Cra’as Nest Museum
A restored 18th century croft with byre, barn and kiln at Rackwick on Hoy, Orkney, shown as a small museum of local life.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Cra’as Nest, also spelled Crow’s Nest or Craa Nest, is an 18th century croft on the lower slopes of Moor Fea above Rackwick Bay on the island of Hoy in Orkney. It consists of a two-room crofthouse with an attached barn and drying kiln, a net store or bothy, and a narrow passage between the two ranges, built in the traditional Orcadian style from local flagstone.
The buildings appear on the 1880 Ordnance Survey map and were photographed in the late 19th century with straw thatched roofs. The roofless remains were restored in 1991 and 1992 for public access as part of a local museum, with new roofs of larch, straw and turf. Historic Environment Scotland lists the group as a Category A building and regards it as an outstanding, little-altered small croft group.
Inside, visitors see a box bed, a dresser and the other furnishings of a croft of the early 18th century, together with the byre and the barn with its kiln for drying oats. The museum belongs to a small group of buildings in Rackwick that also includes the nearby Old School House, and it presents the history of the valley and of the families who lived there. The croft stands on the walking route to the Old Man of Hoy, near Rackwick Hostel.
Highlights
- Restored 18th century croft with turf and straw roofs
- Box bed, dresser and furnishings of an early croft
- Byre and barn with a kiln for drying oats
- Category A listed building on the Old Man of Hoy path
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The croft lies on the hillside above Rackwick and can only be reached on foot; one visitor guide mentions some hill walking.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum buildings are on the footpath between Rackwick Hostel and the Old Man of Hoy, on the way down from the Old Man or up from the hostel.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
