Mallaig Heritage Centre
Local museum beside Mallaig railway station telling the story of West Lochaber, its fishing, railway, ferries and people.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Mallaig Heritage Centre stands next to Mallaig railway station and tells the story of West Lochaber, the area known in Gaelic as An Garbh Chriochan, the Rough Bounds. The centre was set up as a charity in 1985 to create a heritage centre for Mallaig and the surrounding districts, and it opened in 1994. It serves both as an interpretation centre for visitors and as a local museum, and it has provided museum services under contract to the Highland Council since 2001.
The displays follow the growth of Mallaig from a small settlement founded in the 1840s into a major fishing port after the railway arrived in 1901. They cover the fishing industry, the railway, steamers and ferries, the lifeboat, the Great War and life around Loch Morar, and there is a separate exhibition on the painter Jon Schueler. Films are shown on request during opening hours.
The centre also keeps a growing archive of books, documents, photographs and records, including census returns on microfilm for 1841 to 1901, Ordnance Survey maps and plans of the railway station. It runs oral history projects, publishes books and offers services to schools.
Highlights
- Exhibition on Mallaig's fishing industry and herring boom
- Displays on the Mallaig railway, steamers and ferries
- Lifeboat and Great War exhibitions
- Exhibition on the painter Jon Schueler
- Archive with census returns, maps and photographs
- Film shows on request
Permanent exhibitions
- Mallaig's story – How the village grew from the 1840s and became a major fishing port once the railway arrived in 1901.
- Fishing – The fishing industry that built Mallaig, from the herring years to modern shellfish catches.
- The Mallaig Railway – The railway extension that opened in 1901 and its effect on the local economy and way of life.
- Founded
- 1994
- Operated by
- Mallaig Heritage Centre (charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £2.50Senior citizens and students |
| Children & teens | freeChildren are admitted free. Admission is also free for local schoolchildren. |
| Seniors | £2.50 |
| Students & apprentices | £2.50 |
| Groups (8+ people) | –Special rates are available for groups of eight or more. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mallaig railway station
The centre is right next to Mallaig railway station. Four trains a day run between Fort William and Mallaig on the West Highland Line, and three of them continue to and from Glasgow. Ferries run from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye (up to 8 a day in summer, one or two in winter) and to Lochboisdale on South Uist.
By car
Parking available · 200 m to the entrance
The nearest car park is on the sea front, to the left immediately after entering Mallaig, 200 metres from the centre.
By road, Mallaig is reached from Fort William on the A830. The centre is on the right just after entering the village, alongside the railway station.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The shop sells local-history publications, books and DVDs.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours are possible by prior arrangement. Film shows run on request. Schools can arrange class visits with worksheets, guided talks and loans of objects. Research help beyond half an hour is charged. |
