Local Attractions
At the Visitor centre at Lybster Harbour you can watch birds nesting on the Caithness cliffs through remote CCTV. There are interactive displays, helpful graphics and sculptures and a boat building workshop.
Working distillery and visitor centre, providing guided tours through the history of Old Pulteney and a complimentary dram. Guided tours available.
Piers Arts Centre is located in a beautiful old stone building in Stromness in Orkney enjoying views out over the waterfront. It is a small building but serves as a valuable art community resource for the local community. It is a bright airy contemporary space that is well laid out and has a nice flow, it houses a permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibits and events throughout the year. It was initially established in 1979 for the purpose of housing art works donated by the renowned author Margaret Gardiner. Today it is home to an important collection of works by a number of notable 20th century artists, as well as talented and recognised local artists. Although not a large centre it is considered to have one of the best collections of 20th century art in the United Kingdom. The temporary exhibits change frequently so there is always something new to see here. Throughout the year a number of events take place that are open to all and can include workshops as well as study groups. In addition to the arts centre, you will also find a library here as well as being home to a number of local community initiatives. Piers Arts Centre is a valuable commodity to the town and is unusual to see in such a rural place it is more like something you would expect to find in London, making it even more special, it would challenge many larger established galleries and is definitely worth a visit if you are here in Orkney.
Historical & Heritage Sites
Discover the life-time home of Mary Ann Calder. Built by her grandfather in 1850, the croft's preservation is a tribute to her family but also an important social and historical monument. Take a journey through time and explore this little snippet of history.
Learn all about the Vikings with interactive audiovisual displays at this great visitor centre. Immerse yourself in the pre-Viking kingdom of Catli, admire the hard work in making the iconic Viking long ship and see some Viking coins.
Hear about Viking occupations and Bronze Age settlements as the history of this Northern Scottish town is pieced together. Wick was made a Royal Burgh in 1589, however it was in the early 1800s when the town made a real name for itself, as a booming herring fishing port. Good forward planning, vision and investment have carved out Wick's place in history and made it what it is today.
Take a journey through time and learn the history of one of Scotland's oldest clans; the Norse origins and Scottish history of the time. There is also a fantastic clan archive to teach you all there is to know!
There's a lot to interest here — audiovisual programme of the past environment, photographic family archives, reference research library, bookshop, historic buildings, harbour, a picnic area and the strath walk, and the birthplace of Neil M Gunn.
Discover the history of Strathnaver, from ancient legend and the Clan Mackay all the way through to the devastating Highland Clearances. Explore the culture, folklore and traditions at this excellent museum. (Restricted disabled access - see website for details)
Stromness Museum is a quaint independent museum that is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers. It has evolved into a gem of a museum with the purpose to promote natural science and to preserve local history, with a strong emphasis on maritime which, has a big influence on the island. This is done through a range of permanent and temporary exhibits. There are a number of interesting artefacts, it is quite an eclectic collection with fossils, sea shells, stuffed birds, photographs, artefacts from a recent dig on the Ness of Brodgar, WWII memorabilia and much more. It is quite a large museum set out over a number of floors but, it is well laid out and the exhibits are well presented with the relevant information shown and stories about the items on display too. They are open daily and there is a small entrance fee that goes towards the running costs of the museum. The volunteers are so friendly, helpful and obliging and will answer any questions you might have. Stromness Museum represents am old style museum and makes for a fascinating visit with lots to see and so much information is available on the history and wildlife of Orkney, highly recommended as there is something to entertain all ages.
The Viking Centre is the best place to start learning more about the proud history of the Norse people. The centre is located in the area because many Orcadians are descendants of the Norse. Visitors can see authentic Viking landmarks and structures and explore what life was like during the time of the Vikings.
