Museums, archives and heritage in Inverness-shire

Inverness-shire, maritime county in NW. of Scotland; is bounded N. by Ross and Cromarty and the Inner moray Firth, NE. by Nairnshire and Elginshire, E. by Banffshire and Aberdeenshire, SE. by Perthshire, S. by Argyllshire, and W. by the Atlantic; area, 2,616,498 acres; population 90,454. Inverness-shire is the largest county in Scotland. It consists of 2 portions, insular and mainland. The insular portion embraces the island of Skye, the St Kilda group, and the whole chain of the Outer Hebrides, except Lewis. The mainland portion – intersected NE. and SW. by Glen More nan Albin and the Caledonian Canal – consists almost entirely of mountain, loch, and glen. Ben Nevis (4406 ft.), in the SW., at Fort William, is the highest mountain in Great Britain. The principal lochs are Loch Ness, Loch Arkaig, Loch Lochy, Loch Laggan, and Loch Ericht. The W. coast is indented by Loch Hourn, Loch Nevis, and Loch Moidart. The principal rivers are the Spey, the Ness, and the Beauly, on all of which are valuable salmon fisheries. With the exception of the northern seaboard, the glens contain nearly all the fertile land, and only about one-twentieth of the total acreage is under tillage, all the rest being wood and forest, heath, and stony waste. There are nearly 300,000 acres of deer forests, and about 1,700,000 acres of heath, one-half of which affords pasturage for sheep; the other half serves only for grouse shooting. Inverness-shire is traversed by splendid military roads (constructed in the 18th century), by the Caledonian Canal, and in the N. and E. by the Highland Railway. The prevailing language is Gaelic. The county (insular and mainland) contains 26 parishes and parts of 10 others; the parliamentary and royal burgh of Inverness (part of the Inverness Burghs).

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Note: see Hebrides for islands in Inverness-shire.

Clan Cameron Museum

Achnacarry PH34 4EJ

01397 712090

www.clan-cameron.org/museum.html

The history and artefacts of the Clan Cameron. Also included in the museum are artefacts, photographs and information about the Commandos who trained at Achnacarry during the 1939/45 War and who frequently return here to visit their old training grounds.

Clan Grant Museum

Duthil

by Carrbridge PH23 3ND

www.clangrant.org

The home of our Society – of the Clan Grant Worldwide – is the old Church at Duthil, close to Grantown-on-Spey. Inside, two glass display cabinets dedicated to the Métis and the Cherokees have recently been installed, as well as many paintings, photos and other clan memorabilia displayed on the walls. Important and valuable weapons and artefacts of the clan are held in storage by the National Museums of Scotland, and we have begun to display some of these items in the centre.

Clan Macpherson Museum

Laggan Road

Newtonmore PH20 1DE

01540 673 332

www.clan-macpherson.org/museum

Interested in Highland history? Want to discover the role of a clan in the Highlands? Then this is the place for you. Are you a Macpherson, Ellis, Pearson, Clarkson, Lees, Currie, Carson, Gillespie, Gillies, McLeish or McClair? Then we have your clan story

Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre

Culloden Moor

Inverness IV2 5EU

0844 493 2159

www.nts.org.uk/culloden

The course of British, European and world history was changed here at Culloden on 16 April 1746. It was here that the Jacobite army fought to reclaim the throne of Britain from the Hanoverians for a Stuart king.

Fort George – Historic Scotland

Fort George

Ardersier IV2 7TD

01667 462777

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places

A vast site and one of the most outstanding artillery fortifications in Europe. It was planned in 1747 as a base for George II’s army and was completed in 1769.

Glenfinnan Monument

NTS Information Centre

Glenfinnan PH37 4LT

01397 722250

goo.gl/Zo3yal

Glenfinnan Monument, set amid superb Highland scenery at the head of Loch Shiel, was erected in 1815 by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale in tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the cause of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. It was designed by the eminent Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham.

Glenfinnan Station Museum

Glenfinnan Railway Station, Glenfinnan

Fort William PH37 4LT

01397 722 295

www.glenfinnanstationmuseum.co.uk

Glenfinnan Station Museum is situated in the famous and beautiful village of Glenfinnan on the Road to the Isles between Fort William and Mallaig. The Glenfinnan Experience not only includes the Station Museum but also has the added attractions of the Monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie at the head of Loch Shiel, the adjacent National Trust Visitor Centre and the Loch Shiel Eagle Watch Cruises. Towering above and behind, set in the mountain backdrop, stands the Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct, initially famous as the largest concrete viaduct in this country but now internationally acclaimed as a key location in the Harry Potter Films.

Highland Aviation Museum

9 Dalcross Industrial Estate, By Inverness Airport

Inverness IV1 7XB

01463 831459

www.highlandaviationmuseum.org.uk

We are situated just a few minutes walk away from the terminal building of Inverness Airport. At our museum you’ll find an outdoor exhibition of aircraft and an Airport Fire Tender.

Highland Council Archive Service

Highland Archive and Registration Centre, Bught Road

Inverness IV3 5SS

01463 256444

www.highlandarchives.org.uk/

The Highland Archive Service is responsible for locating, preserving and making accessible archives relating to all aspects of the history of the geographical area of the Highlands.

Highland Family History Society

Highland Archive & Registration Centre, Bught Road

Inverness IV3 5SS

www.highlandfamilyhistorysociety.org

Researching ancestors in the Highlands of Scotland and connecting their descendants around the world.

Highland Folk Museum

Kingussie Road

Newtonmore PH20 1AY

01540 673551

www.highlandfolk.com

This award winning museum has recreated a thriving township from the 1700s with heather thatched roofs and open turf fires, a working croft with cattle, sheep,ducks and hens and an old tin school from the 1930s. Costumed interpreters bring history to life.

Inverness Museum & Art Gallery

Castle Wynd

Inverness IV2 3EB

01463 237114

inverness.highland.museum

Located in the heart of Inverness, we re-opened in January 2007 after a full refurbishment of all our displays and facilities. Visit us to explore the past and learn about the people, environment and traditions of the Highlands.

Lochaber Archive Centre

West Highland College, An Aird

Fort William PH33 6FF

01397 701942

www.highlandarchives.org.uk/lochaber.asp

As part of the Highland Archive Service, the Lochaber Archive Centre at Fort William is responsible for locating, preserving and making accessible documents relating to all aspects of Highland history.

Mallaig Heritage Centre

Station Road

Mallaig PH41 4PY

01687 462085

www.mallaigheritage.org.uk

Local history museum for Mallaig, West Lochaber and the Small Isles, housing a comprehensive range of displays and exhibitions covering fishing, railway, steamers and ferries, Knoydart Clearance, agriculture and other themes.

Regimental Museum of The Queen’s Own Highlanders

Regimental Headquarters, The Highlanders, Cameron Barracks

Inverness IV2 3XD

01463 224380

www.thehighlandersmuseum.com

The Regimental Museum Collection of the Queen’s Own Highlanders is the private collection of a regiment with over 200 years association with Fort George.

Urquhart Castle – Historic Scotland

Urquhart Castle

Loch Ness, near Inverness IV63 6XJ

01456 450551

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places

Magnificently sited, overlooking Loch Ness. Urquhart is one of the largest castles in Scotland, with a long and colourful history, built in the 1230s, seized by the English in 1296, sacked by the MacDonald Lord of the Isles in 1545 and left to fall into decay after 1689.

West Highland Museum

Cameron Square

Fort William PH33 6AJ

01397 702169

www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk

The West Highland Museum’s collections tell the story of the region and its history. Our most renowned and unusual collection relates to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. But we also hold a wealth of curious and fascinating collections relating to less well-known aspects of the lives of the people of the West Highlands.