The Museum is located in the former church of St Columba, built in 1700, on a spectacular stretch of northern coastline at Clachan, Bettyhill. If you are young or old, or somewhere in between, you can be sure of a welcome from the friendly and enthusiastic staff. Come and explore our traditional museum, join us for a workshop or event, search our archives and collection for the stories and clues to our Highland past, and find a few surprises along the way.
The church pulpit shown on the right is a spectacular feature in the museum and dates from 1774. This is the very pulpit where the Clearancaes notices were read.
The Museum Collection and Displays have developed from a traditional collection of artefacts relating to the domestic and working lives of the people of Strathnaver Province, which covered a much larger area of the North West beyond the river strath of today. This collection continues to be enlarged through generous donations of items and discoveries of archaeological artefacts, adding another dimension to our understanding of the past.
Discoveries are made during the course of daily life such as the Bronze Age burial cist with cremation beaker, which was unearthed by road workers at Chealamay, Strathnaver. The beaker is ma
de of clay and would have held honey or mead (photographed at the site with Higland Council road workers and Highland Region Archaeologist Bob Gourlay). The 'Chealamay' beaker is on display within the museum and the burial cist has been reconstructed in the cemetery by the front door.
You will notice in some pictures there are dehumidifiers. These are there to remove all the excess moisture in the atmosphere because the building is in desperate need of upgrading, which requires repairs to stop wind and water ingress and most importantly the installation of heating to protect both the fabric of the building and the museums collection.
Links to other museums and heritage centres
Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Timespan
Tarbat Discovery Centre
Laidhay Preservation Trust
National Museums Scotland
Historic Scotland
Ullapool Museum
Orkney Museum
Westray Heritage Centre
The church pulpit which dates from 1774 is an outstanding feature in the museum
Roadmen and archaeologtist Bob Gourlay at the roadside at Chelmay, Strathnaver
