Longhope Lifeboat Museum
A community-run museum in the former Longhope lifeboat station at Brims on Hoy, built around the vintage lifeboat Thomas McCunn and the 1969 disaster.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Longhope Lifeboat Museum stands at Brims in South Walls, on the island of Hoy, in the former RNLI lifeboat station that opened in 1901. The station closed in 1999, when a new lifeboat station was established in Longhope village, and the old building was taken over by the local community to become a museum. The Longhope Lifeboat Museum Trust was set up in 2000 and the museum was officially opened by the Princess Royal on 28 May 2002.
The main exhibit is the vintage lifeboat Thomas McCunn, which served Longhope from 1933 to 1962 and is still kept in the station she was launched from. She is described by the museum as probably the only seaworthy vintage lifeboat in her original setting and is still launched down the slipway on special occasions.
The displays tell the story of the Longhope lifeboat from 1874 and the crews who served on it. Paintings by the local artist Harry Berry show rescues and the last moments of the lifeboat T.G.B., which capsized on service in March 1969 with the loss of its whole crew of eight. There are service record boards, medals, tools and personal items of the crews, and a quiet area remembers the men who died. A large archive is being digitised.
The museum is an independent Scottish charity and is run by volunteers. Plans for conservation work and a new visitor building are under development.
Highlights
- Vintage lifeboat Thomas McCunn in her original station
- Memorial area for the lifeboat crew lost in 1969
- Paintings by Harry Berry of lifeboat rescues
- Service record boards listing past rescues
- Medals, equipment and personal items of lifeboat crews
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Longhope Lifeboat Museum Trust
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
Museum road end (bus stop)
From the Orkney mainland, take the Orkney Ferries service from Houton to Lyness; the museum is 6 miles from Lyness. The local bus meets only the first and last ferry from Lyness, so arriving by bus means arriving about two hours before opening. The afternoon bus can take visitors from the museum road end to the last ferry.
From Lyness ferry terminal, follow the road for about half a mile to a T junction, turn right onto the B9048 and drive about 6 miles. Just before the causeway (The Ayre), turn right and follow the coastal road for about half a mile. The bus stop is about a half-hour coastal walk from the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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