and objects. You can expect to find several artworks, fossils, and archaeological artifacts. The museum is free to visit, and it is also famous for its Prehistoric Art Gallery, which contains exhibits of stone carvings and other ancient artworks. You can also explore the museum’s collections of fossils and other archaeological objects that are found in Orkney.

The museum also has a natural history section with collections of birds, plants, and other animals. The Orkney Museum is located in the town of Kirkwall, and you can get there by catching a bus. Alternatively, you can walk there from the bus stop or from the town center. This is easily one of the best museums in the Orkney Islands. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Stromness Museum

This museum houses a large collection of local cultural artifacts. The museum is famous for its collections of prehistoric archaeological items, as well as its other artifacts which include paintings, clothing, tools, and many other items. You can expect to find information about the prehistory of the Orkney Islands, as well as information about the local culture and history. The Stromness Museum is located in the heart of the town, near the waterfront. It is open from 11.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Smiddy Museum

The Smiddy Museum in St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay has been converted from a village smithy and now showcases an extensive array of tools and artifacts that the blacksmith would have used. On the walls, horse harnesses are hung and the floor is also filled with peculiar pieces of equipment. Additionally, the museum houses a special and captivating assortment of archives and pictures that illustrate island life, local happenings and other items of importance for anyone looking into local history and genealogy. It’s open from April to October, Monday to Saturday.

Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre

This museum is located in Stromness, the main town of the Orkney Islands. The Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre is a natural history museum that displays fossils and other ancient artifacts. The Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre exhibits a large number of fossils, as well as pre-historic artifacts. These include tools, clothing, and other items that are used in the period of the Vikings. The Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre is located in a unique converted farmhouse on the island of Burrey. This is absolutely one of the best museums in the Orkney Islands. It is open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

Kirbuster Museum

This museum gives visitors a fascinating look at life on a traditional island farm in the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be found at Kirbuster Museum in Orkney’s western mainland. Prior to its 1986 reopening as a museum, the farmhouse was inhabited up until the 1960s. The house is centered on a peat fire and central hearth. This makes it the last unrestored example of a traditional “firehoose” in Northern Europe.

The rooms are filled with antique furniture and household items. There is also a peat fire and a stone neuk bed as well. Beautiful stone structures filled with farming relics and equipment surround the main farmhouse. There is also an illustration of a Victorian garden and an Edwardian parlor. The Trowie Trail can be explored in the back garden. Visitors can even play a round of putt-putt on the green too. It is open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and on Sunday 1pm-5pm.

Corrigall Museum

The Corrigall Farm Museum is a traditional “but and ben” constructed to look like an Orkney farmhouse and steading in the Victorian/late 19th century period. It was still inhabited until the mid-20th century when the last residents moved out. An operational barn, a kiln for drying grain for milling and malting, horse-drawn equipment, and livestock are all present on the property. Modern children can see how simple life was before electricity. While some older visitors may recognize items or tools from their childhood in and around the museum. Peat cutting tools are also on display in the byre. The house is still heated by a peat fire that emits its distinct-smelling smoke. The museum offers a fascinating look into a way of life and an agricultural pattern that have all but vanished from Orkney. It is located on Harrey, and admission is free.

Conclusion

The Orkney Islands are a place of natural beauty and history. The local people have protected these places for hundreds of years, and you can visit them today. The museums in Orkney are a great way to explore the history and archaeology of the local area. These museums are open to the public, and most are free to visit.

Check out my post on Orkney for more ideas of things to do on your trip.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you back here again soon.

Ta-ta for now! x