Highland Museum of Childhood

About the museum

The Highland Museum of Childhood grew from the doll collection of a local woman, Angela Kellie, which the museum still looks after and which now numbers more than 600 dolls. It opened in 1994 in the Old Station at Strathpeffer, a building that once welcomed Victorian holidaymakers to the spa village.

The museum is run by the Old Strathpeffer Railway Station Trust, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation that has owned the station buildings and grounds since 2009. Over the years the collections have expanded through donations and now cover toys and games, children's clothing and textiles, educational material, photographs, books and larger items such as prams and cradles. The museum also collects items relating to the local history of Strathpeffer and its railway station.

The museum takes part in the Museum Accreditation Scheme, is a member of Museums and Heritage Highland and is run by a part-time curator and manager with a team of volunteers. Other businesses share the Old Station, including a café, a community shop and a beauty salon.

Highlights

• Doll collection of more than 600 dolls
• Toys, board games and jigsaws from the 1950s and 1960s
• Children's clothing and textiles, from christening gowns to uniforms
• Children's books and comics
• Housed in the historic Strathpeffer railway station

Permanent exhibitions

• Dolls – More than 600 dolls from the collection of Angela Kellie, on which the museum was founded.
• Toys and games – Board games and jigsaws, many from the 1950s and 1960s, along with pretend-play toys, soft toys, prams and cradles.
• Textiles and costume – Children's clothing from many decades, hand-made and shop-bought, including christening gowns, scout and brownie uniforms and baby clothing.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Old Strathpeffer Railway Station Trust (Scottish charity SC033930)

Admission & discounts

The museum asks for a small admission charge to help meet its running costs.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 Old Station has a car park with disabled parking, accessible gardens and toilets. The museum entrance is directly from the car park, while the shops and tea room are reached from the garden and platform side.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Old Station is the first turning on the left when entering Strathpeffer from Dingwall, marked by a brown tourism sign. From Inverness take the A9 north to the Tore roundabout, then the A835, A862 to Dingwall and the A834 to Strathpeffer. The postcode for navigation is IV14 9DH.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Tea room (Gold at The Old Station café) and shops at the Old Station, which are separate businesses with their own opening times. Free Wi-Fi is available along the platform area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit