About

It all started when…

In the summer of 2019, the Museum relocated from a traditional stone steading to its stunning new premises in a former nuclear bunker, in the centre of Gairloch.

It was built in reinforced concrete, with no windows and heavy steel-shuttered blast doors and was designed to shield against a nuclear explosion. It served as a Cold War Anti-aircraft Operations Room and was used to plot the movement of enemy aircraft.

A stylishly redesigned interior now contains thoughtfully arranged displays, which tell the story of the people and landscape of Gairloch and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the present day.

Displays include the original lens from Rubh Re lighthouse, a replica croft house showing life here in earlier times and an interactive gallery about the breathtaking natural world and fascinating geology here in Wester Ross.

The Museum shop stocks a specialist range of books and CDs of local and Highland interest as well as ceramics, textiles, jewellery and artisan crafts by local makers. The in-house art gallery hosts a rotation of exhibitions. An upper-floor café with terrace and wonderful views down the sea loch to Skye and Harris is coming soon.